Grand Final: Norwood v Port - Sunday 21 September @ Adelaide Oval

Norwood v Port

Sunday 21 September
Adelaide Oval

League: 2:40pm

Last Week
Port 13.12.90 d South 10.10.70 @ Adelaide Oval
Norwood 13.14.92 d Port 12.7.79 @ Adelaide Oval

2014 Meetings
Round 1 - Norwood 11.10.76 d Port 8.9.57 @ Coopers Stadium
Round 17 - Port 9.6.60 d Norwood 6.15.51 @ Alberton Oval
2nd Semi Final - Norwood 13.14.92 d Port 12.7.79 @ Adelaide Oval

Season 2014 Form Line
Norwood WLLLWLWWWWWWLWWWLWWW
Port LWWWWWWWWWLWLWLLWLLW

End of Minor Round Ladder Position
Norwood - 2nd 11-7 56.05%
Port - 1st 12-6 57.57%

Road to the Grand Final
Norwood
Qualifying Final - d Sturt
2nd Semi Final - d Port

Port
2nd Semi Final - lost to Norwood
Preliminary Final - d South

Well it's come down to this - Norwood v Port in the 2014 SANFL Grand Final.  Will Norwood make it a three-peat, or will Port win their first as the 'Power Reserves' side.

close for a half & then a merciless Port will win by at least 8 goals, their fitness base will have them over running Norwood after half time & there wil be no loafing like there has been over the last month or so

What ever happens Ben, do not let them over run you in the second half.

i believe this is the first SANFL grand final in history to have extra time rather than a grand final replay in the advent of a draw

5RPH's and SANFL writer Chris Kendall's preview of the Grand Final

2014 SANFL GRAND FINAL PREVIEW

Norwood v Port Magpies (Adelaide Oval) – Sunday 2.40pm

HEAD TO HEAD: Norwood 128, Port 162, Drawn 4

LAST THREE ENCOUNTERS:
2014 Second SF: Nwd 13.14 (92) d Port 12.7 (79)
2014 Rnd 17: Port 9.6 (60) d Nwd 6.15 (51)
2014 Rnd 1: Nwd 11.10 (76) d Port 8.9 (57)


The 2014 Grand Final will be what many have hoped for, the two most consistent teams of the season squaring off in the big dance, with the Magpies overcoming a gallant South Adelaide in the Preliminary Final. The Panthers lost no admirers for a 20 point defeat, after being 17 points up at half time, with only their third quarter really putting them out of the contest. It is fair to say that coach Brad Gotch has the playing group on the same page and with only minimal player losses expected, there is plenty of upside for South to continue the upward trend in 2015.

With the ledger sitting at 2-1 in Norwood’s favour this year, they have shown their ability to close down the Magpies’ running game and restrict their ability to hit on the counterattack through dictating the pace of the game themselves. Grand Finals, however, are another matter and with so much on the line, both groups will rise to hitherto unseen levels this year and the match looks set to be played at a frenetic pace throughout. There will be some uncertainty over the final Magpies lineup until late Saturday night, with the AFL arm meeting Hawthorn in the Preliminary Final. A lack of serious injuries from the AFL semi final suggests any changes would be form based only, with a strong chance of an unchanged lineup for the Magpies. Norwood, however, will face the brutal decision of whether to recall triple Magarey Medallist James Allan, or forward Mark Evans, after 28 possessions for the former and six goals for the latter, in the Reserves Preliminary Final. Allan’s ability to win high possession numbers could prove crucial in a big game and no doubt coach Ben Warren will ponder this one at length over the week.

The Magpie forward 50 will feature some of the best battles of the match. Magpie Mason Shaw’s finals campaign has been in fits and starts, with patches of brilliance followed by lengthy absences from action, and if Norwood skipper Kieran McGuinness starts at his side, then it will almost force Shaw into a defensive forward role himself. McGuinness’s ability to take the uncontested mark, then zone off to find a teammate in space has been crucial to setting up Redleg attacks this year, and his influence will need to be heavily negated. Port’s smaller forward options are capable of wreaking havoc quickly, as Kane Mitchell proved last week, but coach Garry Hocking will be applying the blowtorch to Jarman Impey and Cameron Hitchcock to step up in support. Norwood’s defence has stood up brilliantly in the finals, with Michael Chippendale at the forefront, but the support cast of Jace Bode, Andrew Kirwan and Ben Jefferies have been pivotal this season also and cannot be afforded time to create and zone off. Port’s Ben Newton, however, is one that Warren must put some time into, as he can work the Magpies forward quickly from around the ground stoppages with a strong clearance rate, so his space must be shut down.

