Norwood’s 2025 SANFLW campaign comes to an end

Norwood’s 2025 SANFLW season has wrapped up with a 25-point loss to Central District at Elizabeth’s X Convenience Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Despite having no finals carrot on the line, and trailing by 42 points in the last quarter the Redlegs fought right to the end, kicking the last three goals of the match in the 10.11-71 to 7.4-46 defeat.

The Redlegs last quarter fightback would have frustrated the Bulldogs, who were trying to build on their percentage to steal the last remaining finals place off Sturt, but in the end the Double Blues defeated North Adelaide to remain in the top four.

The finals series will be decided by minor premiers Woodville-West Torrens, reigning premiers South Adelaide and the Roosters and Double Blues, who both missed the finals last season. Only the Panthers retained their finals spot from last season as Glenelg, Centrals and Norwood dropped out.

Norwood finished seventh with a win-loss record of 4-10.

A shining light in the back end of the year has been the emergence of 15-year-old Lani Cocks from the club’s regional zone of Port Lincoln who came in for the last three matches of the season.

Cocks has averaged 21 disposals, five tackles and a goal per game, and on Saturday was best on ground with 22 touches, eight tackles, three clearances and a goal.

Jade Halfpenny was again outstanding on Saturday with a career high 29 disposals, to go with eight clearances, 10 marks (four contested) and a goal.

The former Port Adelaide and Carlton AFLW listed player played all 14 matches in 2025, and named in the best players on 11 occasions (second most across the competition), and appears on track to take out back to back Norwood Best and Fairest Awards.

Halfpenny ranked sixth in disposals, third in marks, seventh in ranking points, ninth in clearances and 10th in tackles across the competition, averaging 19 disposals, six tackles and four clearances in an improved season on her Best and Fairest year in 2024.

The Redlegs debuted five players in 2025, Charlee Brooksby, Cocks, Lottie Almond, Kyah Jaffer, Sharmaine Crosby and all became great contributors across the season, complementing the likes of young guns Coby Morgan, Kate Alexander, Elke Cameron and Charli Hazelhurst who have entrenched themselves in the side.

It’s an exciting future ahead for Norwood’s Senior Women’s program.

2026 looms to be a different season within the SANFLW with the League replacing the Development League competition with an U18 Girls competition.

Norwood 0.4, 1.4, 3.4, 7.4 – 46

Central District 1.2, 5.4, 7.8, 10.11 – 71

Best: Lani Cocks, Jade Halfpenny, Lottie Almond, Kate Alexander, Georgie Jaques

Goals: Alexander 2, Lee 2, Cocks, Halfpenny, Rusden