RUNNING hot into the league-wide bye last weekend, Norwood coach Brad Snell said his side is not setting any ceiling in season 2023. After starting the season 0-3 but losing the trio of games by a combined seven points, Norwood has hit its straps, stringing together four straight wins to return to Round 8 action sitting third.

The Redlegs suffered defeat at the hands of North Adelaide in Round 1, becoming the highest scoring loser in SANFL Women’s history, before a comeback against South Adelaide fell short, and fourth quarter fadeout against Central District left more heartache for the team.

“We were within a kick for all three,” Snell said. “The South one was disappointing because our start was so poor and then we won the last three quarters. Then against Centrals should have put them away in the third and then just fell asleep for the last five minutes. I think the feeling in the group was still pretty positive because we’d won more quarters than we lost.”

After going down to the Bulldogs in that Round 3 loss, the morale of the group was still high despite dropping to 0-3 for the season. Snell said the fact that no side had ever made finals from three consecutive losses to start the season was not discussed, but he was aware of it.

“The girls were super positive and we had a social event that Saturday after the third loss and the girls were all there and they sat together and that was really positive and I think that really showed since,” Snell said.

From that point on, Norwood has hardly missed a beat, taking care of Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, getting past reigning grand finalists Sturt, surviving a thriller against West Adelaide, and then dismantling in the in-form Glenelg. The last of those four wins was “absolutely, without a doubt” Norwood’s best victory, winning 7.6 (48) to 2.1 (13) over the Bays.

“I think we kept them scoreless for 75 minutes and that’s what a lot of our good work has come off,” Snell said. “(The players are) just starting to work out how each other plays, and how we want to play, so coming together effectively which is having that offensive benefit for us, but it was really, really good game of footy.”

Norwood returns to the scene of their Round 1 loss to North Adelaide, this time facing the Roosters in a Saturday afternoon clash at Coopers Stadium. Back in Round 1, the sides scored a combined 102 points with North Adelaide getting up 7.10 (52) to 7.8 (50). Snell said he was hoping for a different result this time around.

“I don’t want to leak seven or eight goals,” he said. “I know it’s a highlight for people watching seeing a shootout, but I’d like to keep the opposition to less than eight goals so I’m hoping they score a bit less, if we can score around that.

“But they’re also a very good side and we’re very excited to come up against last year’s premiers, best ourselves. I think the ladder position we just ignore, they’re a very good side.”

Snell highlighted Port Adelaide Rising Star Hannah Ewings as a player Norwood cannot afford to get off the chain, while defender and Power teammate Amelie Borg is another top-end talent who the Redlegs will need to be aware of kicking inside 50.

Though North has its star power, the Norwood coach is backing his side in as it welcomes back top-end youngster Molly Brooksby for the first time in 2023. Returning from repeat injuries, Brooksby comes with credentials every bit as good as the state’s top AFLW Draft prospects, according to Snell.

“She hurt her knee in a an Under 18s trial match and then coming back from that hurt her hammy and she’s just been incredible (in her rehab),” Snell said. “Sort of what I’ve seen from Piper Window this year I was hoping to see from Molly. “The way she’s gone about her rehab is just first class and she’s … proven that she’ll make that next step and we’re excited to have her even for one week before she’s got the 18s next week.”

In coming back to League action, Snell asked Brooksby whether she would prefer to play on a wing as she had last year, or inside as she has coming through the junior development pathways. In the end, while she will be on managed minutes, Snell said “a bit of both”.

“We’ll start her inside, and see how she goes,” Snell said. “She’s trained inside all preseason and one of our best trainers all preseason in there. We’re not going to push her, she’ll probably play lightly reduced minutes but I put it to her ‘Where would you rather play, in or out? and she said ‘I’d rather play in.

“In she goes. She’s a good player, but the good thing this week is she’s got Ebony O’Dea, Sachi Syme, Lana Schwerdt around her in the middle. Tahlita Buethke and Morgan Johnston on the outside. Sarah Branford, there’s class around her so she’s not a one-person showing in there.”

Brooksby will join fellow Under 18s State Academy member Coby Morgan in flying to Perth for a clash against Western Australia on April 30.

“(Coby’s) really exciting playing a small forward role, which is hard for a League player,” Snell said. She works her backside off. I’m excited to see how they go. It will be good.”

Prior to the Under 18s carnival, the Under 16s get underway this weekend, with the South Australian talent heading to Arden Street to take on Vic Metro. Norwood has three players named in the squad, with Charlie Hazelhurst, Asha Bianchi and Kyah Jaffer.

“Asha trained with us preseason and played a couple of trials and really smart forward,” Snell said. “Then Charli if she didn’t have 16s this week she probably would have been very close to playing League but she’s right on the edge and once the four girls go out in the next round she’ll be right in the mix to play League footy.

“The good thing with Charli is she can play anywhere, she can play key defence, key forward, play on a wing, on the ball or she can pinch-hit in the ruck. She’s talented for a 16-year-old and just a really good head on her shoulders. Kyah’s a more athletic type and really good at her netball too, see how that plays out. I’m excited for them.”

The SANFL Women’s competition has just five rounds remaining in the regular season, and Snell said that his goal for the side was simple. Keep doing what you are doing.

“Just keep working on that defensive side of our game and continuing to score,” Snell said. I think against Glenelg to keep them scoreless for 75 minutes and then kick six, seven ourselves going back the other. If you kick six or seven goals you’re going to win SANFLW games so we’re working really hard on our contest work.”

Norwood’s Development League team takes on South Adelaide in the grand final this weekend, with the Redlegs thus far unbeaten in the second tier of the state league. Snell declared the remainder of the season had “no ceilings” and that players from that Development League side would continue to “knock on the door” of a League spot.

The women’s program had also worked closely with the men’s successful one that took home the SANFL flag last season under coach Jade Rawlings, further illustrating the “one-club” mentality the Redlegs have at The Parade.

“We’re seeing every week small improvements and if we keep seeing those, I’m rapt,” Snell said. “Then obviously the individual improvement from each player then the team gets better. It’s one step at a time but I’m really happy with how the group’s growing and improving each week.”