BIO
Tall forward Izaak Twelftree was named the SANFL Powerade Breakthrough Player as the best emerging young talent in the league competition in 2024, just before his time at Norwood was cut short by injury.
“Glandular fever heavily interrupted my season in 2022. Osteitis pubis ruined my season in 2024,” he said in 2026 when, signed with Corowa Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray Football League, he was unable to start the season because of an ongoing injury.
Despite his travails, Izaak was grateful for his Norwood experience and full of praise for coach Jade Rawlings, saying: “Twig Rawlings was a massive influence, not just with footy but being a better person.”
Born in Adelaide on 12 February 2001, Izaak attended Rose Park Primary and Pembroke schools. He was second in the high jump on Pembroke sports day and played football in years 10 and 11. He played junior football with Mount Lofty and two games with the Sturt under 18s before joining Pembroke Old Scholars, progressing from the C team to a B team premiership and then the A team in 2021.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” Izaak said. Norwood premiership player Jimmy Allen, a triple Magarey Medallist with North Adelaide, was with Pembroke OS and introduced Izaak to Jade Rawlings, who assessed him favourably in the 2022 preseason trials.
Izaak, aka ‘Sticks’, finished second in the Norwood reserves’ best and fairest in 2023. He played 23 games and kicked 15 goals in the reserves in 2022-23. He had a different number every year for four years – 54, 43, 29, 4.
He hit his straps in 2024, kicking four goals against West Adelaide at Richmond Oval in what he rated his best performance and six against South Adelaide at Norwood Oval. He played at centre half-forward in the nail-biting grand final which Glenelg won by five points.
His league record included 32 games (won 19, lost 13) and 36 goals.
Izaak also played junior soccer with Metro Stars and Adelaide City. He has worked in customer service, marketing and two years of football coaching at Pembroke School with the senior girls’ development squad.
I. Twelftree with P. Robins, D. Cox, G. Adams May 2026