2012 SANFL Grand Final - Norwood v West: Sunday 7 October 2012 @ AAMI Stadium

At a mid-week Media Conference, it was confirmed that Norwood will be attending the West End Brewery celebrations, should they win the flag.

They won the flag, they will be there...

Well done to Norwood, best team all year and deserved the flag...

Saw Ben Warren and James Gallagher in the car park post game. Really happy for those 2 lads, in particular, great blokes, both of them...

Just got home from the party at Norwood Oval, so proud of the boys for what they've achieved this season, some very humble and happy players being interviewed tonight.

So pleased to see my favourite Norwood player Brett Zorzi receive the TS Hill Trophy and express a deep appreciation for the generous words offered by Ryan Ferguson.

A special word for the efforts of our Reserves who fought hard all day against a more experienced combination and nearly brought home the bacon. Congratulations to Central on their win.

Also congratulations to the W-WT Eagles who took out the Under 18s.

James Aish ... it almost frightens me to think how good this kid is going to be.

A long day, a very long season, now I can relax

Adelaide Hawk and I are a bit older than most of you guys and seen Norwood play a lot of games
Hawky Which Grand Final win was better , the 1922 win or this one ?

It was really clear that Norwood were a long way ahead of any other team this year.

They've perfected a game plan which is really effective.

It's only 12 months ago they struggled to kick a goal in 2 finals, but they learnt from that and deserved congratulations to them and their supporters.

I'm proud of Westies coming from nowhere and making the Grand Final and, given the result, happy for CK, AH, JAS, Sabre, Scrappy and all the Norwood fans on here.

Scrappy wrote:Adelaide Hawk and I are a bit older than most of you guys and seen Norwood play a lot of games
Hawky Which Grand Final win was better , the 1922 win or this one ?

Each and every one of them Scrappy. Each one has their own bit of magic. Not sure about 1922, but here ar ethe ones I can recall:

1975: First flag in 25 years, a very emotional win to a young man who never thought he'd see his Redlegs win one.

1978: The sensational come from behind 1 point win over hot favourites Sturt, The last quarter comeback was like a dream.

1982: The brilliance of players such as Aish, Thomas, Roberts, McIntosh, etc. It was an emphatic win and very satisfying to Norwood supporters who knew we were good, but the media didn't.

1984: History Makers. Coming from 5th to win the flag, and to win it against Port Adelaide. The win was made greater by the character of the team they defeated.

1997: First flag in 13 years. This team was possibly the most complete team of them all. Great players on each line, and they were unbelievably hard, Thrashing Port Adelaide as well made it a moment to remember.

2012: First flag in 15 years, the ultimate team performance. Every 21 players who pulled on the jumper played their roles so comprehensibly that it allowed us tired old Redleg fans the luxury to sit back early and savour the win.

If I had to be pushed, I'd say 1975, but only because I had mates playing that team, and it was the first I'd seen.

Which one for you Scrappy?

1922
NW 9-7
WA 2-16

2012
NW 12-7
WA 3-12

They are Norwoods only 2 G/F wins over Westies
Similar score lines as well

Hawk of all the ones we have seen ,the one that stands out most was the miracle win of 1978

What the club needs to do is adopt a theme for next season of Back to Back
We have not seen back to back NW flags in our time

For all the West Adelaide supporters on TFSA
Unfortunately there can only be 1 winner in a Grand Final
The one thing that really sticks out about Westies, was they never gave up
They tried very hard , but were beaten on the day by a well drilled and committed opposition


The last goal Norwood kicked that resulted from the fighting created a record
The 12-7 Norwood kicked is the highest score Norwood have kicked against West in a Grand Final
The previous best was 11-7 in the 1961 G/F loss to West

Congrats to the Redlegs for a great win and a fine season overall

Looking forward to a rest now after a long season.

Theres a few people telling me that the tenure of Nathan Bassett is over at the Parade
Jarrod Cotton has been mentioned as the replacement coach

If this eminates, and Cotton coaches,he will coach the club for a second time
Question I have ,
Has there been a coach since 1878 that has coached over 2 different time spans at the Norwood Football Club ?

