Introducing the SANFL Coaching Group

The Norwood Football Club has finalised the coaching group to support Senior Coach Jade Sheedy, as he heads into his second season in charge of the Redlegs. 

James Saywell will continue as Senior Assistant Coach, going into his 14th season within the senior men’s program, while Matthew Earl will step into a line coaching role with the midfield, after focussing on opposition analysis in 2025.

Newly appointed General Manager of Football Daniel Menzel will coach the forward line in 2026, while former Birdwood Football Club Senior Coach Andrew Loechel will oversee the backline and Brad Graham rotations.

Aaron Jelfs will head into his third season as the Reserves coach, and will be assisted by Tom Clarke who heads to Norwood from Lockleys, Josh Coulter from Mypolonga and Brenton Wilson, who continues from last season.

Norwood 2014 Premiership player Gavin Hughes also returns to the club in a head of development role, working closely with Jelfs and the exciting group of young players on the list.

Menzel was excited to announce the coaching group, which is a mix of new, returning and familiar faces.

“Sheeds going into his second season will help with the continuity, and while it was a slow start in 2025, I feel like the group really understood the way Sheeds wanted them to play and we saw that come finals time,” Menzel said on the Redlegs Review Podcast.

“We have James Saywell who has done an unbelievable job for a long period of time. It’s elite for us to be able to rely and lean on Jim for a few of the new faces in the coaching group.

“I’m going to coach the forwards this year which is exciting, having coached Coorong over the last couple of seasons. Matty Earl has a great rapport with the midfield group already, and Andrew Loechel returns to the club (coached the back line during the 2020 season).

“Gavin Hughes is another one we welcome back to the club, he’s going into the newly designed head of development role, which will oversee our Reserves players and all those that we are trying to develop into consistent League performers.”

Scott Bassett will again run the Senior Men’s program Strength and Conditioning, while Will Pratt will continue as rehab coordinator. Paul Gillett will remain as IT and bench coach, Adam Smith and Bill Zerna runners, Nick Cubit head trainer and Tori Moore as physio.

Norwood Coaches across all grades will be kitted out in the “Coopers Pale Ale” green and the “Coopers Mild Ale” orange tops at training sessions in the 2026 season.