2026 Hostplus Pocket Profile – North Adelaide

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Roosters heading into the 2026 Hostplus SANFL League season.

COMING
James Battersby (Sturt), Charlie Haysman (West Adelaide), Jake Cresswell (Norwood), Josh Gillow (Norwood), Oli Francou (returned/Port Adelaide SANFL), James Van Wyk (Norwood), Amin Naim (Newport/Northern Bullants)

GOING
Keenan Ramsey (retired), Ewan Mackinlay (Port Adelaide), Lee Minervini (retired/Modbury), Sam Cumming (Richmond), James Willis (Modbury), Noah Casalini (Queensland), Charlie Dinning (Horsham), Brodie Findlay (Sandringham VFL), Nigel Lockyer (Merbein, Victoria), Jack McCann (Flinders Park), Josh Smith (Central District), Kye Prfengle (Sydney), Kym Lebois (West Augusta), Zavier Maher (Collingwood VFL), Lachlan Grubb (GWS – VFL), Jarman Sigal (Moonta), Jake Patmore, Oskar Faulkhead, Will Tasker, Brad Ashcroft

Friday March 6
Norwood v North Adelaide at The Parade from 7.40pm

Saturday March 14
South Adelaide v North Adelaide at Magain Stadium from 2.10pm

While James Battersby undoubtedly is the highest profile name to land at Prospect during the off-season, Norwood signing Jake Creswell is eager to make an even bigger splash with the Roosters.

Now at his third Hostplus SANFL League club after starting with South Adelaide, the no-frills wingman is determined to rekindle the form he displayed during 2024 when he was a consistent pillar in the Redlegs’ run to the title-decider.

Measuring in at 183cm, the boy from Clarence in Tasmania is in super fit condition, which he put on display during preseason running exercises whilst consistenly featuring in the frontmarkers.

A fresh start under new coach Josh Francou could be just the spark the son of Sydney Swans great Daryn Cresswell needs in 2026.

Coming off an outstanding campaign personally in 2025, North Adelaide’s Dyson Hilder has taken this momentum into his summer schedule.

The 24-year-old tall utility has continued to impress with his application to training while setting high standards, recording a personal best in the 2km time trial.

Hilder looked in cruise control during preseason training running exercises at Prospect, near the front of his group whilst being one of the strongest runners amongst the key position players.

Making his West End State team debut last season, Hilder is primed for another big campaign in 2026, leaving new coach Josh Francou with plenty to ponder in terms of where to use the versatile swingman.

SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles the Roosters’ players in 2026.

Ethan Herbert
Ethan is in his third year in the SANFL State pathway programs, having been involved at U16 at state level and as an U17 in our U18 AFL Nationals Championship winning team last year. He is also in the AFL national academy program. Big “Sauce” is a highly-skilled, and co-ordinated, tall athlete who has a background in state basketball programs as well. Ethan has already developed a solid foundation in his ruck craft and is now looking to improve his ability to influence the game playing as a key forward.

Zack Young
Zacky is one of our very exciting First Nation players who brings great excitement to the game when he has the ball in his hands. He is also part of Port Adelaide’s NGA Academy program and has been lucky enough to have some involvement in their AFL preseason program in the last few months. Zacky plays as a high defender who can take care of a direct opponent while also reading the opposition ball movement to intercept and then get his team into fast offence.

Memphis Webb
Memphis was in our U16 state team when he played in a half-forward/midfield rotation and performed well. Unfortunately, he had to have a knee reconstruction in April last year after rupturing his ACL playing for NAFC as an U17. Over the past 10 months, he has been very committed to following his detailed rehabilitation program while also adding significant size and strength in the gym.