Eastland 2025 Season Review | Norwood

A rebuild year for Norwood's Senior Men's side, as the Senior Women win a flag in their first season and the Netball program continued to build.

Senior Mens

Ladder Position: 9th (59.04%)

Season Summary:

It's been a challenging season for Norwood as they’re unable to register a win in their first season back in Division One.

It was the first year since 2006 that the club hadn’t been playing off in the top flight of the EFNL after relegation from Premier last year.

A very young side ran out for Norwood in 2025, facing tough competition in a nine-team division. At various stages of the season, they showed some promise and were competitive in some of their games.

The club’s Under 19.5’s program showed some promise, winning five games for the season. Many players from that side have been given a chance to shine at the senior level.

Key Players:

Liam Callaghan had a year to remember, taking out Norwood’s senior best and fairest award. Still eligible to play in the Under 19.5’s, Callaghan played 16 senior games, kicked 14 goals and was in the best 12 times. Not only internally, but externally, Callaghan was selected in the Team of the Year Squad.

Through his 13 games played this season, Hayden Paterson was one of the side’s most reliable players, the Norwood Best and Fairest Runner Up. Paterson averaged over 23 disposals and over 5 marks per game.

What’s Next?

With the nine-team competition, Norwood gets their chance to stay in Division One. They’ll need a big lift in 2026 to stay in the division once again.

The youth is positive; a full season at the senior level will only help these young players in the long term.

The club’s in big need of a boost of experience in the line-up. One major inclusion to be announced thus far is former Port Adelaide player Jesse Palmer. A huge boost to both the midfield group as well as their stocks up forward. Palmer has also played plenty of footy across the VFL through the Northern Bullants, the SANFL and the WAFL, most recently in 2023.

Norwood have also added 28-year-old Jack McKay, who stands at 201cms. McKay is coming off the back of a 2025 Senior best and fairest at Upwey-Tecoma, qualifying for the division Team of the Year. A great key-position player who will add some further experience to the group.

Senior Womens

Ladder Position: 1st (10-1, 394.48%)

Leading Goalkicker: Abbey Chapman (25 Goals)

Season Summary:

The best part of the 2025 season for the Norwood Football Netball Club was the successful addition of the Senior Women’s side.

Not only were they able to enter the competition this season, but they also dominated their division to take home the Division Five premiership.

Just the one blemish across the season, Norwood won ten of their eleven Home and Away games. Norwood conceded a total of just 163 points for the season, while piling on the goals up forward, 643 points for, which was 244 more than the second-best attacking side.

As minor premiers, Norwood faced Heathmont Blue on two occasions. In the first week of the finals, they won by 147 points against an undermanned Jets side.

On Grand Final Day, they were challenged by the Jets in what was a very even contest for three quarters. With just two points in it at the final break, Norwood kicked away to secure the Division Five flag.

Best Win: Grand Final – Norwood 5.8 38 def. Heathmont Blue 2.3 15 @ Quambee Reserve

As mentioned above, Norwood capped off a fantastic season with a 23-point Grand Final win over the Jets.

It may not have been one of the bigger wins on the scoreboard, but the ability to be challenged so well and to respond on the big stage was a major tick for the young group.

There were just three points in it with 14 minutes left in the game before Norwood booted the final three goals of the game. They also managed to hold Heathmont scoreless in the final quarter.

Key Players:

Lily Ellis won the club’s best and fairest, playing ten games this season, in the best in all but one. Ellis played last year in Norwood’s Under 18’s side and was one of the key players to move into the senior line-up this season.

Ellis made the EFNL Team of the Year squad along with Abbey Chapman, Maggie Caton and Norwood Captain, Alana Mawby.

Maggie Caton finished second in the club’s best and fairest award, also coming from Norwood’s junior girls program.

Abbey Chapman was the leading goalkicker of the division, booting 25 goals from 11 games. This included a bag of seven in the Qualifying Final against Heathmont and five goals against Templestowe in Round Seven.

What’s Next?

Next season will set to challenge the group as they take on a new division and sides that boast a bit of experience.

Premiership coach Tyler Benda announced that he will be stepping aside as senior coach, returning home. The role will be filled with Co-coaches Mick Caton and Steve Gregson for the 2026 season.

The club has now put together a great transition pathway for their junior girls' sides.

Netball

Team by Team

Premier: Norwood (3rd, 7-5)

Division One: Norwood Black (2nd, 10-4)

Division Two: Norwood Gold (2nd, 10-3-1)

Division Six: Norwood Yellow (5th, 6-8)

Division Ten: Norwood Purple (5th, 4-9)

Division Thirteen: Norwood White (5th, 6-8)

One of the stronger Netball programs in the Ringwood Mazda EFNL Netball competition, Norwood had another great season.

The club had its best run in Premier Division this season, finishing third on the Home and Away ladder, winning 7 of their 12 games. Unfortunately for the side, they finished up in the first week of the finals, going down by six goals to Vermont Gold in the semi-final.

Capping off great seasons, both Trinity Pierce and Rachael Walker were recognised for their great years as members of the Premier Division Team of the Year.

Two Norwood teams featured on Grand Final Night in Divisions One and Two. Both sides finished the year in second place in the respective divisions. The Division One decider saw Norwood Black come up against Bayswater Gold. A competitive performance saw the underdogs come up just six goals short.

Norwood Gold, who competed in Division Two, won a thrilling Grand Final against Surrey Park. The game entered Extra Time as they traded goal for goal with the Panthers. Norwood finished with a two-goal win to win the Division Two premiership. Amber Kendrick and Tahra Wright combined for 39 points on the night.

Across the six sides that competed in the competition, the club's best and fairest winners were Taylah Hamilton (Premier), Imogen Woodward (Div One), Alyssa Rodwell (Div Two), Alovi Gomes (Div Six), Maddi Woods (Div Ten), and Mary Ayuel (Div 13).