The 2026 SANFLW Coaching Group

The Norwood Football Club has finalised the Senior Women’s coaching group ahead of the 2026 SANFLW pre-season, which kicks off next week. 

It was announced back in September that Ben Hunt would take over the reins as senior coach of the SANFLW side, heading to The Parade after a long and successful coaching career at local and SANFLW level.

As both a senior and assistant coach with Adelaide Footy League club Payneham Norwood Union, “Rex” Hunt has overseen multiple Grand Final and Premiership sides across Senior Men’s, Senior Women’s and Junior level, before heading to Central District where he led the Bulldogs to their first ever SANFLW Premiership in 2023.

Supporting Hunt in his first year at Norwood will be, Kelly Rossi, Travis Miller, Jason Cosgrove, Simon Barrett and Cameron Best.

Rossi will continue as female football manager and take on the role of bench coach on game day, while Best will remain as team manager.

Assistant coaches Barrett and Miller have also crossed over to Norwood from Centrals, where they coached under Hunt, while Cosgrove will go into his third year as an assistant coach within the Redlegs Women’s program.

Rossi highlighted the strength and diversity within the coaching group chosen to guide Norwood’s SANFLW program into a fresh chapter under Hunt’s leadership and within the newly structured competition (replacing the Development League for an U18 comp).

“This group brings an impressive mix of experience and perspective,” she said.

“They’ve already shown a strong ability to collaborate, and there’s a real sense of momentum around what we can achieve together in 2026.

“We’re eager to launch into pre-season, with preparations beginning next week.”

Also announced last month was Norwood’s inaugural U18 Girls coach, Bri Arthur, who heads to the Redlegs after a successful playing career with North Adelaide, and a strong coaching apprenticeship with the Roosters and also within the state and school system – full story here.

Arthur’s assistant coaches include, Alex Freeman, Jordan Tronnolone and Simon Butler.

Also working closely with Rossi, Arthur and the club’s Talent Manager Craig Roberts, will be past player Shenae Walker, who has taken on the role of Female Junior Pathways Coordinator.