Nik Rokahr’s Home away from Home

Norwood will not only be celebrating its Regional Zone of the Eyre Peninsula in Round 6, but also Nik Rokahr, who will be playing his 100th SANFL game.

The Victorian midfielder who moved over to South Australia for the 2020 season, has fully entrenched himself into Adelaide and the Norwood Football Club, stating that the club felt like “home”.

“I’ve never hidden how much the club means to me – a lot of people here mean a lot to me, they took me in when I hadn’t proven myself and gave me a chance at the level. It’s (Norwood) my home, as much as Shepparton is now, it’s my home club,” he said on The Redlegs Review Podcast.

“I played VFL for Geelong in 2019, I got talking to someone close to me (about heading to the SANFL), I didn’t really want to move from Vic but I wanted to prove to myself that I could play at this level. I didn’t think I’d stay this long, but I’m glad I have and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.

“When I first came over I just wanted to prove to myself that I could play at the level, so to play 100 games is special.

“I am very grateful for the opportunities that past and present coaches have given me, and I can’t wait to get out there.

“I got over to Adelaide when I was 23, it was the Covid year in 2020 so we played the 14 games, I also had that year away in Perth, so it has felt like it’s (100 games) has taken a long time, but it’s been good.”

A Norwood Premiership player in 2022, Rokahr has won two Michael Taylor Medals (2021 and 2022), and come runner up in the League’s Magarey Medal twice.

After 73 games for Norwood between 2020 and 2023, he relocated to Perth for the 2024 season, playing for WAFL side Swan District and winning the League’s Sandover Medal.

Despite a tumultuous time trying to be released by Swan District and return to Norwood for the 2025 season, Rokahr said he had fond memories of his time in WA.

“A lot of people hear the last part, but it was a great year,” he said.

“My partner is from Perth, and we opted to make the move that year, and it was really enjoyable, I have a lot of great mates from Swan District, we made a prelim, I had some individual success as well, but it was hard to do some things with my family back in Victoria, so we decided to come back to SA.”

Rokahr has enjoyed the opportunity to play alongside good mate Harry Boyd, who also headed to The Parade from Shepparton.

“We are both from Shepparton, and played in a premiership back there, breaking an 18-year drought, and we were pretty young which was great,” he said.

“I got over to Norwood the year before he did, and he’s been one of my favourite teammates, a Magarey Medalist and he’s been awesome.”

The Redlegs take on West Adelaide at Centenary Oval in Port Lincoln this Saturday, with both sides taking winning form into the Round 6 contest.

Norwood had an outstanding 49-point win over Central District last Saturday to make it three consecutive wins, while the Bloods upset reigning premiers Sturt in a close encounter at Richmond Oval in Round 5.

Rokahr said he and the side always enjoyed the trip to the Eyre Peninsula.

“It’s great, it’s a beautiful part of the country and we look forward to getting over there,” he said.

“It’s a really good trip to build comradery, we get over, stay together and spend a lot of time with each other. We feel like its a boost early in the year.”

Listen to the full interview below.