Well done to Norwood too good yesterday. I am happy for the Norwood fans as they are celebrating a premiership. Norwood showed why they were the best team all year.
Westies I am proud of the growth we have made under Collins and to make a grand final is awesome. How we played was disappointing I really thought we would play a free and attacking game but it didn't happen. Time to move on to next year. Go YOU BLOODS

Scrappy wrote:Has there been a coach since 1878 that has coached over 2 different time spans at the Norwood Football Club ?

Haydn Bunton 1957-58, and 1965-67.

testy wrote:
Looking forward to a rest now after a long season.

I appreciate exactly how you feel. It almost feels as though this season started 3 years ago, and for Norwood it possibly did

Will be interesting to see what comes of the Nat Caruso report for striking Jace Bode, off the ball. Didn't look good and obviously sparked the big brawl that saw a few other Norwood players come away with shiners.

Is there any video evidence to show what caused the initial off the ball hit (ala Gowans in 2007)?

If it was relatively unprovoked, then I suspect the book will be thrown at Caruso.

I saw the incident through the binoculars from up in the RPH box. Bode got a kick away and was floored after disposal, with a free kick rightly being paid down the ground. Bode went back at Caruso who connected with a nice round arm hook to Jace's left eye...

Brucetiki wrote:Is there any video evidence to show what caused the initial off the ball hit (ala Gowans in 2007)?

If it was relatively unprovoked, then I suspect the book will be thrown at Caruso.

Interesting comparison in that it appeared unprovoked, and in the final minutes of a game that had long since been decided. Another comparison to Gowans (2012) is that I believe it's Caruso's final game in the SANFL, so it will be interesting to see what penalty will be enforced.

I couldn't be happier today. Just a great effort by the team and coaching staff. I think every player contributed with a couple possibly playing their best game at league level.

I know the media go on about Bass but full credit to him. It's been a tough year with many injuries and a lot of pressure but he kept the focus. I think to manage the group and get them to play like they did when the last four weeks of the minor round virtually meant nothing and then having so many weeks off in between finals games is a super effort.

Bad luck to Westies, they had a good year and I'd expect them to be back up in the top three again next year.

I should also add I thought Ferguson spoke well post game on the oval, never an easy job. I don't know why Collins is going down this upper class vs lower class path. He did it during the week and again post game. I think he is trying to create something that isn't really there.

I'm dreading the Anzac Day GF re-match already.

Flag No.9 wrote:I'm dreading the Anzac Day GF re-match already.

Well, 2 of the last 3 re-matches have been won by the GF runner-up (Sturt in 2010, Centrals in 2012), so statisically all hope isn't lost.

Ben Warren wins his first SANFL flag

A fortunate man to have left South Adelaide
Since then
Ben played in Langhorne Creeks Premiership on 2011
So he has won 2 Premierships in a row

And it was a win win situation Ben leaving Langhorne Creek
Langhorne Creek won back to back flags this season

Ben Warren is one of the most refreshingly courteous SANFL footballers playing , Im stoked some good fortune has come his way after years of toil

Scrappy wrote:Ben Warren is one of the most refreshingly courteous SANFL footballers playing , Im stoked some good fortune has come his way after years of toil

Probably THE nicest bloke I have met that plays SANFL football. Was lucky enough to interview for him for the Football Budget the season before last and he is a true gentleman. Bumped into him leaving the carpark at AAMI last night and was so happy for him.

He couldn't believe he just won an SANFL flag.

great bloke dugga, i'm sure i'll bump into him at the cricket over the summer & he did it for Pottsy

i thought the umpires were very good on Grand Final day

Yeah Ben Warren is a great bloke and good luck to him .

... Still it hurt watching him run the victory lap on Sunday .. Really hurt!

Can add Boyd , Parry to that list now too

Good luck to them though and if that bloody don't motivate South Adelaide I don't know what will !!!

Boyd , Parry and Warren have all left South and Played in Premiership teams soon after
Southee, it must surely p..s you off a wee bit ?

The South connection worked for the Legs in the 1997 GF win as well
Aaron Keating , transferred from South to Norwood , and played in the 97 team

Had Ben not been a SANFL footballer , he may have reached a high standard at cricket
By all reports from a Langhorne Creek veteran , Ben is a very brisk fast bowler