2025 Hostplus SANFL League First Semi Final Preview

First Semi Final

Adelaide v Norwood | 12:15pm | Live and free on Seven and 7Plus | Live radio on 1629 SEN SA & SEN App

Head to Head – Overall
Played – 25
Adelaide – 11
Norwood – 14
Drawn – 0

Head to Head – Finals
Played – 3
Adelaide – 2
Norwood – 1

Recent Form
Adelaide won the last two matches, Norwood the previous three

Last Finals Meeting
2022 Preliminary Final – Norwood 12.9 (81) d Adelaide 10.10 (70) at Adelaide Oval

2025 Meetings
Round 16 – Adelaide 12.11 (83) d Norwood 8.15 (63) at The Parade
Round 5 – Adelaide 14.5 (89) d Norwood 8.20 (68) at Centenary Oval, Port Lincoln

It’s the match-up Nostradamus would have had trouble predicting.
Who would have thought Norwood would be in the first semi-final? And who watching last week’s qualifying final would have expected the Crows to be in the cut-throat early game?

But the unpredictability of it all is something we love about sport. Even the bounce of our beloved footy can turn the game on its head.

Crows coach Matthew Wright noted a ‘wrong’un’ on the wing that led to Glenelg’s matchwinning last-gasp behind as Adelaide, which had led the premier at every break and by 13 points 12 minutes into the last quarter in slippery conditions, suddenly was two wins away from a first grand final appearance rather than one.

It all starts again now, the Legs looking to beat a top-three side for the first time this season. But they’ve been used to these challenges – last week they beat a top-four side for the first time in 2025, having to battle back from behind at quarter and three-quarter time to knock Central out in the elimination final.

Norwood is now in the top four for the first time. Just at the right time. The Redlegs, who kicked off the year with five straight losses, were never even in the top five until Round 18, then in the ‘elimination final’ to reach the actual elimination final, against Port Adelaide at The Parade, they trailed by as many as 35 points.

They just won’t concede, building serious momentum when you want it most. They haven’t beaten the Crows this season but they also haven’t been that far away, beaten 8.20 to 14.5 in Round 5 and 8.15 to 12.11 in Round 16.

With their kicking boots on, the Legs, with Nik Rokahr and Billy Cootee on fire in the midfield, ruckman Finn Heard growing in stature by the week and Jacob Kennerley inspirationally leading the way, could produce another wrong’un.

But the Crows have been a force all season for good reason and loom as being stronger this week as their attempt to win flags at AFL and SANFL levels nears crunch time.

They’ve got such a depth of talent, you don’t know who is going to bob up and hurt you. In the qualifying final it was Brayden Cook, who loomed as the matchwinner with six goals by early in the third quarter in tough conditions, only for the win – and his moment in the spotlight – to be snatched away in the dramatic finale that was Glenelg’s one-point miracle.

Adelaide has the two dominant big men in the league in Lachlan McAndrew, the ruckman of the SANFL Team of the Year this season, and Kieran Strachan, in the previous four.

Chris Burgess won a place in the all-star team with 52 goals in the monor round, while Jordan Butts and James Borlase have been huge down back and midfielder Harry Schoenberg keeps getting his hands on the Sherrin.

While the Crows’ finish didn’t go to plan, Norwood’s could not have gone better as, trailing by nine points at the last change, it piled on 6.1 to 1.4 in a stunning final-quarter domination.

Rokahr was dynamic with 27 disposals and 10 tackles but Redlegs coach Jade Sheedy loved most the even spread of performances and “everyone doing their job”. “The players are a mature group and those experienced players do a great job leading the way when we are being tested,” he said.

You have to love Adelaide boss Wright’s passion and love for the game. He loves being a part of great footy contests and win, lose or draw, the big games are where he wants his team to be.

“It was a great game to be part of and while it didn’t fall our way in the end, I was really proud of the group,” he said, knowing another big one was just a week away.