Grand Final 1950

Norwood, Back To Form,

Convincingly Wins Title

By HARRY KNEEBONE

Those who had been inclined to underrate Norwood because, during the last couple of months it lost matches that didn't matter, were presented with indisputable proof of that team's strength in the one match that did matter — the grand final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Except for the second quarter, when it flickered into some semblance of the form it showed in the preliminary final, Glenelg was overpowered and trailed far behind Norwood, which won the 1950 premiership by nearly eight goals.

It didn't take Norwood long to show that incentive was all that it needed to lift it right back to the outstanding form that characterised its early and mid-season play. On the first brilliant thrust which scored a goal from Dalwood within 18 seconds of the first bounce there was the unmistakable stamp of the old confident speed and teamwork. By the time the first quarter had got well under way, there was no doubt about the rennaissance. There were the flashing hand passings, the blinding speed on the wings, the ruck strength, the purposeful dash to the ball and the ready, quick-witted cooperation of team-mates. Norwood was so pronouncedly superior that, shortly before the change-over, it led 6.5 to 0.2 and Glenelg's position had become serious even at that early stage of the game. From that point until just before half-time, Glenelg showed its undoubted fighting qualities by a prolonged rally which added 5.3 to Norwood's 1.1 to put the scores within touch at 7.6 to Glenelg's 5.5. But that effort took the edge off Glenelg's speed and sapped its reserves of stamina to such an extent that from then until the end it could manage only 3.6 to Norwood's 8.10.

Roving Strength

Most telling factors in Norwood's victory and Glenelg's defeat were:

• Norwood's roving strength— Tilbrook played his best match at the year to dominate this phase of the game. Glenelg's lack of drive in this department. It sadly missed Brooker's terrier-like persistence.
• The ascendancy of Norwood's centre-line— Blackmore, Olds, and Gallagher. Glenelg's trio— Trenorden, Karutz and McPherson— battled hard, but at no time really held control in the important sector.
• The silencing of Churchett (one goal) by Reimann.

Although Hunt kept Way goalless at the other end, the spiking of Glenelg's main artillery-piece undoubtedly was one match-winning factor. Proof of this was given in the second quarter, when Glenelg's persistent attacking produced only 3.3, of which Churchett scored one behind. Until Crabb's fine fervor flagged under the strain of carrying the Glenelg ruckwork on his own shoulders, Norwood was beaten in ruck. In the second half it wore ruck opposition down practically to nothing. Marriott, Norwood's best ruckman, provided the only serious opposition to Crabb in the first half. Marriott earned his high place in the Norwood list of best players more by reason of his great marking and play in the field than for his work in the ruck. In the over-all picture, Norwood appeared a well-balanced team, with no passengers and every man contributing to the victory. The inability of its full forward to get goals presented no serious obstacle, for the spelling rovers and ruckmen and half-forwards converted with facile efficiency. Glenelg. on the other hand, floundered and finally foundered because it could find no target for its approach shots. Its list of goalkickers tells a sad, significant story.

Three Factors Beat Glenelg

— Says Fos. Williams

Norwood's opening dash, Reimann's silencing of Churchett, and Oatey's tactics in playing a kick behind the play ,in the second quarter were the three principal reasons for Glenelg's defeat in the league football grand final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, says Port Adelaide captain coach (Fos Williams) in this commentary, written specially for 'The Advertiser.'

Bv FOS. WILLIAMS

The 1950 season finished without the expected thrills, the big game talked about all the week and the last minute goal which was to snatch the premiership for one of the sides, did not eventuate. Norwood took the field not quite knowing how good the Glenelg team was. They had played them a fortnight before and had scored a narrow victory. A week ago they had seen them play a match in which they had won in almost all departments and really looked a side which would take stopping. I think this uncertainty as to their opponents' strength played a part in Norwood's premiership win, as from the first bounce each redleg player threw every thing into the game, determined to beat his immediate opponent. I attribute the win mainly to the evenness of the Norwood side. Only one of them failed all day and not very many of them were shaded in their positions. Apart from this three factors stood out.

• Firstly, the opening dash and its success in scoring goals which unsettled most of the Glenelg defenders. It was plainly seen that after the first quick goal the Glenelg backmen were over anxious. This over-anxiety often resulted in three of them flying against one opponent, with the Norwood players standing down and picking up the crumbs from which, very often, goals were scored. In this opening success every praise must be given to Marriott, Oatey, Olds, Gallagher and Blackmore. These players time and again obtained possession and passed the ball over the half-forward line to the goalfront. It might have seemed to some that in this first quarter Norwood had all the luck of the bounce and in gathering in stray kicks. This, however, almost always seems to be the case when a team has the edge in pace and is making the front position.

• Before the match began it was conceded that for the Bays to win, Colin Churchett must score at least five goals. The fact that Reimann kept him down to one was in my opinion the second factor in deciding the premiership. In stating that Churchett failed it must be added that on no occasion did his team-mates try to pass the ball to him correctly.

• The third reason for Norwood's success was Jack Oatey's plan in playing himself a kick behind the play in the second quarter. If he had not done this, Glenelg could possibly have been in front at half-time, as they had 75 per cent, of the play in that quarter, due mainly to the strong come-back of their wingmen, Karutz and McPherson, centreman Trenorden and Prior ( who won his centre half-forward position). Allan Crabb also played his best football during this quarter. Even as the play did go, Glenelg could have been within nine points at half-time as easy shots missed by Churchett and Donaldson made a great difference.

Merv Roberts I would name as the pick of the 36. He held his position safely throughout and cleared with strong and well-directed kicks. Reimann, to hold Churchett to one goal, did more than was anticipated by the most ardent Norwoodite and the manner in which he did the job made him my second choice. Unlike his play in the second semi-final he made the ball his objective and gave no opportunity for free kicks to be awarded against him for interference. For Glenelg I would name Prior, who until hurt was keeping one channel open to goal, as the best. After Prior left, Giles cleared on many occasions. Ray Hunt did a grand job in keeping the Norwood centre forward goal-less, and he would be my next.