1980
Former Richmond (VFL) player Neil Balme was appointed as coach.
Despite a poor start to the season, Norwood steadily improved, winning 15 games, losing 11, and
finishing as runner-up to Port Adelaide in the Grand Final, 9-9 to 11-15.
Roger Woodcock set a club record when he played his 233rd game against Sturt at Unley, May 31.
He went on to play his 250th game on Grand Final day.
Michael Taylor also registered his 200th game during the season.
Representative for the Australian Carnival in Adelaide was Michael Taylor.
The Under 19s won the premiership defeating Port Adelaide 25-14 to 13-17.
Duncan Fosdike was awarded the Tomkins Medal for the Under 19 competition.
Greg Thomas was awarded the McCallum Medal for the Under 17 competition.
1981
Norwood won 15 games, lost 9, and drew 1, but finished third after a disappointing preliminary final
where the strong wind changed direction forcing the Redlegs to kick into it for 3 quarters.
Michael Aish was awarded the Magarey Medal as fairest and most brilliant player in the SANFL.
Roger Woodcock ended his career with 267 games and 602 goals.
Woodcock is one of only two players to kick 600 goals for Norwood.
Neil Button played his 200th game against West Torrens at Football Park, July 4.
Dean Renfrey was awarded the Tomkins Medal for the Under 19 competition.
Garry McIntosh was awarded the McCallum Medal for the Under 17 competition.
The Under 17s won the premiership defeating Port Adelaide 16-10 to 15-10.
1982
After sitting in sixth position on the ladder, the Redlegs stormed home winning 12 of their final
13 matches, winning 18 and losing 7 in all games.
Norwood won their 25th premiership, defeating Glenelg 20-13 to 9-17.
Richard Neagle kicked 6 goals in the Grand Final.
The Team:
Coach: Neil Balme
F: Neville Roberts, Jim Michalanney, Greg Thomas
HF: Richard Neagle, Neil Button, Keith Thomas
C: Phil Gallagher, Garry McIntosh, Duncan Fosdike
HB: Frank Stemper, Jim Thiel (vc), Danny Jenkins
B: Wayne Schmaal, Tom Warhurst, Bruce Winter
Ruck: Jeff Fehring, Michael Aish, Greg Turbill (c)
Int: Andrew Aish, Paul Adler
Danny Jenkins was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.
Neville Roberts kicked 10 goals against Sturt at Unley Oval and followed it up with 11 goals against
Woodville at Adelaide Oval the following week.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the third time.
The Under 17s won their second premiership in succession defeating North Adelaide 16-11 to 8-8.
1983
After a good year with 15 wins and losses, Norwood crashed out in the finals to finish third.
Neville Roberts kicked 10 goals against Central District at Elizabeth Oval, making him the second
Norwood player to kick 100 goals in a season since Bruce Schultz in 1941.
Roberts set a new season record for Norwood with 111 goals, including 11 goals against Woodville
at Norwood Oval earlier in the year.
Neil Button played his 250th game and Phil Gallagher his 200th.
Michael Aish won the Fos Williams Medal as best afield in the state match against Victoria at
Football Park, and was named All-Australian.
The Under 19s won the premiership defeating Sturt 24-17 to 11-17.
The Under 17s won their third premiership in succession defeating Central District 11-8 to 10-2.
1984
Norwood won its 26th premiership with 17 wins. 9 losses, defeating Port Adelaide 15-10 to 13-13.
Neville Roberts kicked 6 goals in the Grand Final.
This was the year of the History Maker as Norwood were the first team ever to win a premiership
from 5th position on the ladder.
The Team:
Coach: Neil Balme
F: Neville Roberts, Peter Laughlin, Greg Thomas
HF: Glen Vardanega, Jim Michalanney, David Payne
C: Phil Gallagher, Garry McIntosh, Duncan Fosdike
HB: Justin Scanlon, Garry McIntosh, Andrew Jarvis
B: Lester Ross, Craig Balme, Bruce Winter
Ruck: John Hall, Michael Aish (vc), Keith Thomas
Int: Neil Hein, Danny Jenkins (c)
Keith Thomas was awarded the Jack Oatey Medal as best on ground in the Grand Final.
