Norwood hoping to bounce back off the Bye

Norwood will be searching for its first Premiership points of the 2026 SANFL Men’s season when it takes on South Adelaide at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

Playing both grand final teams from last season, Norwood has gone down to Sturt by five points at The Parade in Round 1, and Glenelg by eight points at the Bay on Good Friday in close defeats to kick off the season.

The Redlegs will be without star ruckman Harry Boyd, who will miss the Round 3 clash with the Panthers due to a hand injury.

The injury was sustained during the Round 2 loss to Glenelg, which was initially thought to be a bruise, but later scans this week showed a break. The Magarey Medallist is expected to miss at least two to three weeks.

Finn Heard has been named in the ruck, while 200cm ruck Marco D’Annunzio has also been selected on an extended bench.

D’Annunzio played two League matches last season, while F. Heard had a huge season in 2025 in a similar role as an undersized ruckman.

Max Hodges, Oliver Sanders and Alex Swinnerton also come into the side, all named on the extended bench. If selected, Swinnerton will make his SANFL debut.

New to the club this year, Swinnerton was best on ground in the Reserves loss to Glenelg on Good Friday, with 18 disposals and 10 tackles.

Tristan Binder will play his 50th SANFL game tomorrow night.

In what is excellent selection news, Mitch O’Neill will make a long-awaited return to football through the Reserves, following illness last year and an injury interrupted pre-season with a hamstring concern.

2025 State U18s representative, Jim Kelly will also play his first game of the season in the Reserves tomorrow night following a hamstring injury that’s kept him on the sidelines in Rounds 1 and 2.

Scroll down to see the Round 3 teams, the SANFL Men’s game will start at 7:40pm tomorrow night, and the Reserves at 5pm at Coopers Stadium.

It’s the first week will a full assortment of matches, with all Norwood sides taking on South Adelaide, starting with the Senior Men at The Parade on Friday night, the Senior Women’s starting their campaign at Noarlunga on Saturday at 2:15pm, the U18 Girls to follow at 4:30pm, and then the U16/U18 Boys at Noarlunga on Sunday.