“Not one for the Ages” from ‘The Outer Eye’
Norwood hosted local rivals East Ringwood in Rd 16 action on Saturday, eager to exact some payback for a dirty day at East Ringwood earlier in the year when we lowered our colours. With the Colts having saluted narrowly and the Development squad amassing a big victory, the seniors completed the Wooders day in comfortable if somewhat uninspired fashion, closing out the game comfortably by 45 points.
From the first bounce this game looked always to be in our keeping. With Alex Mioni playing some quality footy coming back from VFL side Port, we owned field position and dominated possession. That said, it took us nearly 9 minutes to register our first goal, numerous chances going begging before Jake Ford streamed onto a handball from Leroy, snapped, had it smothered, regained the ball and slammed through our first. Minutes later, Kreuzzer intercepted at half-forward, dished to Pearso who ignored Leroys lead, correctly spotting Mioni in the goalsquare unmarked for his first and our second.. The rest of the quarter saw further chances squandered, most notably by Murphy Ambrose who started brightly but spoiled his good work with two poor misses. East Ringwood never threatened to score however as we led 2.7 – 0.0 at the first break.
The 2nd quarter started brightly, the very first passage seeing Ceppi mark at half-back, kick to the wing where Gibbo won a disputed ball and gave off the handball to Bater who went long to Leroy, 35m out. His conversion never looked like missing as we extended the lead. 10 minutes later Fingers was involved in some of our most fluent play for the day, streaming through the middle to spot up Matt Jessop just outside range. He handballed back to Fingers motoring through, and after a little pirhouette, slammed through our 4th goal as the game appeared already to be beyond East Ringwoods reach. Matt Aver was next on the board after a mark from Darin Stewart at CHF, the set play handball to the longer kicking Aver paying full dividends. We surged forward again from the next bounce and looked likely to add another, but after Gouldy was paid a fee 35m out his kick inexplicably went into the man on the mark, East Ringwood rebounding the length of the ground to score their first goal for the day. In the shadows of half-time, our play of the day started at half-back with Kreuzzer whose run and carry was really hurting ERingwood. He passed to debutante Pottsy in the centre, ran on, took the handball and then dished to Mioni who in turn found Gouldy for a sidestep and finish from 25m At HT this one was as good as in the bag as we led by 35 points, 6.8 – 1.3.
We started the 3rd quarter as brightly as the 2nd, Leroy marking strongly and converting his 2nd in the opening minute, he then turned provided 30 seconds later with a deft handball out to Pearso for our 8th as the lead stretched to 47 points. Thereafter however, we played a pretty poor quarter, allowing E.Ringwood 3 unanswered goals and most of the play. It was not until the 25m mark that we even scored again. Stuey Hill, playing a typically resolute game at CHB in an untypical no27 jumper, marked once again in defence and released Fingers through the middle, his kick allowing Leroy to work his man under the ball and mark 35m out. He handballed unselfishly to Kreuzzer, cruising by, who went over the top by hand to Jordon Clarke for a very easy goal. At 3/4T we led by 31 points.
The last quarter was played by two teams already aware of the result, both with very little to play for in largely unsatisfying seasons. It took 10 minutes for our first goal, a clearance won by Newmo and forced forward where a deft “flick-up” on the half-volley from Leroy fell straight into the path of Fordy who made no mistake from 25m. We held a tiring East Ringwood to just 1 point for the quarter, Fingers icing the game with his 2nd deep into time on.
Final scores Norwood 11.11.77(Leroy 2, Fordy 2, Fingers 2, Mioni, Aver, Gould, Pearso, Clarke 1)
Best players included Fingers, Gould, Mioni until injured in the 3rd quarter, Aver, Bater and Pearso.
Its a sign of our current expectations and ambitions that we leave a local derby with a convincing 45 point victory but yet unsatisfied. Much of that is to do with our inability to qualify for finals this year, something we can only blame on our appalling 1-6 start to the year. Our finals focus turns to the Development squad and the Colts, both of whom will play finals, and both still some chance to qualify in the top 3 for the double chance. Next week is a home game against Knox, where we can aim for “back-to-back” Wooders Days.
Last Modified on 09/08/2016 10:02