Roos’ Bailey Norris signs on for 2025 GFL season

Kalgoorlie’s efforts to go one better next year in the Goldfields Football League will be boosted by the return of midfielder Bailey Norris.

Club officials confirmed last week that Norris — a key piece in the Roos’ stunning rise from fourth place to a berth in the grand final — would be back for a second season.

Norris, who joined the club this year from Peel, won the Jack Neil Medal as the league squad’s fairest and best player.

Alongside Railways’ Trent Reed with 30 votes, he was also equal third in the Mitchell Medal voting — behind eventual winner Railways’ Josh Mathers (42 votes), and Boulder’s Andy Higgins (32).

Under Rick Butterfield, Kalgoorlie were gallant losers against Railways in the grand final by 28 points without injured key forward Ricky Whitehead.

The squad opened 2024 with losses in five of the opening six games, before Butterfield led a major late-season revival.

The Roos were just two games into the season when Butterfield was thrust into the senior coaching role, replacing Justin Tarasinski.

But after the rough start, the squad rallied and finished with seven wins.

They matched third-placed Boulder’s record, and they stormed into the grand final after stirring wins over the Tigers and Mines Rovers in the first two weeks of the finals.

Butterfield assumed the league coaching role in April as one of the Roos’ most respected figures, underpinned by a 200-game career, three premierships, and life membership.

Kalgoorlie’s annual general meeting is on November 20, starting at 6.30pm.