Nik Rokahr officially a Norwood player again

The news we have all been waiting for has hit The Parade.

Norwood and Swan Districts have finally come to terms in clearing Nik Rokahr back to Norwood for the 2025 season, and will be available for selection as soon as this Saturday night’s Round 1 SANFL match against North Adelaide.

Rokahr signalled his intent to return to Norwood following the 2024 season, where he represented Swan Districts in the WAFL, and whilst its been a long process to officially call him a Redleg again, Norwood is delighted that the clearance has gone through.

Rokahr played 73 League matches for Norwood across four seasons from 2020 to 2023, before relocating to Perth for work and family reasons ahead of the 2024 season.

During his time at The Parade Rokahr was part of the 2022 SANFL Premiership, claimed two Norwood Best and Fairest awards (2021 and 2022) and was twice runner up in the SANFL’s Magarey Medal (2022 and 2023).

He won the 2024 Sandover Medal as the WAFL’s Best and Fairest player last season and helped Swan Districts to a top three finish.

Norwood Football Club General Manager of Football Richard Kelly was thrilled that Rokahr could continue his career at The Parade.

“To welcome a player of Nik’s caliber back into the midfield mix is fantastic,” he said.

“The midfield depth of Rokahr, Billy Cootee, Mitch O’Neill, Jacob Kennerley, Baynen Lowe, Charlie Molan, Ben Simpson, Connor Ling, Mitch Nicholas and Alec Wright is really exciting. We think it’s a really strong midfield ready to hit the ground running.

“Nik has been looking forward to coming back to Norwood, and now that its official we can get on with a big 2025.”

He is available for selection this Saturday night and will don his number 9 guernsey in 2025.

Rokahr said he was relieved that the clearance had come through and excited to run out for the Redlegs this season.

“I would like to thank Norwood for all the work they have done over the past few months to help make this happen,” he said.

“I can’t wait to be back in the Norwood guernsey, I love the club, the coaches, staff and players. So many Norwood people have done so much for me and to have the pleasure to play there again is amazing.

“I’m ready to get stuck into the season and work with the boys. There’s some new faces, some familiar faces, a new coach. It’s a very optimistic time at the club with so much up-side. I want to be a part of it and add to the group as best I can.”

Kelly said the League side was shaping up nicely for Round 1.

“We are looking forward to Nik being available, as well as Finn Heard, Matt Ling, Mitch O’Neill and Jackson Callow who missed the third trial through injury,” he said.

“Alastair Lord, Baynen Lowe, Tom Donnelly, Alec Wright and Ben Simpson will be back in the first half of the season.

“We have been really impressed with a number of our recruits, with the likes of Tom McCallum, Charlie Molan, Mitch Nicholas and Connor Ling showing great signs in League trial matches.”