Jade Halfpenny takes out Norwood's SANFLW B&F

Jade Halfpenny has taken out Norwood’s SANFLW Best and Fairest Award for 2024.

Halfpenny was the ultimate utility player for the Redlegs in the 2024 season, spending time forward, in the midfield and even a couple of games in the ruck across her 17 matches.

She played every available match for the Redlegs, in her first full season back at the club, having spent the previous two seasons on Port Adelaide’s AFLW list, playing six AFLW matches with the Power.

For Norwood in 2024, she averaged 17 disposals, four tackles, four marks and three clearances, with a season-high 25 disposals, eight clearances and seven tackles in a stand-out game against Central District in Round 11.

She kicked the four goals for the season, and twice recorded 18+ hit outs in Rounds 6 and 7 when she was thrown in the ruck, whilst regular ruck Kate Alexander was out of the side.

Halfpenny polled 227 votes and was awarded the 2024 Norwood SANFLW Best and Fairest Award, ahead of Runner Up Tahlita Buethke on 212. Kiana Lee came third on 204, while Candice Belbin (187) and Shai Hiscock (123) rounded out the top five.

Last year’s Best and Fairest winner Buethke also played all 17 SANFLW matches in 2024, averaging 17 disposals across a wing and half back role. She had a season high 28 disposals in Round 5 against Sturt, and collected 20+ touches on five occasions.

Third placed Lee was Norwood’s leading goal kicker (third in the League overall, post finals) with 19 goals from her 17 matches, and was awarded the club’s Best Finals Player following an outstanding finals series.

Lee’s finals series included a memorable three-goal haul in the second quarter of the Preliminary Final against Glenelg at Glenelg Oval, to help the Redlegs into the 2024 Grand Final. She also had 18 disposals in the Semi Final against the Bulldogs, and 14 disposals and seven marks in the Grand Final.

Lee also stepped up in a must-win Round 14 match, kicking two goals late in the third quarter to give her side the lead and propel Norwood into the finals series.

She kicked three goals on two occasions, and multiple goals four times throughout the year, predominantly playing on the wing and frequently dropping back in defense.

Adrienne Davies finished second in the goal kicking with 15 majors, and received the Coaches Award. Davies had an outstanding pre-season, and locked herself into the League side. She went on to play 15 SANFLW matches in 2024, having played just one in the previous 2023 season and six in 2022.

Belbin received the Best First Year Player Award, after relocating to the club from Tasmania for the 2024 season.

Belbin finished fourth in the Best and Fairest Count, and quickly gained respect from her teammates given her intense work rate, and fierce tackling ability. The midfielder averaged eight tackles per game, including 15 tackles in the Semi Final against Central District and 13 against West Adelaide in the vital Round 14 match.

Shai Hiscock received the Fortis Award, playing 17 matches in 2024, following a difficult 2023 season. Hiscock was also a hard worker and fierce tackler, finishing third in the League in tackles, averaging eight per game.

The small forward/midfielder kicked four goals in 2024, and had a season high 15 tackles against West Adelaide in Round 14, and 19 disposals in Round 2.

Charli Hazelhurst was recognised as the club’s SANFLW Rising Star in 2024. The 17-year-old defender often had to carry out key roles against experienced forwards, taking every task in her stride, and barely beaten.

Hazelhurst is part of the SA U18 Squad to play in the AFLW U18 Championships, which kicks off this week. Coby Morgan and Emma Daley are other Norwood players included in the squad.

The Awards were held at the club’s Wolf Blass Community Centre on Friday, July 12. The night recognised the award winners as well as those who represented their State of South Australia, including Buethke, Halfpenny and Tesharna Maher in the Open Women, Lee, Buethke, Emily Bartsch and Amelia Rusden in the U23s, Morgan, Hazelhurst and Daley in the U18s, and Alexander, Elke Cameron and Charlee Brooksby in the U16s.

Other accolades that were recognised was Lee’s SANFLW Powerade Breakthough Player nomination, and Mykaela Walker, Ailene Hiebner and Alexander’s SANFLW Rookie of the Round nominations.

Norwood’s SANFLW side had an outstanding season, finishing in fourth place after the home and away season with a 7-6-1 record, before defeating Central District and Glenelg in Semi and Preliminary Finals respectively.

On Saturday, July 6, Norwood played minor premiers South Adelaide in the SANFLW Grand Final at Coopers Stadium, with the Panthers running out 3.0-18 to 2.1-13 winners.

Norwood’s SANFLW side welcomed six debutants, including Alexander, Daley, Belbin, Walker, Hiebner and Cameron, while seven players brought up their 50th SANFLW game milestones – Buethke, Hiscock, Halfpenny, Nicola Burns, Lee, Davies and Schwerdt.

Sophie Arkun Claims Development League Best and Fairest

Sophie Arkun received Norwood’s Development League Best and Fairest Award, edging out first year player Ailene Hiebner by 17 votes.

Arkun played all seven Development League matches and polled Best and Fairest votes in all but one match.

Once the Development League season wrapped up, Arkun became a permanent fixture of Norwood’s SANFLW side, playing the final nine League matches in 2024, including the three finals.

She didn’t look out of place at League level, averaging 12 disposals and three tackles in her nine SANFLW matches.

Hiebner made an immediate impact in her first season at Norwood, playing all seven Development League matches for three goals, before making her SANFLW debut in Round 9. In her debut she kicked two goals from 13 disposals and was named the SANFLW Rookie of the Round.

Elke Cameron was named the Development League Fortis Player, and Eliza Fenton received the Coaches Award.

Cameron played four Development League games and made her SANFLW debut in Round 11 against Central District. She missed two Development League matches while she represented South Australia in the AFL U16 Girls Development Championships.

Norwood’s Development League side finished their seven-game season in third place, with a 5-2 record.