The Redleg attacking structure has proven hard to hold many times this season, with Michael Newton leading from the front, both in goalscoring and dragging the best opposition defenders out wide if not able to mark himself. It looks likely that Tom Clurey will get first look at him, but Hocking will also place plenty of time into the matchups for Liam Davis and Brady Dawe. Davis has not hit the scoreboard regularly this season, but he has pushed hard up the ground with a high contested mark ratio that takes full advantage of errant opposition defensive moves. Campbell Heath could have the first opportunity here, which would free up Lewis Stevenson to take Dawe when resting from ruck duties. Stevenson’s cruising speed and precision disposal from half back has been a feature of the finals and cannot be underestimated as a catalyst for Port. Norwood’s Kane Murphy has seized his opportunity from a late season recall with aplomb throughout the finals, and cannot be left unchecked in attack, particularly with his fierce tackling pressure that creates spillage from opposition defenders.

The role on Redleg Simon Phillips will be one of the most vital, as he has continually proven his ability to turn a match on its head with ten minutes of brilliance. Karl Amon looks a good start, particularly as he is able to work around the members stand flank quickly and send the Magpies into attack, which would throw Phillips back into a more defensive role also. How Hocking uses Paul Stewart creates an interesting quandary, as he can move between defence and attack easily and prove a difficult matchup. The ability to spend time on the ball in bursts also may give Port a point of difference if needed.

The centre square duels will be outstanding. Port’s Mitch Harvey and Angus Bruggemann were soundly beaten in ruck last week by South’s Keegan Brooksby, and with Norwood’s Sam Baulderstone in such stellar form, the Magpie duo will have their work cutout in not only negating his influence at the ball-ups, but around the ground also. His creativity, ability to find space and send Norwood into attack has been a major catalyst for his team’s form this year. Port may almost need to run a bigger midfielder with him to wear him down and reduce his influence on the contest. Magpie skipper Steven Summerton was highly influential last week with 20 touches and two goals, and his breakaway speed through the middle to space can turn the match swiftly, particularly when working in conjunction with Sam Gray, whose work in traffic is another major spark for Port’s clearance rate.

Redleg Matthew Panos’s last six weeks have been a little down on his stellar start to the season, and the chances of Tom Logan running with him at some point will really test Panos’s ability to both shake a tag and create opportunities himself. A looming battle between Norwood’s Anthony Wilson and Port’s Aaron Young will be a true war of the speedsters, with both turning it on during the major round and lighting up Adelaide Oval when working through traffic and finding space, and the ability to finish off in front of goal should set the highlight reels working overtime.

A weather forecast of fine, slightly cloudy conditions leave the stage set for an outstanding contest where there are genuine and serious claims for both teams to hold the Thomas Seymour Hill trophy aloft at the end. Each has the ability to blow a contest open with 30 minutes of devastating football, and each can equally drag their way back into a match when down by some margin. It looks set to be played at a frenetic pace throughout, and the perceptions that the Magpies will have a slight fitness edge with the AFL connection can be countered by Norwood having the week off to freshen up from the bruising second semi-final between the clubs. The latter’s familiarity with this scenario for three of the last four years may prove vital if the margin is within two goals in the last quarter, but there are compelling reasons to select either team. Overall, however, the consistency over the last 15 weeks of the season lean toward Norwood making their own slice of history in a classic encounter.

Radio: 5RPH, Life FM, ABC 891, 5AA
TV: Seven

Tip: Norwood 1-12

Jack Oatey Medallist: Sam Baulderstone (Norwood)

Grand Final umpires are

field,
Toby Medlin
Andrew Crosby
Curtis Deboy
Rowan Hundertmark (em)

boundary,
Matthew Fallon
Tim Bryant
Samuel Royans
Jason Moore

Goal,
Steven Paunovic
Peter Challen
Matthew Cummins (em)

good luck to all of them