2024 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final Preview

Head to Head – Overall
Played – 269
Norwood -158
Glenelg – 110
Drawn – 1

Head to Head – Finals
Played -20
Norwood – 13
Glenelg –  7

Recent Form
In the last six matches, each team has won three times

Last Finals Meeting
2022 1st Semi Final – Norwood 12.7 (79) d Glenelg 7.9 (51) at Adelaide Oval

2024 Meetings
Round 16 – Glenelg 11.15 (81) d Norwood 6.11 (47) at Stratarama Stadium
Round 2 – Norwood 10.11 (71) d Glenelg 7.5 (47) at The Parade

Grand Final Meetings
1950 – Norwood 15.16 (106) d Glenelg 8.11 (59) in front of 50,389 at Adelaide Oval
1975 – Norwood 9.10 (64) d Glenelg 7.10 (52) in front of 53,283 at Football Park
1982 – Norwood 20.13 (133) d Glenelg 9.17 (71) in front of 47,336 at Football Park 

Harry Boyd (Norwood) v Cam McGree (Glenelg)
Norwood coach Jade Rawlings was quick to declare on Tuesday ”we’re not the Harry Boyd Footy Club.” And while this is certainly the case, there is little doubt the joint Magarey Medallist can have a massive influence on the outcome of the Grand Final should he continue his stunning form. The Redlegs’ giant ruckman won the 2022 Jack Oatey Medal after a standout display two years ago, ensuring Tiger Cam McGree will have a significant task in quelling his influence. McGree will have assistance from teammates Riley Holder and Liam McBean, as the trio attempt to at least nullify Boyd’s impact at the stoppages and around the ground.

Lachie Hosie (Glenelg) v Jack Heard (Norwood)
Hosie was very quick to display why he is one of the competition’s best forwards when he took little more than a minute to hit the scoreboard in the Preliminary Final. Playing his first League match since Round 7, the Ken Farmer Medallist finished with 4.3 while helping his team earn a 38-point win against Central District. Last year’s Jack Oatey Medallist will be hoping to repeat his heroics from 2023 in which he booted six goals in a best-on-ground performance. Expect Jack Heard to be given a crack at quelling Hosie, using his smart body use and ability to get a hand in to spoil to positive affect. Heard will also look to rebound from the back half, testing out Hosie’s fitness.

Have they played enough footy? Have they played too much footy? They are questions that rear their head pretty much every September.

When minor premier Norwood runs out for the grand final it will have played just one game in 28 days. Its opponent, reigning premier Glenelg, has played in six must-win games in six weeks. But Tigers captain Liam McBean summed it up best. “By the time the ball bounces on Sunday it really counts for nothing … we’ve done it different ways over the past few years … having a bit of extra footy for continuity has been important for us and getting some guys back from injury always helps but by the time the ball bounces, I think the contest will be won and lost on the day.”

And when the ball is bounced there is so much to look forward to. Two quality sides packed with talented and creative midfielders, defenders who are hard to beat but ready to back themselves and rebound to forward set-ups that can score quickly and break a game open before you know what’s hit you. Two sides who have won premierships in the past two seasons in different ways – Norwood with four tough weeks of footy in 2022 after losing the qualifying final, Glenelg last year when its only final before the premiership decider was a strong second semi win.

And when the ball is bounced there will be Norwood’s Harry Boyd there ready for action, the popular Magarey Medallist – along with Sturt’s Will Snelling – who seems unstoppable. “I’m not sure you can actually stop him so we will just have to try to nullify him as much as we possibly can and try to get the footy going our way,” said Glenelg coach Darren Reeves, noting Cam McGree, Riley Holder and McBean all would have to play their role in ruck.

As exciting as Boyd is, he’s not going to win it on his own. “Harry is one part of a bigger picture,” Redlegs coach Jade Rawlings said. “We’re not the Harry Boyd Footy Club. I don’t think Will Snelling and Harry Boyd could have been more dignified in how they handled their success last week … Harry just fitted back into being part of the group and being a leader as he was before the Magarey, so I am really proud of him for that.”

There’s no doubt humble superstar Boyd is just part of what has set Norwood apart this season. Midfield trio Mitch O’Neill (averaging 26 touches per game), Baynen Lowe (21) and Billy Cootee (22) have set the tempo on the ball, with the likes of inspirational skipper Jacob Kennerley and Declan Hamilton part of a dangerous mix, while in defence Tom Donnelly and Jack Heard have stood tall, winning places in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, while ultra-consistent Matthew Ling was unlucky to miss a spot. Stepping up in the forward line have been Izaak Twelftree, with 26 goals, Finn Heard and Tristan Binder, while Jackson Callow (29 goals) can turn a game.

The excitement this match-up is generating between the premiers of the past two seasons, who have won three each of their past six clashes and one each this season – Norwood by 24 points in Round 2, Glenelg by 34 in Round 16 – is understandable considering what the Tigers have to throw at the Redlegs.

On-ball there’s in-form Matt Allen, 2019 Jack Oatey Medallist Matt Snook, James Bell and Corey Lyons. Last year’s premiership skipper Max Proud leads the way in defence, while another premiership captain, Chris Curran on a wing, always seems to be in the right place doing the right thing. But perhaps Glenelg’s most daunting weapon is their firepower. McBean again is SANFL’s leading goalkicker, with 48, Luke Reynolds is fourth with 40, last year’s Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie has 20 from just six games and Matt Allen has weighed in with 31.

No wonder we’re all looking forward to that first bounce.