Former Shepparton gun and 2024 Sandover medallist Nik Rokahr has returned to SANFL juggernaut Norwood following a stellar season out west.
Rokahr, who claimed the WAFL’s highest individual honour last year off the back of a sparkling campaign for Swan Districts, had voiced a desire to return to South Australia at the end of 2024.
And after some toing and froing, the hulking on-baller has got his wish.
Rokahr is set to throw on his famous number nine guernsey on Saturday night as the Redlegs gear up to face North Adelaide in the SANFL season opener.
To say he is pumped to be a Norwood player again would be a grave understatement.
“I would like to thank Norwood for all the work they have done over the past few months to help make this happen,” he told Norwoodfc.com.au
“I can’t wait to be back in the Norwood guernsey, I love the club, the coaches, staff and players.
“So many Norwood people have done so much for me and to have the pleasure to play there again is amazing.
“I’m ready to get stuck into the season and work with the boys.
“There’s some new faces, some familiar faces, a new coach. It’s a very optimistic time at the club with so much upside. I want to be a part of it and add to the group as best I can.”
Rokahr returns to Coopers Stadium with fond memories of his previous four-year stint.
In 2022, the 30-year-old reaped premiership success with another of the 2018 Shepparton premiership fraternity — recent AFL debutant Harry Boyd — in a thrilling one-point grand final win over North Adelaide.
Rokahr is also a two-time best-and-fairest winner with the Redlegs and it came to no-one’s surprise when the former Bear cut the competition to ribbons during his debut season in the WAFL.
He averaged 29.7 disposals, 4.4 marks and 4.1 tackles a game in a year where the Swans bowed out in a preliminary final to eventual premier Peel Thunder.
Understandably, Norwood football general manager Richard Kelly was thrilled to have Rokahr rejoin the Redlegs for the 2025 SANFL charge.
“To welcome a player of Nik’s calibre back into the midfield mix is fantastic,” he said.
“The midfield depth of Rokahr, Billy Cootee, Mitch O’Neill, Jacob Kennerley, Baynen Lowe, Charlie Molan, Ben Simpson, Connor Ling, Mitch Nicholas and Alec Wright is really exciting.
“We think it’s a really strong midfield ready to hit the ground running.
“Nik has been looking forward to coming back to Norwood and now that its official we can get on with a big 2025.”
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