Norwood Senior Men back to work on Monday

Norwood’s Senior Men’s squad will commence its training for the 2025 campaign on Monday, December 2.

New Norwood Coach Jade Sheedy said he was ready to tackle his first pre-season at The Parade.

“We have had so many meetings over the past week, so we are just looking forward to getting stuck in with the boys on Monday, getting to work on the grass and seeing how we interact,” he said.

“JK (captain Jacob Kennerley) and the leaders have been driving some off-season groups hard, and ensuring they are in good condition when we kick off.”

After playing off in the 2024 Grand Final, Norwood has a delayed start to Pre-Season due to the 10-week off-season requirement from the SANFL.

“It’s a shorter pre-Christmas period, only 11 sessions, so we will have nine pure footy sessions, and two Saturday sessions with our Strength and Conditioning Coach Scott Bassett,” Sheedy said.

“Pre-Christmas will be a lot about fundamentals and getting the body conditioned.”

Sheedy’s met with the entire playing group, as well as assistant coaches and members of the wider football department since starting at the club earlier this month.

“It’s been a busy transition, I started mid-way through November and the boys start training next week. There was a lot to organise in a pretty short time,” he said.

“I have met all the players over the past five or six days. They are a young group, very eager, committed and driven to make the footy club better.

“It’s going to be a good journey.

“I am grateful to coach a footy club that’s got a lot of history, 146 years old, in a great location, plays in the big games, and with a really driven playing group, great support staff, great members and sponsors. I’m looking forward to it.”

Sheedy said he was impressed with the playing list.

“We have a great running profile, I want to maximise that and be entertaining for our fans, members and the players,” he said.

“I want the players to play a game style that gets them engaged, one they are keen to be a part of.”

Sheedy’s had a lot of experience as an opposition to Norwood, playing 255 SANFL matches for Sturt, before coaching Woodville-West Torrens for four seasons. He was involved in three Premierships, one as a player (2002), and two as the Eagles coach (back to back in 2020 and 2021).

“It (Coopers Stadium) was always a good place to come and play,” Sheedy said.

“I am looking to make Coopers Stadium a real fortress for our footy club and our playing group in the way we want to play here. We want Norwood to be a hard place to play for opposition teams.”

The club has welcomed Charlie Molan from Sturt, and Will Rowlands, who returns to Norwood from the Gold Coast, to the Senior Squad over the off season.

“Will’s been on the Gold Coast list, he’s a forward who can do some freakish things, he has lots of talent,” Sheedy said.

“Charlie’s applied his trade at Sturt, played a handful of League games and looking for an opportunity in the middle of the ground.

“We are talking to a couple more players, to really complete our list. We are running at 62-65 players at the moment, and there will be some natural growth from our squad with our Reserves winning the Premiership last season.”

The Redlegs have invited 2024 U18s Jake Hill, Tom Hill, Anthony Mustaca, Luke Scott, Eamonn Cronin, Jack Michalanney, Daniel Thompson, Levi Johnston and James van Wyk to Senior pre-season, while Grant Catalano, Seb Wilkins, Kyle Schefe, Harlee Chandler and Gus Leibich will also Train-On during the pre-season.

Norwood will train Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at Coopers Stadium pre Christmas, from 5:30pm.