Kennerley to continue as Norwood Captain in 2025

Norwood announced its 2025 leadership group to the Senior Men’s squad on Thursday night, with Jacob Kennerley to continue on as club Captain.

Kennerley will lead a four-man leadership group, assisted by Vice Captain Jack Heard, and Deputy Vice Captains Declan Hamilton and Pierce Seymour.

The 2025 season will be Kennerley’s second as stand-alone captain, having first been elevated to co-captain in 2023 alongside Matthew Nunn.

“I am excited and honoured to take on the role as Captain again,” Kennerley said.

“I don’t take this role lightly, it’s a prestigious job, and there’s been some amazing leaders and captains of this footy club in the past. For me to be the captain of the club during this period of history is very fulfilling.

“I feel so supported by the club, coaches, the playing group and especially the other leaders in Heardy, Dec and Pierce. I am excited to lead this group out onto the park.

“We as a group are ready to step it up again in 2025.”

New Senior Coach Jade Sheedy said he’d been impressed with Kennerley’s leadership across the pre-Christmas training block.

“He’s a really driven individual, and a player that has the club at heart, and at just 24 years old he is a big part of the club moving forward,” Sheedy said.

“JK really leads by example on the training track and around the club. I’ve watched a lot of his footage, he kicks some really big goals at crucial times, that’s what captains do – stand up in key moments in games.

Originally from Cummins on Norwood’s Regional Zone of the Eyre Peninsula, Kennerley’s been a part of the Redlegs since the junior pathways, and gone on to play 72 League matches.

Also a Norwood Junior, Jack Heard’s notched up 75-League matches, playing as a key position defender.

“Similar to JK, Jack Heard’s really passionate about Norwood. They have both been juniors at the football club and transitioned through the pathway programs and they love seeing the club and players get better,” Sheedy said.

Hamilton (120 League matches) and Seymour (80) have now been in the leadership group for multiple seasons.

“Dec’s one that’s really impressed over the short time I’ve been here, he’s really applied himself at training and in drills, he does everything at a really high intensity,” Sheedy said.

“He’s a great character and has a massive impact on the group.

“Pierce has really grown and had a really good SANFL career, he just keeps getting better every year. He and Dec see the game really well, can educate our younger players and that helps us a lot on and off the field.”

Sheedy said while there was four in the leadership group, the club would again have nine mentor players who each lead a smaller group of 6-7 players.

“Greg Moulton does a really good job with our leadership program, our goal as a footy club is to build more leaders,” Sheedy said.

“Locking in the four leaders and nine mentors this early in pre-season, helps drive the standards and group forward.”

The Redlegs had their final training of the year last night, and return after Christmas on January 13.