Eagles v Norwood

[redandblack]

It wasn’t about injuries, or individuals. It was all about tactics, coaching, talent and belief.

It’s a nice change watching a game of football when you don’t have a vested interest. Umpiring decisions become less vital most of the time and you get a better feel for the trend of the game.

The enduring memory of the first Norwood v Eagles final was of the complete dominance of Norwood’s game style. Eagles players with the footy had no idea of their next move, as they looked up to see a wall of opposition guernseys filling up ever available space. They thought about what to do and then thought about it some more. What generally followed was a kick in hope, easily mopped up by the ‘Legs defenders, who then turned defence into running attack. The speed of that transition allowed their forwards to kick opportunist goals, as well as team-constructed goals.

It was organisation against hope and organisation won hands down.

The following week went to script in the first game, as the Eagles reorganised and comfortably dealt with an improving Panther’s outfit. Coaching had a big effect on the other game, with Roy Laird producing a master-stroke, putting Paul Thomas on Cam Shenton. Centrals had a proven, tried and tested game style which was never going to unravel against Norwood and so it proved to be. To the independent observer, Norwood’s lack of forward power then looked a weakness that other sides could exploit. With Shenton held, there weren’t too many other options to kick a winning score, so defence was the priority and on this occasion, defence wasn’t quite enough.

So the big questions coming into this week were all on Nathan Bassett. The Eagles were clearly going to adjust to counter Norwood’s game style. That style relies on numbers behind the ball right from the first bounce, freeing up a player, usually McGuinness, to get free ball in the back half. The ball can then be delivered to runners to deliver quickly to the forwards. If the opposition get the ball back in their defence, they’re met with a wall of numbers in front of them.

The coaches’ comments after the first final were instructive. Godden was quoted as saying his players were 50 metres from where he wanted them, so he would obviously be entering the second final with a different approach. Bassett’s problem was to either continue the same game plan or come up with some variation. He had no choice, of course, as there was no way he could instruct such a well-drilled team to change things now. He had problems, as injuries had restricted his options and I suspect he knew he had other problems in countering a different approach from his opposition.

And so to the game. Greiger dropped out with injury for the Eagles, but the match-up of Thompson on Shenton was always goiung to be a better one anyway. Doyle, when he plays, is a dominant ruckman, but he met a fitter, strong Parry this time and although they both competed well, the clearances looked to benefit the Eagles. It was quickly obvious, however, that the Eagles had worked out how to counter Norwood’s style. Denying Norwood free space in their defence was the start and forward pressure, switching wide and good foot skills completed the job. What transpired was that Norwood players were now the ones who looked up to see no options ahead and this time there was no Plan B. Norwood weren’t kicking goals, but worse, they didn’t look like kicking goals.

Individual players? Well, from an independent observer, it was apparent that experience stood out. For the Eagles, it was impossible not to admire McKenzie’s work. He was where he needed to be, when it was needed. Cicolella can be a pain at times, but he knew what to do and how to do it. I like Gallagher and he did his best to stem the tide and give some run and I think Bown plays above his talent and has to be admired for that, even though he had an ordinary day. Norwood’s talls were generally very disappointing, while the Eagles talls all contributed.

So the Eagles front up to the almost impossible next week, but they’ve done it before and they’ll fancy their chances. Norwood have some thinking and reconstruction ahead. Their AFL style was beaten by an adapted SANFL style. Their style beats most teams so it’s not likely to be discarded, but there might be some adaptation and the cheque book will need to used in a big way.

[Psyber]

Good, fair, and accurate, summary R&B - painful as it was for a long term Norwood supporter to read.

[The Sleeping Giant]

No mention of the fact it was one of the most horrid games of football witnessed. Interesting.