Crauford Returns to Norwood

The Norwood Football Club can confirm that ruck/forward Henry Crauford will return to the club in 2021.

Crauford departed Norwood in the 2020 pre-season after being drafted by Essendon during the supplemental selection period.

Despite not registering a senior game, Crauford returns to the Parade with a point to prove and with plenty of experience after sharing day to day duties with his former Bombers teammates & ruckmen Tom Bellchambers and Sam Draper.

The 204cm prospect won Norwood’s SANFL reserves’ best and fairest award in 2019, averaging 16 disposals, five clearances and 27 hitouts on his way to winning a flag at that level.

Hailing from Mount Gambier, Crawford originally pursued a career in the pool, competing in swimming at state and national levels before shifting his attention to Australian Rules in 2016.

Football Operations Manager Mark Ross said the club was pleased to bolster their ruck & forward stocks with Crauford returning.

“We are really pleased to welcome back Henry to the football club in 2021,” said Ross.

“Henry is a great young man who was an integral part of our plans prior to leaving at the start of the 2020 season.” “Henry will broaden our ruck depth and obviously has the ability to play as a tall forward which will no doubt stretch the opposition defenders.”

“We are delighted to welcome Henry and his family back to the Parade next season.”

Crauford said he was rapt to be returning to the Parade in 2021.

“I was a little bit disappointed after what happened with the Bombers,” said Crauford.

“I probably didn’t get a fair crack and with COVID happening it was always going to make things a bit harder.”

“Coming back to play SANFL, Norwood was my only choice and am I stoked to be returning and playing with my mates again.”

“Hopefully as a football club we can have some success and I’m excited at the prospect of training hard and getting a crack at playing some League footy in 2021.”