My Two Cents: Norwood’s Harry Boyd standing tall in bid to break Magarey Medal ruck curse | Andrew Capel
Norwood’s star ruckman is enjoying a season for the ages and is on track to end a longstanding SANFL hoodoo, writes Andrew Capel.
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A “big’’ story is brewing in the SANFL.
For the first time in 23 years and only the second time in the past 73 years, a ruckman could win the Magarey Medal as the SANFL’s fairest and most brilliant player.
Norwood’s 2022 Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd has enjoyed a ruck season for the ages, leading the Redlegs to the top of the SANFL summit with statistical numbers rarely seen in the competition and leaving rival coaches in awe.
Central District coach Paul Thomas declared Boyd had been so dominant this season that opposition teams would have to change the way they play to try to curb his influence.
“The influence Harry has on his team is something every side is going to have to look at and try to counter,’’ Thomas said.
“He’s without doubt one of the premier players in the competition.’’
Glenelg threw a trio of talls – Cam McGree, Riley Holder and Liam McBean – at Boyd at different stages of last Saturday’s upset win at the Bay in a bid to curtail his dominance, with some effect.
The 26-year-old’s statistics this season make remarkable reading.
In 15 games, he has averaged 20 disposals, 10 clearances, 41 hit-outs, four inside 50s, four tackles, two marks and 155 Champion Data ranking points while kicking four goals.
Boyd ranks in the top two in most media awards, along with star Sturt midfielder Will Snelling, who has missed two games for personal reasons.
Thomas said he was so dominant in Norwood’s Round 15 win against his team, when he had a game-high 30 disposals and 17 clearances, that if he wasn’t awarded the maximum three Magarey Medal votes “then it’s not a ruckman’s award’’.
The Advertiser’s SANFL football writers have awarded Boyd votes in seven games this season, including five maximum three votes as best afield.
He sits second in The Advertiser Player of the Year voting with 19 votes – two behind Snelling, who was named the Double Blues’ best in their win against Port Adelaide on Saturday.
The chasing pack includes a host of midfielders, last year’s Magarey winner, Central District’s Harry Grant, and Glenelg’s Matthew Allen (17), 2020 winner, North Adelaide’s Campbell Combe (16), and Sturt’s Tom Lewis (15).
No ruckman has won a Magarey Medal since Port Adelaide’s Ryan O’Connor tied with teammate Tony Brown in 2001.
The previous ruckman to win the medal was Norwood’s Team of the Century ruckman John Marriott in 1951.
The Magarey simply hasn’t been a ruckmens medal, with greats such as Sturt’s Rick Davies and Glenelg’s Peter Carey being overlooked when starting as pre-count favourites.
The VFL-AFL has gone the same way in the past three decades.
The last ruckman to win the Brownlow Medal was Footscray’s Scott Wynd in 1992 – a year after Melbourne ruckman Jim Stynes was victorious.
Like the Magarey, the Brownlow has largely been a midfielders award ever since.
But Norwood and SA state coach Jade Rawlings believes the 198cm Boyd is making a huge case to change the dynamic this year, describing his season as “extraordinary’’.
“Harry’s a star and his season really has been extraordinary,’’ Rawlings said.
“He’s a really special person, as well as a player, and some of his performances have been absolute standouts.
“To take on the (ruck) load the way he does, his ability to take the ball out of the ruck, take territory at the right time and desire to bring his mates into the game, it’s really special to watch.
“I have so much respect for him because of how much work he puts into his game and the way he looks after his body and I want to make sure that we, as a club, never take him for granted because we are lucky to have him.’’
Glenelg premiership coach Darren Reeves, whose team snapped the Redlegs’ five-game winning streak, described Boyd as an “incredible player’’ and said he would be a deserving Magarey Medallist.
“I rate him incredibly highly because he just dominates games and gets the game on Norwood’s terms because of what he’s able to do around stoppage,’’ Reeves said.
“You definitely have different plans for him but in the end you just have to try to nullify him a little bit.
“I really hope he does win a Magarey because he’s been pretty close before and I’m not sure the umpires have voted as well as they should have for him.
“Hopefully they do this year because he’s been the standout player over the course of the first 16 rounds.’’
Boyd, a Victorian who joined the Redlegs from Goulburn Valley League club Shepparton in 2021 to link up with Bears premiership teammate Nik Rokahr at The Parade, has a best-placed finish of sixth in the Magarey in 2022.
He polled 17 votes to finish six behind winner Aaron Young from North, before two weeks later winning the Jack Oatey Medal as best afield, in Norwood’s thrilling one-point grand final triumph against the Roosters.
Boyd shone brightest on the grand stage, registering an astonishing 64 hit-outs while also collecting 20 disposals, seven marks and three clearances.
He also tapped the ball into the path of teammate Matt Panos to kick the matchwinning goal late in the final term.
Boyd’s transformation into an elite ruckman, which has seen him represent SA three times, has been amazing after he was recruited by Norwood primarily as a key defender, where he played most of his football with Shepparton and in a short stint with VFL club Werribee.
He took time to find his feet at the SANFL level, spending time in the reserves, before moving into the ruck and turning his and the club’s fortunes around.
Now more history beckons.
NUMBERS GAME
13
Consecutive Hawthorn goals against Adelaide from the second to fourth quarters.
25
Disposals average for top SA draft hope Sid Draper in his past four league games for South Adelaide.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“It’s probably as bad as we’ve been for a number of years, unfortunately.’’ – Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks on the 11-goal drubbing to Hawthorn.
“I know what I do. I know my job. I’m Port Adelaide coach, I’m contracted to coach Port Adelaide, I love Port Adelaide and I love the place.” – Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley on speculation linking him to the vacant West Coast coaching job.
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