Norwood’s powerful minor round campaign has been reflected in having a competition-high five players selected in the 2026 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.
Preparing to tackle Sturt in Sunday’s Second Semi-Final after winning the minor premiership, the Redlegs are also represented by their coach Jade Sheedy, who was chosen as the Hostplus SANFL League’s best mentor.
Sheedy, who was also Coach of the Year when he guided the Eagles to the 2020 premiership, took his side from a fifth-placing in last year’s minor round to top spot in 2026 with an imposing 15-3 win-loss record and a healthy percentage of 63.28.
Norwood, which has won 15 of its past 16 matches, is represented by ball magnet Nik Rokahr (rover), much-improved forward Tristan Binder (forward pocket), versatile Finn Heard (centre half-forward), star recruit Aaron Francis (centre half-back) and rebounding defender Cooper Murley (back pocket).
Qualifying Finalists Sturt and Glenelg, together with South Adelaide, had three players selected.
Magarey Medallist Tom Lewis, named in the centre, is a fitting choice as the elite team’s captain while triple Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie, lining up at full forward, is the vice captain after his stunning performance with the Tigers.
Double Blues Will Snelling (interchange) and Will Coomblas (full back) are the other players chosen from Unley while consistent Corey Lyons (half-forward flank) and reliable Jonty Scharenberg (half-back flank) join Hosie from the Bay.
The Panthers had livewire forward Jack Delean (forward pocket) and dashing defender Harley Sparks (half-back flank) selected for the first time while their vice-captain Ollie Davis landed on the interchange bench.
Delean and Sparks are among 12 Team of the Year debutants, joined by Binder, Francis, Murley and Heard, Adelaide pair Blake Drury (half-forward flank) and Reilly O’Brien (ruck), Bulldog Josh Fahey (wing), Eagles hard nut Ted Clohesy (ruck rover) and North duo Angus Schumacher (interchange) and Cody Raak (back pocket).
Elimination Finalist West Adelaide had prolific midfielder Kobe Ryan (wing) and experienced Chris Burgess (interchange) represented after their stunning rise into the major round for the first time since the 2015 premiership.
Lewis (five Team of the Year selections), Hosie (four), Rokahr, Coomblas and Snelling (three) are the most capped players in the side.
Bottom-placed Port Adelaide was the only club without a player selected.
The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year was selected by SANFL’s Sean Toohey, Daniel Joyce and Zac Milbank, The Advertiser’s Andrew Capel, Football Budget editor Peter Cornwall, and Channel 7’s John Casey.
Courtesy SANFL & Zac Milbank
