2026 SANFL Wheelchair Football League

The 2026 SANFL Wheelchair Football League gets underway this Friday night at The Lights Community & Sports Centre, with Norwood taking on Woodville-West Torrens in Round 1. 

The Redlegs and Eagles have built a rivalry in recent seasons, having played in the past two Grand Finals.

Four SANFL club swill again field teams in the 2026 competition, including Norwood, Woodville-West Torrens, West Adelaide and Central District, competing in a nine-round league, before the Grand Final and third V fourth playoff.

The Eagles have been the premier SANFL Wheelchair Football side, having won back to back premierships.

Norwood captain Grant Leonard said his side was ready and looking forward to Round 1.

“We are going well, and looking forward to Friday night, we start with a Grand Final rematch, so hopefully we can start out season off well,” he said.

“We have been training for a couple of months, we want to keep our fitness up, improve our ball skills.

“We like to train as much as we can, a lot of us play other sports and try to keep fit. With the season around the corner we’ve knuckled down into our football training.”

Leonard said his side was hoping to turn the tables on a formidable Eagles opponent.

“We’ve been a bridesmaide a couple of times (losing to the Eagles in the last two Grand Finals), so we are due for a win,” he said.

“They have had the wood on us, but we always have good games, hopefully we can put it together.

“We are always chasing the ultimate (a Premiership), but we just have to work hard and stick to our processes. We know it’s not going to be easy, but its a short season so you have to be on your toes the whole season.”

Norwood will head into 2026 with a similar squad to last season. John Musolino, who joined the club ahead of the 2025 season, transitions into the head coaching role this year.

“We have a good squad, and know what each other can do, we just have to put it together,” Leonard said.

“John’s been really good, we like his approach, he makes us push hard and he wants to see success for Norwood, as much as we do as players.”

Norwood’s Round 1 match will commence at 7:55pm, at Lightsview.