Adelaide has succumbed to a red-hot Norwood by 55 points at The Parade in the Club’s final SANFL outing of the season.
The Crows fielded 12 players without AFL experience, including two SANFL debutants, against the finals-bound Redlegs, who sewed up second spot on league ladder with the victory.
Norwood's Michael Newton and Liam Davis booted 11 goals between them to crush the Crows in the twilight fixture, handing Adelaide its heaviest loss of the year in a disappointing end to the Club’s maiden SANFL campaign.
Emerging left-footer Matt Crouch was outstanding in close for the Crows with a match-high 38 possessions, 12 clearances and 10 inside 50ms. It was the fourth time in the past five games that Crouch has been Adelaide’s leading ball-winner at SANFL level.
Veteran defender Brent Reilly also pushed his case for an AFL recall with 25 disposals, six marks and five rebound 50ms amongst an under-siege Crows defence.
Angus Graham finished the year on a positive note with 49 hit-outs and 17 disposals opposed to Redlegs big man Sam Baulderstone.
Jason Porplyzia (23 possessions, 11 marks) and Sam Kerridge (29 possessions, seven marks, six clearances) worked hard in the midfield and up forward, but both men were wasteful at times in front of goal.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen and rookie Jack Osborn were Adelaide’s only multiple goalkickers with two apiece.
Norwood produced sublime football in the opening term and dominated possession, recording 16 inside 50ms to six and notching 42 marks to streak to a 29-point lead at the first change.
Opportunities to experienced trio Callinan, Reilly and Porplyzia went begging as Adelaide was held to just its second goalless quarter of the year.
Rory Atkins baulked his way through traffic to boot Adelaide’s first major at the five-minute mark of the second term, before Jack Osborn hauled down a big contested mark in the goalsquare to give the Crows some hope.
But the home side slammed on the next four goals to sprint away to a 61-point lead as the sun went down at The Parade.
The Crows managed to slow the Redlegs’ run in the third term and provide a more competitive contest in the second half.
It was goal for goal after half-time, with a classy crumbing goal to Sam Kerridge kick-starting the Crows.
But the visitors never held momentum at any stage as the Redlegs maintained a lofty 53-point advantage at the final change and held sway until the final siren.
Coach Heath Younie said it was a disappointing end for the side to finish the season.
“We were too slow out of the blocks today and a team like Norwood can punish you very quickly,” he said.
“They showed us the intensity required to be a contender at this level in that first half.
“To the boys credit, they showed a lot more effort after half-time and were far more competitive.
“But the result was beyond us by that point unfortunately. It’s just another learning experience for our young team to take into next year.”
ADELAIDE 0.3 3.6 6.10 8.17 (65)
NORWOOD 5.2 12.6 15.9 18.12 (120)
GOALS
Adelaide: Osborn 2, Ellis-Yolmen 2, Atkins, Kerridge, Callinan, Knight
Norwood: Newton 6, Davis 5, Phillips 3, Bode, Persinos, Dawe, Roocke
BEST
Adelaide: M. Crouch, Knight, Reilly, Callinan, Graham, Kerridge, Petrenko
Norwood: Newton, McGuinness, Davis, Bartlett, Kirwan, Chippendale
INJURIES
Adelaide: Nil
Norwood: Nil
