2023 Hostplus Norwood Pocket Profile

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Redlegs heading into the 2023 Hostplus SANFL League season.

Saturday March 4
Norwood 11.16 (82) d Central 8.8 (56) at Hisense Stadium

Saturday March 11
Sturt 11.10 (76) d Norwood 6.5 (41) at Hisense Stadium

Saturday March 18
Norwood v Eagles at The Parade – 1.30pm

Norwood’s forward structure will take on a new look through the return of delisted Hawthorn spearhead Jackson Callow.

Managing three AFL games with the Hawks last year, Callow opted to head back to The Parade for season 2023 after being selected at pick No.17 in the 2021 AFL Midseason Rookie Draft.

Set to be used alongside premiership pair Connor McLean and Luke Surman, Callow will require a sizeable match-up from an opponents point of view given he measures in at 194cm and 96kg.

”He draws the ball, he’s a high-end marker of the ball,” Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said of the 20-year-old Tasmanian.

”He’s matured in personality in terms of natural growth as a person, as well as understanding how to train.”

Callow, originally from North Launceston FC, will be a touch and go prospect for Round 1 after undergoing surgery in the off-season.

”He came to us with an ankle surgery so he might be borderline at the start of the year – he might be a slow starter,” Rawlings said.

”But whenever you can bring in a key forward into your team it is always helpful.”

Keep an eye out for Matthew Dnistriansky when watching Norwood in 2023.

A member of SA’s U16 side in 2019, Dnistriansky has been held back by injury in his development but is now ready to progress in the Redlegs’ senior program.

”He can play, Matty,” Norwood coach Jade Rawlings said of the 19-year-old, who played 14 Reserves games last year.

”He’s a really good person who cares about his footy. He held leadership positions as a junior.

”He had a shoulder injury which held him back more than what people realised so it took a while to grasp senior footy last year.

”Kicking has been his weapon but he’s lifted at the contest and understands more positional play now.

”Hopefully he comes through as he does everything you can ask of a young man.”

Torrens University SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles the Redlegs’ players in 2023.

Logan Evans
Logan has completed his preseason with Norwood at senior level, after playing six Reserves games last year.
Logan developed his game last season to enable him to progress up a level and hold his own against bigger, more experienced players at SANFL Reserves level.

He plays in a similar manned to his former Redlegs teammate Max Michalanney at the same age. A medium-sized defender who competes consistently well to win or break even in his one-on-one battles, Logan can also create an extra player at the contest when needed. Encouragingly, Logan tested fourth fastest for Agility at the Centre of Excellence Testing day in February.

Brayden Rachwal
Brayden is a medium-sized forward who can really work his opponent over with hard and smart running patterns ahead of the ball.

He tends to play tall for his size (189cm) and therefore proves to be a difficult match up for the opposition.

Brayden kicked 24 goals for Norwood’s U18 team last season, second behind key forward Phoenix Foster, who kicked 26.

Brayden is completing his Year 12 study at Henley High School this year.