Jacob Kennerley to lead Norwood for a fourth season

Jacob Kennerley will continue in his role of Norwood’s SANFL captain for the 2026 season.

Kennerley was first named as co-captain (alongside Matthew Nunn) mid-way through the 2023 season, before taking on the role full time for the 2024 season – a position he’s continuing into this season.

The club announced on Wednesday, its leadership group for the upcoming 2026 season – a six-man group including Kennerley as captain, Jack Heard as vice captain, Pierce Seymour, Harry Boyd, Finn Heard and Baynen Lowe.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to captain this football club into a fourth season,” Kennerley said.

“We have a young and exciting playing group, and there’s been a lot of positivity within the club throughout the pre-season. We have a great group of U18s that have come up to senior footy for the first time, along with some really exciting recruits as well, Aaron Francis and Kade Dittmar coming in, and Boydy returning.

“It’s a new look leadership group as well, Heardy and myself have worked together as leaders for a number of years, while Boydy and Pierce are great Norwood people, and then the two younger boys in Finn and Lowey have been so impressive over the past two seasons.”

Originally from Cummins on the Eyre Peninsula (Norwood’s Regional Zone) Kennerley has played 92 matches for the Redlegs, including the 2022 SANFL Premiership.

“Captaining this club means a lot to me, I’ve been involved since juniors and have had some great times here, alongside some great people,” he said.

“It’s a big role, but we have so many leaders across the playing group whether they have the official tag or not, such as Nik Rokahr, Aaron Francis, Declan Hamilton, and then younger guys like Cooper Murley and Alastair Lord – we really spread the load and it doesn’t feel like its all on me.”

Second-year senior coach Jade Sheedy had been impressed with Kennerley’s leadership.

“JK has had another outstanding summer, he leads through actions and the way he motivates the group with his running, his hard work, and his love for the club is outstanding,” Sheedy said.

“Jack Heard assumes the role of vice captain, and like JK was a junior of the footy club. The playing group is in good hands under those two men.

“From there the leadership is quite diverse this year, with some great experience with Harry Boyd coming back, his love for the club is evident. The year that Pierce had last year with his game and as a leader was at another level.

“We have also introduced two younger players, who I think are going to be leaders at this club in the future in Baynen Lowe and Finn Heard.”

Norwood’s SANFL season gets underway on Friday, March 27 under lights at Coopers Stadium against Sturt. The playing group has just completed an internal trial match, before two trial matches at The Parade against North Adelaide on March 6 and Glenelg on March 13.

The club also announced last week the inaugural captain of the U18 Girls side, which will be Molly Sennar.

Sennar, leads a five-person group which includes Chelsea Marshall, Amity Gabe, Cara Tricker and Mia Wood.

Norwood’s SANFL AAMI Talent League U18 Girls Season commences this Saturday at Norwood Oval, taking on Woodville-West Torrens.