NFC Hall of Fame Inductee – Brett Zorzi

Brett Zorzi is the 70th Inductee to the Norwood Football Club Hall of Fame.

Zorzi was inducted at the Club’s Hall of Fame Event on Thursday, May 9 2024, held in the Norwood Function Room at the Club’s Wolf Blass Community Centre.

He joined Norwood in 2005 after a celebrated career in the Victorian Football League with the Carlton Reserves and the Northern Bullants Football Clubs. At the Northern Bullants he won three best and fairest awards, was club captain in 2004 and gained selection in the 2002 VFL Team of the Year.

In 2002 he also played for the VFL against South Australia on the Adelaide Oval.

Recruited by Norwood as an on-baller, he found himself playing as a defender, finally settling in at full back. The determined Zorzi was rarely beaten in one-on-one contests and soon became one of the club leaders, and a crowd favourite.

He won the coveted Smokey Dawson Best Team Man award in 2005 and 2006, was runner-up to the Club Champion and was named the Woods Medallist in 2008.

Zorzi was moved into the midfield early in the 2009 season with outstanding results. The extra freedom of playing on the ball allowed him greater opportunities to use his clean ball-handling skills to advantage.

His excellent form was rewarded with selection in the South Australian team against Western Australia.

At season’s end, he was named 2009 Club Champion, Woods Medallist, and received the Coaches Award.

In 2010 Zorzi reached the 100-game milestone and was runner-up in the Club Champion award. He was a member of the side that went agonisingly close to taking out the 2010 Grand Final against Central District.

He was appointed vice-captain in 2007 and 2008 and was part of the leadership group from 2009 to 2013.

In 2012, Zorzi was acting captain for most of the season after Kieran McGuinness was seriously injured at the start of the year.

He led the side superbly against West Adelaide on Grand Final day and was high on the list of best players. The Redlegs won the premiership decider  12.7-79 to 3.12-30.

2013 was his last season of League football. He played 17 games, and was runner-up in the Club Champion award.

In a fairytale ending to his senior career, Norwood won back-to-back flags and Zorzi was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal as the best player in the Grand Final.

“To be honest, it was a bit of a relief in 2012, because we were the best team. We only lost two games for the year,” he said.

“So, we’re favorites to win. We smashed them, beat them quite easily in the Semi Final and when we played them in the Grand Final, we just need to get the job done.

“Luke Jericho kicked two goals straight after halftime and I sort of knew the game was done. It was just a big relief, and then relief turned to excitement, but definitely relief.

“And then 2013 was pure excitement. Yeah, we knew we were a good team. We won the previous year and obviously just wanted success again.

“It becomes like addictive. You just wanna win again, and again and again. That’s what probably happened with Centrals, you just wanna keep winning.”

A natural leader on the field, and popular off it, Zorzi gave Norwood outstanding service in his nine seasons at The Parade.

The club proudly welcomes Brett Zorzi as Norwood’s 70th Hall of Fame inductee.

“Yeah, it’s an honour, it’s a privilege,” Zorzi said.

“I feel like I am representing the players that I’ve played with, my teammates were great to me, so no doubt I wouldn’t be where I am without them.

“I feel so lucky to represent our, my era. So while it’s my name that’s there, I’ll get to share it with everyone.”

Guernsey Number: 9
Career: 2005 to 2013
NFC Games: 164
NFC Goals: 36
Debut: v North Adelaide (Norwood) 24th March 2005
Finale: v North Adelaide (Football Park) 6th October 2013