It’s Finals Time

September means football finals, including for the SANFL which commences its Finals Series this Sunday at the Adelaide Oval. 

Minor Premiers Norwood will enjoy the week off in the opening weekend of the Finals Series, and are awaiting the winner of the Sturt and Central District Qualifying Final on Sunday, September 8.

It’s the 30th time the Redlegs have secured the SANFL Minor Premiership.

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings spoke at the SANFL Finals Media Launch on Tuesday, alongside Sturt’s Marty Mattner, Glenelg’s Darren Reeves, Central District’s Paul Thomas and Woodville-West Torrens’s Sam Jacobs.

Rawlings was thrilled that his side was able to secure the Minor Premiership, which came down to the final round of the season and locked in with a 75-point win over the Eagles on Saturday.

“Any coach in the room would suggest that the position that we are in (Minor Premiers and the week off) is the most desirable,” Rawlings said.

“We have five or six players who aren’t playing at the moment that we need to get into a position to be available next week. We will have some time off this week, come back on Thursday and have a number of sessions before we play next Sunday.”

Rawlings discussed his side’s injury list.

“It (selection) will be difficult, but there’s a lot to get through between now and next week. Declan Hamilton we think will be right, Finn Heard would play if it (the game) were this week and Jackson Callow will get back running this week and hopefully responds well and hopefully will be right as well.

“Matt Panos is a tricky one, he’s been getting close but has been dealing with a unique injury. Connor McLean will run this week, if he were to get back it would be through the Reserves to start with and Jack Saunders is another player that’s had a fracture in his ankle and probably tried to come back a little too quick. He (Saunders) should play in the Reserves Final next week.

“It’s a challenge but our job is to assemble the best group together and keep some team balance and chemistry.

“There’s a lot to consider when it comes to Matt (Panos), he’s been an incredible contributor for Norwood and the competition. Whatever we do it will be done in the right way, for the club, team and him.”

Rawlings said his squad was “hungry”, with both the League and Reserves teams finishing Minor Premiers.

“It’s hard to compare years, there’s so many variables that bob up, but this year we have a group that’s hungry, fit and believe in what we do,” he said.

“If you get a bit of momentum in any competition and it can be powerful, and this group loves playing together. I love watching them play.

“Fortunately as a club we have the Reserves and League both in a position to see how far we can go in September. That’s where you want to be.”

He said the standard across the competition had been outstanding in 2024.

“The whole competition has been even. Including teams that didn’t make the finals, they have been strong and competitive,” Rawlings said.

“It was unique circumstances (over the last three rounds of the SANFL season), North Adelaide needed to win to stay alive, Woodville-West Torrens most likely needed to win to guarantee a finals spot, and the Sturt situation against the Crows was unique.

“We didn’t tap into what the score was because we didn’t want to be distracted, but if we did need to get something done we needed to be aware of it so I think it reflects on this competition, it’s a ripper, it’s the second best competition in the country for a reason and it lends itself to a good September.”

Norwood’s Semi Final will be played at 3:15pm at the Adelaide Oval next Sunday, against either the Double Blues or Bulldogs.

The Reserves will play either Sturt or Glenelg in the Semi Final next weekend, at a TBC venue.