Round 18 Teams: Mitch O’Neill to make return against North Adelaide

Norwood midfielder Mitch O’Neill will make his long awaited return from injury during Friday night’s Round 18 match against North Adelaide at Coopers Stadium.

O’Neill last took to the field back in the Round 7 win over Central District in Elizabeth and has since been sidelined with an ankle injury.

The former West Coast Eagle had made a big impact in his first seven matches at The Parade since crossing over from South Adelaide in the off-season, averaging 26 disposals, six clearances and six tackles, and chalking up seven wins.

O’Neill joins Jayden Gale and Alex van Wyk as inclusions in the extended 25-man squad for Friday night’s game against North Adelaide.

If selected it would be a debut for the young ruckman van Wyk who has put together a quality season in the Reserves, averaging 16 disposals and 29 hitouts from his 14 matches to lead the Reserves League in hitouts by 16 in 2024.

Last week the 20-year-old van Wyk had a career high 26 disposals to go with his 11 marks and 22 hitouts in a 43-point win over South Adelaide’s Reserves.

Scroll down to see the teams below.

There’s a lot riding on this Round 18 match for both Norwood and North Adelaide, with the Redlegs locked in a fierce battle with Sturt to claim top spot on the ladder.

Norwood has chalked up a top two spot and ensured the double chance following last week’s 55-point win over the Panthers, and now it’s all about gaining the minor premiership and the reward of having the Bye in the first week of finals.

The Redlegs must keep winning, with the Double Blues showing no signs of slowing down – currently on an 11-game winning streak and just 0.6% behind Norwood on the ladder, with both sides locked on a 13-3 win-loss record.

Norwood has North Adelaide and Woodville-West Torrens, while Sturt have West Adelaide and Adelaide in the final two matches of the home and away season.

The Roosters are also desperate this Friday night, sitting sixth on the Ladder, and doing their best to chase down the fifth placed Eagles who have lost their last six matches.

North have a lot of weapons at their disposal, with the League’s leading goal kicker Mitch Harvey (41 goals) in good form, booting 10 from his last two outings, while Campbell Combe, Alex Spina and Harrison Wigg are amongst the leading disposal winners in the competition.

Norwood has its own key figures, including Harry Boyd who leads the League in hitouts by 190 and clearances by 50. O’Neill will complement a midfield group that’s flying, with the likes of Baynen Lowe, Billy Cootee, Jacob Kennerley, Alec Wright, Jake Cresswell and Declan Hamilton having fantastic seasons.

The Redlegs forward line has had a fantastic spread of goal kickers, with Jackson Callow leading the way on 24, Izaak Twelftree 21, Connor McLean 21, Lowe 14, Finn Heard 13 and Sam Morris nine.

Friday night’s match gets underway under the VAILO lights at 7:40pm, with the Reserves from 5pm. The Round 18 Match Day Sponsor is VAILO

It’s going to be a big night a Coopers Stadium this Friday, as the club hosts its annual FORTIS Army and Remembrance Round fixture.

The FORTIS Army Match has been an integral part of the Norwood Football Club since the 2020 Covid-19 interrupted season, where the club invited members and supporters down onto the playing surface pre-game to form a guard of honour for the Redlegs players to run through at The Parade End.

At the time it was a thank you to members and supporters that stuck by the club and purchased the “FORTIS ARMY” apparel range during the period when the club couldn’t operate during the 2020 Covid-19 season, and has been a key round on the calendar ever since – taking place at the last home game of each season.

Fortis in Procella – Strength in Adversity

This Friday, Norwood is scheduled to run on the field at 7:30pm from their Parade End race. Please make your way onto the ground after the Reserves match and form the guard of honour, which will snake from the players race to the Eastern Wing.

Make your way off the ground as quickly as possible so the players can warm up down the Southern End.

At 7:20pm – the Remembrance Round Video will be played on the big screen, as our club tributes Norwood players, officials, members, supporters and Redlegs people who have passed away.