Thrilling medal count tipped at SANFL’s night of nights
The 2023 SANFL Magarey Medal count on Monday night looms as one of the most even on record, with a host of chances, writes Andrew Capel.
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The 2023 Magarey Medal count is set to be a thriller.
Even the coaches cannot pick a clear-cut favourite to win South Australian football’s highest individual honour.
“It’s really open this year, so I think it’s going to be a close count,’’ Sturt coach Martin Mattner said of Monday night’s presentation at Adelaide Oval.
Unlike some seasons, there has been no standout player.
But there would be a host of worthy winners, with just six votes separating nine players in The Advertiser SANFL Player of the Year award, which also is based on a 3-2-1 voting system.
Sturt’s Tom Lewis and Central District’s Harry Grant tied for that award, with 20 votes, ahead of Double Blue James Battersby and Crow Harry Schoenberg on 17, Norwood’s Nik Rokahr (16), Glenelg’s Liam McBean and West Adelaide’s Kobe Ryan (15) and Woodville-West Torrens’ James Rowe and Tiger Matthew Allen (14).
The voting, by The Advertiser football writers, suggests 20 votes could win this year’s medal.
Last year, North Adelaide’s Aaron Young won with 23 votes and the year before South Adelaide’s Bryce Gibbs and Eagle James Tsitas tied on 21.
Lewis and Grant, who had a breakout campaign, averaging 26 disposals, seven clearances and seven tackles, are the favourites, with Central coach Paul Thomas believing both will poll well.
“We certainly won enough games for Harry to win it and he had a really good year,’’ Thomas said.
“And Lewis is a proven votegetter who played in a really strong team, so I think it would be hard to go past him.’’
Mattner believes Lewis and Battersby will poll well at Sturt, along with defender Casey Voss.
He named Crows midfielder Jackson Hately, who polled 13 votes in The Advertiser award, as a dark horse.
“He’s played a fair bit of SANFL footy this year and some really good footy,’’ Mattner said.
No Crow has ever won the Magarey Medal but this could be the year, with Hately’s fellow midfielders Schoenberg and Matt Crouch dominating in the SANFL games they played.
Schoenberg played 10 state league matches and Crouch 11.
Their lack of SANFL exposure – given many of their rivals played all 18 games – might stop them etching their names into the history books.
“Crouch could poll really well and Hately has been a consistent performer throughout the year,’’ Adelaide SANFL coach Michael Godden said.
“From another club, Lewis is a star. He has some great attributes and is great player, as we saw first-hand last week.’’
Minor premier Glenelg had a terrific, 15-win season, ensuring it will poll plenty of votes, but coach Darren Reeves believes they will be well spread.
He said tall, long-kicking, left-footed midfielder Allen would likely be the Tigers’ top votegetter and could be in the medal mix.
“Allen had an outstanding year and I think would be our best chance,’’ Reeves said.
“But our challenge is that we had a number of guys who have had outstanding years, so they will take votes off each other.
“From other clubs, Grant had a super year and I think will figure prominently while Battersby should also poll well.’’
Double Blues skipper Battersby played all 18 minor round games for Sturt, averaging 26 disposals, while his midfield sidekick Lewis played 15, missing three matches with an ankle injury, which could prove costly.
The tough-tackling Lewis averaged 24 disposals and a whopping 12 tackles.
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