NORWOOD has advanced to the 2026 SANFLW Grand Final, holding off a persistent North Adelaide challenge to record a 13-point preliminary final victory, 8.4 (52) to 5.9 (39), at Coopers Stadium yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Redlegs emerged from a contest featuring nine lead changes to reach their first decider since 2024, where a rematch with Woodville-West Torrens awaits. North Adelaide won the clearances 36-29 and generated 42 inside 50s to 30, but Norwood\u2019s aerial edge and superior finishing proved decisive. The home side took 43 marks to 28 and converted 8.4 compared to the Roosters\u2019 wasteful 5.9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Adelaide brought immediate heat, with Amber Ward<\/a> sending a flying snap across the face inside the opening minute before a shot from Heidi Berkin was stopped on the goalline. Norwood absorbed the early pressure and made its first clean opportunity count when Elke Cameron<\/a> threw the ball onto her boot and found Kaianne Colbung-Ware<\/strong> directly in front for the opening goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The intensity remained high around the ground. Abby Klaebe<\/strong> won a holding-the-ball free with a terrific tackle on Zara Molloy<\/a> in the back pocket, while Emily Bartsch<\/a> produced a strong run-down tackle as the Redlegs\u2019 defence stood up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Polly Turner<\/a> marked 40 metres out and played on in search of extra distance, only for her shot to slide right. North Adelaide\u2019s pressure eventually produced a deserved major when Aprille Crooks<\/a> released a clever handball to Laura Niejalke<\/a>, who snapped truly to hand the Roosters a three-point quarter-time lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Norwood struck quickly in the second term. Lani Cocks<\/a> and Jade Halfpenny<\/a> combined after a North Adelaide turnover, allowing Amelia Rusden<\/a> to finish from close range and put the Redlegs back in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The advantage lasted only minutes. Nicola Burns<\/a> drove inside 50 and hit Ward on the lead, with the Roosters captain converting her set shot. Cocks then intercepted the kickout in the forward pocket, won a 25-metre penalty after being collected late and high and walked to the goalsquare to restore Norwood\u2019s lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The momentum continued to swing. Nevaeh Ebert<\/a> delivered cleanly into attack, where Turner worked Georgie Jaques<\/a> under the ball, gathered a favourable bounce and snapped the Roosters back ahead. Jazmine Egan<\/a> missed a chance to answer after winning a free in the pocket, but Rusden made no mistake late in the half. Her long-range kick bounced over the waiting pack in the goalsquare to give Norwood a five-point advantage at the main break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Adelaide had the first three scoring shots of the third term but could not make its pressure count. Molloy missed from 15 metres directly in front, before Turner added another behind after a forward entry slipped through her hands. The Roosters finally regained the lead when Crooks sent the ball deep and Isabella Beaumont<\/a> snuck forward, ran onto the loose ball and finished from point-blank range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Norwood needed an answer and Stephanie Simmonds<\/a> provided it. After being caught holding the ball near goal only a minute earlier, the experienced forward clunked a strong mark, turned quickly and converted to put the Redlegs back in front. Cameron was again involved in the build-up, while Simmonds\u2019 reading of the play produced a second goal soon after as she gathered 15 metres out and dribbled through another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Adelaide continued to press, and Krystal Thompson<\/a> looked certain to reduce the margin with a flying shot late in the term. Amy Gaedtke<\/a> scrambled back to touch the ball on the line, preserving Norwood\u2019s seven-point lead heading into the final change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Roosters suffered a major blow two minutes into the fourth quarter when star defender Jamie Parish<\/a> was hurt in a heavy collision inside defensive 50 and could not return. Norwood controlled the early territory, and Cocks produced the match-breaking moment when she burst from a stoppage and slammed home a running goal to stretch the margin to 13 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Simmonds all but sealed the result three minutes later. The forward read the loose ball superbly in the pocket, gathered cleanly and snapped with the bounce carrying it through for her third goal. Norwood had opened a 19-point lead and, after so many momentum changes across the opening three quarters, finally had breathing room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North Adelaide refused to concede. Thompson used her speed to beat two opponents and launch another attack before Chloe Nettle<\/a> converted from 35 metres out to reduce the margin to 13 points. The Roosters kept pushing, but their finishing deserted them at the crucial moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cameron\u2019s late snap was gathered by Burns, whose attempt missed, while Ward was unable to take a clean possession inside 50 and Jaques wrapped her up to win holding the ball. Crooks then had a final chance running towards an open goal, only for her kick to drift across the face for North Adelaide\u2019s ninth behind. Norwood safely negotiated the remaining time and booked its place in the premiership decider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cocks was the standout across four quarters, finishing with 22 disposals, two goals, five clearances, four tackles and three inside 50s. Halfpenny was influential with 20 disposals, six marks, five clearances and four inside 50s, while Cameron\u2019s speed and creativity yielded 18 disposals, four clearances and two inside 50s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sophie Palmer<\/strong> provided 17 disposals, five marks and five tackles, and Ella Anderson<\/a> used the ball well from defence with 15 disposals and three rebound 50s. Simmonds\u2019 three goals from nine disposals and four marks supplied the decisive forward-half impact, while Rusden kicked two goals and laid five tackles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Klaebe was resolute behind the ball with 11 disposals, six tackles and four rebound 50s, while Bartsch added 10 touches, five tackles and three rebound 50s. Gaedtke worked hard in the ruck with 18 hitouts and four tackles, and Mia Wood<\/a> laid six tackles in a typically committed performance off the wing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turner was North Adelaide\u2019s most dangerous player inside 50 with 16 disposals, four marks, four tackles and 1.3, while Crooks matched her 16 touches and drove the Roosters forward five times. Caitlin Hardin<\/a> fought hard with 15 disposals, six tackles, five clearances and four inside 50s, and Ward added 13 disposals, three marks, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lakeisha Sheffield<\/a> won a game-high six clearances from 11 disposals, while Thompson collected 15 touches and repeatedly threatened with her speed. Jasmine Dallimore<\/a> led the ruck battle with 21 hitouts, but North Adelaide\u2019s 42 inside 50s and 36 clearances ultimately returned only five goals as its six-game winning streak and season came to an end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n NORWOOD 1.0 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 8.4 (52) GOALS: RMC BEST: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
NORTH ADELAIDE 1.3 | 3.4 | 4.8 | 5.9 (39)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwood: <\/strong>S. Simmonds 3, A. Rusden 2, L. Cocks 2, K. Colbung-Ware
North Adelaide: <\/strong>P. Turner, A. Ward, I. Beaumont, C. Nettle, L. Niejalke<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwood: <\/strong>L. Cocks, S. Simmonds, J. Halfpenny, S. Palmer, E. Cameron
North Adelaide: <\/strong>A. Crooks, P. Turner, C. Hardin, A. Ward, L. Sheffield<\/p>\n\n\n\n