NFC Captaincy Announcement – Kennerley and Nunn to lead as co-captains

Jacob Kennerley has been elevated to the position of co-captain within the Norwood Football Club, and will lead the SANFL team alongside 2022 Premiership captain Matthew Nunn.

Nunn and Kennerley will lead the side as co-captains for the remainder of the 2023 season, a move that has been endorsed by Nunn, the leadership group, coaching group and senior management.

Nunn has captained the side since the start of the 2021 season, but expressed his interest in sharing the leadership role with Kennerley due to personal reasons external to the football club.

Nunn said his ongoing battles with his mental wellbeing had elevated in recent months, and believed that it was important to reach out to the coaching and leadership group to gain further assistance in the captaincy role.

“I have been battling some ongoing mental wellness for the past 6-12 months which has started to impact on my captaincy,” he said.

“It is important for people to know what’s happening with this decision. I want people to feel like they can speak up when they are having their own struggles with mental health.

“I am very keen to be able to lean on Jacob, share some of the load and decisions with him, it will be incredibly beneficial for me, the playing group and the club.

“It’s a tough decision – I am into my third year as captain and I know what it takes to be a good captain, and when it’s time to put your hand up for help.”

Kennerley was integral to Norwood’s leadership during the 2022 Premiership season, stepping up into the captain role for an extended period when Nunn was sidelined through injury.

“Jacob is a great young leader – he does the right things and leads from example, we get along so well,” Nunn said.

“He stepped up last year when we really needed him, he has such a level head and I am really proud of how he goes about it.

“This is a really positive move for the club.”

22-year-old Kennerley said he was excited to step into the role.

“It’s an honour to take on this role,” he said.

“Ever since coming back to the club in 2021 this is something that I have aspired to do and I am more than up for it.

“I am very appreciative of the Board, CEO James Fantasia, Twig (coach Jade Rawlings), and Nunny for backing me in to take up the role.

“I got the chance to captain the side last year for several rounds while Nunny was injured and I loved it, I feel like I led strongly and I played better footy in the role – I have confidence coming into the role now.”

Norwood’s 2023 leadership group includes Nunn and Kennerley as co-captains, Matthew Panos, Harry Boyd, Declan Hamilton, Matthew Rokahr and Jack Heard.

Norwood coach Jade Rawlings was proud of Nunn for coming forward to express his desire for further assistance in captaincy.

“We utilised the time between Rounds 2 and 3 to assess everything within our football program, this included leadership,” Rawlings said.

“After ongoing discussions between Nunny and myself we looked at the opportunity to adjust the leadership model to help support Matt.

“Co-captaincy was something that we discussed and believed would be a really positive move for the playing group.

“Jacob is a worthy co-captain of the Norwood Football Club – he has shown enormous growth in leadership across his three seasons since returning to Norwood from Geelong.”

By Josh Teakle – Norwood Football Club