2026 Hostplus Pocket Profile - Norwood

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Redlegs heading into the 2026 Hostplus SANFL League season.

2025 Snapshot

Finished – 3nd (Lost Preliminary Final)

Record – 8 wins, 10 losses (Minor Round); 2 wins, 1 loss (Finals)

Michael Taylor Medal – Club Champion

1st – Billy Cootee (308 votes)

2nd – Nik Rokahr (300)

3rd – Finn Heard (282)

4th – Pierce Seymour (276)

5th – Jack Heard (273)

Woods Medal – Most Dedicated
Pierce Seymour

Garry McIntosh Best Team Man
Jacob Kennerley

Fortis Trademark Player
Finn Heard

Leading Goalkicker
Tristan Binder – 39 goals

McCallum Trophy – League Rising Star
Connor Ling

Best Finals Player
Nik Rokahr

The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year – Billy Cootee (Wing), Pierce Seymour (Back Pocket)

Player Movement

COMING
Harry Boyd (returned/St Kilda), Aaron Francis (Sydney), Kade Dittmar (Central District), Alex Swinnerton (Lavington Panthers/GWS VFL), Josh Murphy (North Albury/Collingwood VFL), Matthew Harms (GWS VFL), Sam Simpson (North Launceston), Caleb Barton (Athelstone), Henry Turner (Coorong Cats), Toby Callow (Tasmania Devils/Allies U18), Henry Holdom (GWS Giants Academy), Taj Rahui (Payneham NU), Jett Dahlitz (Sturt)

GOING
Billy Cootee (Sydney Swans), Connor McLean (retired), Izaak Twelftree (Corowa-Rutherglen), Jacob Newton (West Coast), Will Rowlands (NT), Ethan Warburton (Shepparton Swans), Jack Saunders (Central District), Jake Cresswell (North Adelaide), George McLeod (North Hobart), Josh Gillow (North Adelaide), James Van Wyk (North Adelaide)

2026 Trial Matches

Friday March 6
Norwood v North Adelaide at The Parade from 7.40pm

Friday March 13
Norwood v Glenelg at The Parade from 7.40pm

Star Signing - Aaron Francis

Norwood coach Jade Sheedy must be salivating at the prospect of having Aaron Francis lining up in his back six this season.

With premiership backmen Tom Donnelly and Jack Heard already locked in as the key defensive posts, Francis should be freed up as an attacking third tall in the back half.

The 28-year-old is adept at intercept marking and should be able to make an impact with his lengthy kicking at The Parade.

Measuring in at 192cm, the first-round draft pick is itching to play in front of sizeable crowds under lights at Woods Street whilst also aiming to play in September at Adelaide Oval.

Lining up in 84 AFL games with Essendon and Sydney, Francis is keen to pass on the wisdom he gained from a decade in the AFL system, flagging former Bombers captain Jobe Watson as a key influence for him early in his career.

Preseason Trackburner - Nik Rokahr

This time last year, Nik Rokahr’s future was still very much in limbo.

The Michael Taylor Medallists was still sweating on whether he would be released by WAFL club Swan Districts to represent Norwood for the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League season.

The 30-year-old earned the all clear on the eve of the Redlegs’ campaign but now with a clear runway this summer, the veteran midfielder is thriving at preseason training.

After averaging more than 25 disposals last year, the 2022 premiership rover is on track to produce similar numbers after slashing his 2km time trial time by 10 seconds after the Christmas break.

Could he add a Magarey Medal to the Sandover he won in the WAFL in 2024?