Nick Liddle reveals he will play on with South Adelaide next season after winning fifth Knuckey Cup

SOUTH Adelaide star Nick Liddle has questioned his future in the game, but he used his Knuckey Cup victory speech to confirm his future at the Panthers. See who won the best and fairest at your club.

Nick Liddle set to play on at South Adelaide. Picture: Simon Cross

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STAR South Adelaide midfielder Nick Liddle has confirmed he will extend his successful stint with the Panthers into a 10th season next year.

While Liddle has yet to put his signature on a contract, his victory speech as the Knuckey Cup club champion on Saturday night included the words “I’m looking forward to extending next year”.

The victory was his fifth in the award and only Panthers’ legends Peter Darley and Jim Deane have been crowned the club’s best and fairest more with seven and six respectively.

Liddle has questioned his future for the past two years and there was again uncertainty whether he would continue next season after being married in February and his graduation from Flinders University as a teacher.

“I’ve had a great eight or nine years here and I’m looking forward to, with Crabby (Brad Crabb) and Crossy (Joel Cross), to extending next year,” Liddle said.

The crowd at the best and fairest awards cheered and clapped, such is Liddle’s popularity at Noarlunga Oval, and he responded: “There is no pen yet. But all three of us are really excited.

“The young guys coming through and the players we have here ... we saw with North Adelaide this year, anyone can win it.

“We showed during the year we can beat them, but they got it done at the right time. We are close and in a really good space.”
The Panthers conquered the Roosters in both minor round battles this year, only to fall to the eventual premiers in the elimination final after being hit by stage fright in the fourth quarter.

Experienced defender Tarak Redigolo, plagued by injuries, and Matthew Rankine won’t return to the Panthers next season.

YOUR CLUB’S BEST AND FAIREST

Patrick Wilson was outstanding on the ball for the Crows: Picture: Dean Martin

Adelaide

Patrick Wilson 105 votes

Elliott Himmelberg 80

Matthew Signorello 69

Leading goalkicker: Ben Davis 22

Travis Schiller was the most prolific possession winner in the league this season. Picture: Mark Brake

Central District

Travis Schiller 262 votes

Justin Hoskin 165

Jarrod Schiller 131

Leading goalkicker: John Butcher 31

Max Proud had a breakout year in defence. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Glenelg

Max Proud 145 votes

Chris Curran 133

Matt Snook 119

Leading goalkicker: Josh Scott 35

Callum Wilkie was brilliant for the Roosters. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Mitch Grigg won a second Magarey Medal. Picture: Sarah Reed

North Adelaide

Callum Wilkie

Aidan Tropiano

Mitch Clisby

Leading goalkicker: Lewis Hender 42

Norwood

Mitch Grigg 81 votes

Matthew Panos 73

Matthew Nunn 67

Leading goalkicker: Mitch Grigg 35

William Snelling was extremely consistent for Port. Picture: Tom Huntley

Port Adelaide

Will Snelling

Jack Trengove

Jimmy Toumpas

Leading goalkicker: Lindsay Thomas 21

Nick Liddle has been an inspiration at South Adelaide. Picture: Stephen Laffer

South Adelaide

Nick Liddle 127 votes

Keegan Brooksby 122

Abe Davis 114

Leading goalkicker: Nathan Kreuger 22

Tom Harms thrived in defence for the Double Blues. Picture: Deb Curtis

Sturt

Tom Harms

Zane Kirkwood/Sam Colquhoun

Leading goalkicker: Mark Evans 42 (Ken Farmer Medallist)

Kaine Stevens was the onball spark for the Bloods. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

James Boyd amassed the possessions again. Picture: Tom Huntley

West Adelaide

Kaine Stevens 112 votes

Josh Schiller 111

Tom Keough 108

Leading goalkicker: Mason Middleton 30

Woodville-West Torrens

James Boyd 67 votes

Jack Hayes 40

Scott Lewis 39

Leading goalkicker: Jack Hayes 39