Norwood SANFLW Update

Norwood SANFLW Coach Brad Ferrall caught up the the SANFL’s Zac Milbank to reflect on the 2024 season and preview the year ahead.

The Redlegs played South Adelaide in last year’s Grand Final, falling agonisingly short of their second SANFLW Premiership.

“We were proud of our 2024 season, our season was still a success, just not the ultimate success and hopefully we can get that win on the last day of the season in 2025,” Ferrall said.

“(Coming back into 2025) we haven’t spoken about the Grand Final a lot, we use it as a driving factor but we don’t want to get caught looking in the rearview mirror for too long. The mood around the group is really positive, we know we are good enough and that we weren’t far away.

“We stood up under finals pressure after finishing fourth, which I was confident we were going to do as we were in every game throughout the year.

“We know that we have the ability and the list as we haven’t lost too many players from the League side last year. Everyone seems to be in a positive mind set.”

Norwood SANFLW players are off on a player-driven camp to Yankalilla soon, ahead of another trip to Tasmania for a Trial Game on Sunday, March 2.

“It’s a cool opportunity (the Tasmania game), and will be a great chance to get away with the League Men’s and Women’s sides and spend some time together,” Ferrall said.

Keeping a stable list from the 2024 season, Ferrall said he was hopeful and confident of development from within the existing squad.

“We didn’t go chasing a lot (of recruits) because I don’t think we need a lot,” he said.

“We want to promote growth from within. You look at Kate Alexander who played as a League ruck at 15 years old, so she will get better. And, Charlee Brooksby who had an injury-interrupted season last year – she was an All Australian U16 in 2024.

“Those two as well as Elke Cameron and Charli Hazelhurst, we can promote our youth to help us improve.”

Hazelhurst – who turns 18 next month – has been selected in SA squads for both Netball and Football and looms to be a potential AFLW draftee at the end of the 2025 season.

Ferrall said Hazelhurst (17 years old), Alexander (16) and Brooksby (17) had been outstanding throughout the 2025 pre-season.

“There’s a reason I talk about these girls, the hard work they put in is amazing,” he said.

Ferrall said the club had signed Tasmanian Ellie Poke for the upcoming season.

“Ellie came across to Norwood late last season, she’s played State U18s for Tasmania. She’s a smart ball-user, decision maker, has good leg speed and is really fit. She could be a weapon for us off half back,” he said.

“We lost Charlotte Nenke who was a very underrated defender, so we had to strengthen up that area of the ground. Ellie will help down back.”

Norwood plays South Adelaide at Magain Stadium in Round 1 in a Grand Final rematch on Saturday, March 15.

Finished – 2nd

Record – 7 wins, 6 losses, 1 draw (minor round)
2 wins, 1 loss (finals)

Best and Fairest
Jade Halfpenny

Runner-up
Tahlita Buethke

Best Finals Player
Kiana Lee

Fortis Award
Shai Hiscock

League Women’s Coaches Award
Adrienne Davies

Rising Star
Charli Hazelhurst

Best First Year Player
Candice Belbin

The Advertiser SANFLW Team of the Year – Tahlita Buethke (Half-Back Flank), Jade Halfpenny (Centre Half-Forward)

COMING
Amalie Innes (North Adelaide), Timeka Cox (Broadview/North Adelaide), Ellie Poke (Tassie Devils/Wynyard), Georgie Jacques (returned/Port Adelaide AFLW)

GOING
Tesharna Maher (Central District), Alana Lishmund (West Adelaide), Charlotte Nenke (Study), Kaitey Whittaker (Glenelg)

Saturday February 22
Central District v Norwood at X Convenience Oval from 12.30pm

Sunday March 2
Norwood v Tasmania (Hobart)