SANFL Magarey Medal winner Harry Boyd in frame for AFL opportunity at St Kilda

The SANFL’s best player is on the cusp of a long-awaited AFL chance, with a Victorian club zeroing in on this year’s Magarey Medal winner Harry Boyd.

St Kilda is zeroing in on a late-developing ruckman who won the SANFL’s Magarey Medal as back-up for Rowan Marshall as a trio of Saints talls face graduated returns to the pre-season.

St Kilda lost Tim Membrey to Collingwood, went cold on Port Adelaide’s Ivan Soldo, delisted Jack Hayes and saw Tom Campbell move to Melbourne in the off-season.

It means the Saints are light on for talls as Max King returns from a PCL concern and Anthony Caminiti overcomes late-season shoulder surgery.

Coach Ross Lyon has high hopes for Caminiti and Cooper Sharman as key forwards who can help King but St Kilda clearly needs more height

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Rival clubs believe the Saints are keen on Norwood 26-year-old Harry Boyd, this year’s Magarey Medal winner, as a tall-timber option.

Boyd, 198cm, has quietly nominated for the AFL draft and it’s believed he has met the Saints.

He did not nominate for the mid-season draft.

Magarey medallist Harry Boyd. Picture RoyVPhotography

In a dominant season, Boyd shared the SANFL’s top individual award with former Essendon player Will Snelling averaging 21 disposals, 10 clearances, four tackles and 41 hit-outs in 18 matches.

Both polled 34 votes in the Magarey Medal.

But Boyd won the Shearman Medal – voted on by the coaches – and also his second club best and fairest.

As voted by the coaches 👏

Congratulations to Harry Boyd from Norwood on winning the R. O. Shearman Medal ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/JBOhEtHl7N

— SANFL (@SANFL) September 9, 2024

Harry Boyd has been the dominant big man this @SANFL season & leads the competition in hit-outs and clearances while averaging 19 disposals per game & steering @NorwoodFC to the top of the ladder 🪜

Should the 26yo be on the radar of #AFL teams 🤷‍♂️ #SANFL24pic.twitter.com/ReakaSITvw

— John Casey 🎙️ (@JohnCasey2880) July 18, 2024

The accolades go with the Jack Oatey Medal he received as best-afield in Norwood’s 2022 premiership.

Boyd is originally from Shepparton and played with Werribee in 2017-18 after graduating from the Murray Bushrangers. The Goulburn Valley league representative crossed to the SANFL in 2021.

One recruiter described him as a “late-developer’’.

Harry Boyd could be set for an AFL chance at St Kilda. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

“He was a big, honest kid in the Bushies but he’s worked his game out now and he’s really strong,’’ he said.

“But it’s not unusual for ruckmen to get going until they’re 26, 27.’’

St Kilda will need to find multiple avenues to goal in 2025 and believes both of its key targets in Caminiti and King are well on track for round 1 despite late-season injuries.

King damaged his posterior cruciate ligament in July and while he did not need surgery it put him out for the rest of the season.

King will be on modified skills for the next few weeks leading into Christmas but is on track for round 1.

Caminiti injured his shoulder against Geelong late in the year and eventually went in for surgery.

His shoulder has progressed well and while he is non-contact drills he will transition into full contact sessions in coming weeks.

Marshall had right wrist surgery and will be in full training pre-Christmas but early on will be non-contact during training sessions.

Liam Stocker is the other player transitioning back into training given he battled the debilitating groin condition osteitis pubis last year.

He is improving but is only expected to return to full training post-Christmas as St Kilda relies on defenders like the ex-Carlton top-20 pick.

St Kilda moved on Nick Coffield last year and this off-season delisted Riley Bonner and lockdown defender Ben Paton so will hope to get another strong season out of Stocker.

Originally published as SANFL Magarey Medal winner Harry Boyd in frame for AFL opportunity at St Kilda