Bradley Norton is a left-sided full-back and former captain of South Melbourne.
A remarkably resilient player, Norton layed at least 20 matches in each of his seasons at South Melbourne, with the exception of the cancelled 2020 season..
Following the sacking of Luke Byles midway through the 2013 season, Norton was made captain for the remainder of that campaign.[1] In 2014, Norton's hold on the left full-back position seemed at risk when fellow left-back Shaun Timmins was signed in the mid-season transfer window, but Norton won the role back by the end of the season.
In 2015 Norton won the club's best and fairest award. In 2018 Norton played his 200th competitive game for the club in the 1-0 win at Bentleigh Greens. In 2019, despite making over 20 appearances for the eighth consecutive season, Norton was hampered by hamstring injuries. Nevertheless, he was one of the first to sign on for the 2020 campaign.[2] During the pandemic shutdown, it was announced that Norton had re-signed for the 2021 season. Norton finished at South at the end of the 2023 season, having played 300 matches for the club. He later joined Essendon Royals.
Prior to joining South Melbourne, Norton had played for Port Melbourne Sharks, Melbourne Knights, and Northcote City, before playing two games with Adelaide United in the A-League. His A-League debut saw him come on a substitute for future South Melbourne teammate Joe Keenan.[3]
Milestones[]
Arrived from: Adelaide United
Departed to: Essendon Royals
Debut: VPL Round 1, 2012, against Moreland Zebras at Lakeside Stadium
Last game: NPL Victoria Grand Final, 2023, against Avondale at Olympic Village
Honours[]
- NPL Victoria Champions 2014, 2016
- NPL Victoria Premiers 2015
- 2015 Dockerty Cup
- 2015 FFV Community Shield
- Theo Marmaras Medal 2015
- Captain 2013, 2017-2023
Stats[]
| Season | League | FFA Cup | Dockerty Cup | C. Shield | NPL National | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2012 | 22 | 2 | - | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 2 |
| 2013 | 24 | 5 | - | - | 3 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 27 | 6 |
| 2014 | 25 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| 2015 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 0 |
| 2017 | 25 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 33 | 2 |
| 2018 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 0 |
| 2019 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 24 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 1 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 22 | 1 |
| 2022 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 0 |
| Total | 260 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 300 | 15 |