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By: Daniel Cencic
Twitter: @DC_EFL
Widely-touted as one of the most promising lists in the competition, Norwood will be looking for a finals berth under new senior coach Patrick Bowden this season.
Norwood finished sixth on the Division 1 ladder in 2017, recording 10 wins and eight losses – with six of those victories in succession in the back half of the year.
Such was the promise of the Norsemen in 2017 that they defeated a formidable Vermont outfit in Round 16 to the tune of 24 points – the only side to do so during the home and away season.
Just missing the final five, Norwood also lost five matches by less than three goals, which Bowden has been analysing this pre-season.
“They were the only team to beat Vermont last year which is a good sign, and they lost a few close ones as well last year which I’ve been having a bit of a look at,” Bowden said.
“There’s sort of a breadth of experience across the group, we’ve got some guys who are getting towards 24-25 which is a nice age to be when you’re playing this level of footy.
“We’re hoping they can continue their growth and improvement and add to the experience that we have that will create a more diverse football team.”
Bowden, who was appointed in September succeeding 2014 premiership coach Denis Knight, says the group is driven by missing the finals in two consecutive years.
“A pass-mark would have to be playing finals footy, that’s probably a standard for every club – if you’re not playing finals footy, you’re not really anywhere,” Bowden said.
“That’s where Norwood have been disappointed in their own performances in the last couple of years, and I think that’s really driving the group.
“They’ve been really good in sticking together and staying together as a footy club, because I think they know that they can do better than what they’ve shown over the last couple of years.”
The Norsemen have picked up former Melbourne and West Coast Eagles player Jamie Bennell, who played 87 AFL games from 2009-2016.
Joining the club after a stellar 2017 season with WAFL side Swan Districts, Bennell will play with former Melbourne teammates Sam Blease and Jordan Gysberts.
Ruckman Connor O’Sullivan, a member of Norwood’s 2014 Division 1 premiership side, has returned to Mullum Reserve after a stint at Box Hill.
Bowden is also excited about the scope for development within the current crop of players.
“I think the notable guys will be the ones that have been at the footy club for a few years and will take the next step in their development and create the 22 players that you need on the footy field to play really good football,” he said.
Spearhead Leigh Williams is coming off a memorable 2017 campaign, booting 70 goals to take out the All Trophies Division 1 Leading Goal-Kicker award.
Williams was also named at centre half-forward in the SEN Division 1 Team of the Year, and was voted best on ground for his match-winning performance in the EFL’s WorkSafe AFL Victoria Community Championships clash with the Essendon league.
“He’s fit and been really working hard on his leadership at the footy club,” Bowden said.
“We’ve sort of got eight to 10 guys in the (leadership) group spanning from the older guys like Leroy (Williams), Stuart Hill and Rhett Jordan, all the way down to some of the 21-year-olds which we’re hoping can become a bit of a progression plan for those guys as young leaders of the footy club.
“Leigh’s been a big part of that and really driving those guys to step up in their leadership.
“His football ability speaks for itself so we’re hoping he can add more to the footy club rather than just his marks and kicks on the field.”
Norwood will once again field a senior women’s side in the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s Competition.
Strong numbers at training have driven the women’s group this pre-season.
“We’re travelling pretty well, numbers have been good at training – we have about 24 on the list with about another six or seven that have been coming spasmodically,” senior women’s coach Graham Hewitt said.
“We’re really excited and this is our fifth year of having girls and women’s, and our second year of having an open-age women’s team. They’re really enjoying it and embracing it – it’s really exciting.”
Hewitt said the aim is to improve on last season’s ninth-placed finish which saw just two wins, however, his side managed to push grand finallists Bayswater and the Waverley Blues.
“Our aim is to win more games and be more competitive and make sure we allow all girls to develop and better our results from last year,” Hewitt said.
“We lost to both grand final sides by less than four goals, so hopefully we can push them a bit closer.”
A leadership team of five has been named, including Brooke Clare, Kendall Seath, Kristelle Vanderwolf, Cassandra Wilson and Tania Winchester (pictured).
The leadership group of five. PICTURE: Norwood Senior Women’s Football Facebook page.
Vanderwolf, who also plays for the Melbourne Ice women’s team in the Australian Women’s Ice Hockey League, experienced the ultimate last weekend when her side took out the championship.
Hewitt said her leadership around the club has been invaluable in Norwood’s pursuit to climb the ladder this year.
