No Nunn, no Rokahr, no problem for Redlegs as new boys shine

No Nunn, no Rokahr, was supposed to mean no Redlegs. But a pair of new boys - and a key positional change - has sensationally driven Norwood back to the SANFL summit, writes Andrew Capel.

When Norwood captain Jacob Kennerley heard the shock news that his star midfield sidekicks Matthew Nunn and Nik Rokahr were exiting The Parade at the end of last season, his immediate reaction was “what are we going to do now?’’

“It was definitely that sort of moment,’’ he said.

Hard-nut Nunn had captained the Redlegs to their last premiership in 2022 while super-reliable ball magnet Rokahr had won two club champion awards in three years and twice finished runner-up for the Magarey Medal.

“We lost some pretty key players at the end of last year, ‘Nunny’ and ‘Rokes’ were huge losses for us,’’ said Kennerley, whose side had slumped from premier in 2022 to seventh last season.

At the time, Norwood 2022 premiership mentor Jade Rawlings, while emphasising his respect for the star pair, stressed that the team is always bigger than individuals.

“Every club every season goes through players departing for whatever reason, it’s just the natural flow of this competition, so it’s how you adapt to it,’’ he said.

“Sometimes you call players irreplaceable but the exuberance of youth and the unknown is what you look for.

“Any team that has been successful has usually had someone emerge and that’s what we’ll be looking for.’’

Norwood’s new midfield brigade, from left, captain Jacob Kennerley, Billy Cootee, Baynen Lowe and Mitch O'Neill at The Parade as the team trained in preparation for Sunday’s SANFL grand final. Picture: Keryn Stevens

They were prophetic words.

Nunn and Rokahr’s successors did emerge - in a major way.

Two came from outside the club, one from within.

The Redlegs signed contested ball king Mitch O’Neill from SANFL rival South Adelaide and Essendon VFL captain Billy Cootee, who had shown great leadership qualities, despite being only 21.

Early in the season, they made another key move when 2022 premiership small forward Baynen Lowe was shifted into the centre square.

The result was astonishing.

With star ruckman and 2024 joint Magarey Medallist Harry Boyd leading the way and supplying his midfielders with silver service, Norwood’s new-look on-ball brigade became a key weapon in its charge to its first minor premiership since 2018.

While Boyd tied for the Magarey Medal with Sturt midfielder Will Snelling on 34 votes, Lowe, O’Neill and Cootee all finished in the top 15 in votegetting.

Lowe polled 15 votes, O’Neill 12 and Cootee nine, rounding out the Redlegs’ top four.

Between them they have averaged 23 disposals, six tackles and four clearances this season.

Lowe also has hit the scoreboard, kicking 18 goals.

While 2022 premiership player Kennerley - named sole captain this year after sharing the duties with Nunn last season - continued to be the midfield mainstay, the other trio not only filled the void left by the loss of Nunn (who joined Adelaide Footy League club Payneham Norwood Union) and Rokahr (who won this year’s WAFL Sandover Medal playing for Swan Districts) but they added a new dimension to the ‘Legs on-ball brigade with their speed and skill set.

Ace Norwood midfielder Billy Cootee celebrates kicking a goal against Central District in the SANFL second semi-final at Adelaide Oval. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

“Mitch has brought a real burst of speed and power around the contest while Billy has also been really strong for us,’’ said Kennerley.

“In 2022 Baynen provided some awesome forward craft for us but we always knew he had that (midfield qualities) in him and he’s been huge for us in that role this year, with his ability, speed and outside ball use.

“Everyone in there has their own set of skills and there’s definitely been more dynamicism.

“Guys have stepped up and I’ve been super proud of the way they’ve handled things.’’

Kennerley also paid tribute to new Norwood midfield coach Jesse Lonergan for his influence this season.

The dual Woodville-West Torrens premiership midfielder joined Rawlings’ coaching staff at the end of last season and has been instrumental in the rise of the ‘Legs new midfield unit.

“He’s been massive for us,’’ Kennerley said.

“I played a couple of seasons against Jesse and we used to nag at each other a fair bit on the field but he’s been awesome since he’s come to the club.

“His midfield craft has been awesome and it’s a massive credit to him for what he’s done.’’

In a strange twist, Lonergan was a member of the Eagles team that beat Glenelg in the 2021 grand final.

Now he will be hoping history repeats in his new role at Norwood.