GLENELG RUN THE LEGS INTO THE RED
GLENELG put one hand on the minor premiership and flag favouritism by clawing its way back from 27-points down early in the third term to steam-roll Norwood by five goals today.
It was complete domination in the final term and the scoreline 15.11 (101) was the biggest kicked against Norwood Mark II (the Redlegs post round four) this season.
The win, Glenelg's seventh in a row, moved the Tigers into top spot ahead of next weekend's final-round showdown with Central District.
The damage was done around the stoppages as the Bays dominated the clearances (35-19) and shared the footy through the midfield.
Trevor Cranston was enormous in the air and at ground level, Josh Carr showed what a bonus he will be in finals with 35 disposals while Kane Tenace (29 touches) and Ben Kane (28) also had a day out.
Glenelg's defence also shone with Daniel Kirk dominating Norwood's Sam Rowe and Wayde Mills doing a solid job on Cameron Shenton.
"The belief was very good, at half time we were three-and-a-half goals down and there was no panic in the group," Glenelg coach Mark Mickan said.
The third quarter was a goal-fest and the Grima brothers had the answer for Glenelg. First through two goals to Alex - who staked his claim to be part of Mickan's finals plans - then through Todd who added another two.
Lower's third goal on the siren was the only difference between the two teams at the final change, but it was all Glenelg in the last.
Consecutive goals to Murphy and Ben Kane put the Tigers in front and when full-back Mills ran the length of the ground to pinch a goal, it was all over.
Despite what the scoreline suggests, Norwood's defence was reasonably solid - particularly Alexis Georgiou's job on Ruory Kirkby and Gavin Hughes and Kieran McGuinness' efforts.
Matthew Davis kicked four goals, James Gallagher, David Trotter, Brett Zorzi and Nick Lower were busy in the midfield but needed more help.
"It was weight of ball from stoppages, they hammered us from the first half in the stoppages and our defence held up really well, then in the second half it was an avalanche of footy coming in fast and we need to be certainly much stronger around the footy," Redlegs coach Nathan Bassett said.