Garry McIntosh won the Fos Williams Medal as best afield in the state match against Western
Australia at Football Park.
Neville Roberts kicked 106 goals for the year, 98 in regular season, 8 in cup matches.
Roberts also captained South Australia in state matches.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the fourth time.
The Under 17s won their fourth premiership in succession, defeating North Adelaide 14-14 to 7-13
in a replay after both teams drew 11-15 each the week before.
Fred 'Perc' McCallum OBE passed away on January 13.
Perc gave 55 years service to Australian football with Norwood his main focus.
His career realised 174 games, 2 Best & Fairest awards, Coached the 1941 Premiership Team,
served as Secretary (1946-1949) and as Patron (1975-1983).
He devoted many years to junior and community development and the McCallum Medal was struck
in honour of his family.
1985
The club finished second at the end of the minor round but dropped to fourth after losing the
Qualifying and First Semi finals, ending the season in 4th spot with 14 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw.
Neil Button set a new club games record when he played his 268th game against South Adelaide
at Adelaide Oval on May 4.
Phil Gallagher also played his 250th game, and Jim Michalanney his 200th during the season.
Neville Roberts captained South Australia in interstate matches.
The Reserves won the premiership, defeating Woodville 25-15 to 9-9, Dean Renfrey with 6 goals.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the fifth time.
The Under 19s won the premiership defeating Port Adelaide 35-10 to 17-9, with captain Anthony
Coles registering 12 goals for the match.
1986
Norwood won 12 games and lost 11 to finish fifth on the ladder
Phil Gallagher set a new games record when he played his 284th game against Port Adelaide at
Norwood Oval, June 28.
Michael Taylor played his 250th game earlier in the season, and won the club champion award for
the sixth time, equalling Walter Scott.
Michael Aish captained South Australia in interstate matches and was also named vice captain of
the All-Australian team.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the sixth time.
The Reserves won back to back premierships, defeating Woodville 24-13 to 10-16.
The Under 19s won back to back premierships defeating West Torrens 15-12 to 7-9.
The Under 17s won their fifth premiership in 6 seasons, defeating Sturt 14-11 to 6-9.
1987
The club finished the season in third position win 15 wins, 10 losses.
It was a reasonable result in view of the loss of a number of experienced players and a new look
team but losses to North Adelaide and Glenelg in the finals would suggest otherwise.
Garry McIntosh polled the most votes in the Magarey Medal but was ineligible due to suspension.
The club won the Stanley H Lewis Memorial Trophy for the seventh time.
On January 2, Norwood Football Club became ground managers of Norwood Oval.
1988
The club finished the season in third position win 15 wins, 10 losses, going down to Glenelg by
5 points in the Preliminary Final.
Michael Aish played his 200th game against Sturt at Adelaide Oval, April 16.
Mark Ducker kicked 12 goals against West Torrens at Norwood Oval, August 6.
A pre-match brawl erupted in the match between Norwood and Central District at Norwood Oval,
July 30, when both teams warmed up at the Parade end.
The Under 19s won the premiership defeating Glenelg 19-17 to 10-9.
Trailing by 39 points at half time, they kicked 16-8 to 0-3 in the second half to win by 62 points.
The Under 17s won their sixth premiership in 7 seasons, defeating Port Adelaide 13-11 to 6-1.
1989
Norwood finished third once more, winning 14 games and losing 11.
Michael Aish captained South Australia in interstate matches.
Keith Thomas and Tom Warhurst both played their 200th games for the club during the season.
The Under 17s won their seventh premiership in 8 seasons, defeating South Adelaide 17-14 to 9-8.