Round 16 a special day at The Bay

In what was a big day for the football club with one of our greats playing his 200^th game, a 5-year reunion of our 2019 Premiership Team as well as our past players day and a really solid crowd in attendance we were able to produce arguably our best 4 quarter effort of the season. There certainly wasn’t the free-flowing ball movement that we would all love to see but it was a fierce contest from start to finish and a nice reminder to ourselves about what we are capable of when we are locked into some key areas for long periods. To be able to produce it against the best team in the competition to this point adds to some confidence we can take away from the game and into the last 3 rounds of the season.

The game was hot around the contest right from the first bounce with both teams cracking in and not too much time and space on offer for anyone. Norwood were able to control the territory through the first 10 minutes of the game and jump out to a couple goal lead, pleasingly we were able to shift that back our way as the quarter went along. Frustratingly we didn’t capitalise as much as we could have leading into qtr time, but it was certainly and much better start to the game then we had seen for the previous 3 weeks. Having had the opportunity to watch the game back closely since, we are really pleased with how we went about the next 3 quarters. Outside of a couple of mistakes that cost goals in the second quarter we found the manic pressure in our forward half of the ground, around the ball and allowed our defenders to control the game to a certain extent and give us repeat entries and score board opportunity. Our 3^rd quarter was as well as we have done this for the season to date and is the and has been our biggest focus over the last few weeks. The proof in what it allows us to do was there for all to see and will be critical as we move into the last 3 rounds and a finals series. To keep Norwood goalless in the second half is testament to that.

Our Reserves group were not able to produce the form that they have played with over recent times and fell short against the ladder leading Norwood team. While it’s disappointing to not get the result, there is some good learnings for the young group. Some positive in that we had a few more senior guys back in the group that were able to play some solid football over the day. We have been really pleased with this group that have played at a consistent level for a period of time. Out of that we have seen Nick Stevens, Jake Walker and debutant this week Ben Ridgway force their way into the League team, and all contribute really strongly.

A quick special mention to Matthew Snook on playing his 200^th game, the way he went about it on Saturday just summed up what he had done for the previous 199 games. He led the way in all aspects and as he has done for his entire career, set the standard right form the first bounce. One of the great Glenelg players of all time!!

Our players head into a bye weekend this week which has come at a good time for all. A great opportunity to reset, freshen up mentally and physically and look to get after the last part of the season. Thank you to all of our wonderful members and supporters for all of your support to this point, we look forward to getting back into against North Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday week.

Go The Bays

– Darren Reeves, Senior Coach

Goals: McBean (6), Allen (2), Bell, Holder, Window

Best Players: McBean, Lyons, Bell, Allen, Proud, Curran