Statewide Super League Top 50 – No.9

By ZAC MILBANK

There aren’t many players in the competition who top 200cm yet play like a midfielder.

And while Glenelg’s Liam McBean doesn’t spend much time in the centre square, his ability to create a goal from ground level is equally as impressive as his penchant for marking on the lead.

The 2019 Ken Farmer Medallist isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty if the ball hits the deck, kicking several of his 53 goals last year from contested situations in traffic.

Named at full-forward in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, the 25-year-old can also pinch-hit in the ruck while also using his mobility around the field.

A perfect example of this came in the 2019 Statewide Super League Grand Final when the former Richmond giant roamed around Adelaide Oval to collect a season-high 19 disposals to have an equally important imprint on the outcome despite not kicking a goal.

McBean, who had booted seven majors in the two preceding finals, fought on courageously in the title-decider despite carrying a snapped plantar fascia in his foot and a strained hamstring suffered in the Preliminary Final.

With premiership teammate Josh Scott taking a year off in 2020, McBean’s presence inside 50m takes on even greater importance for the reigning premier this season.

Selected by SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank, the 2020 Statewide Super League Top 50 is being unveiled one player at a time on the League’s website and social media channels.

For incumbent SANFL players, form across the 2019 season was used as a significant factor in the selection process, with selection in The Advertiser Team of the Year, West End State squad, club leadership group and placings in club best-and-fairest weighing heavily.

This is to ensure there is meaningful movement of player rankings between each year’s Top 50 list at the start and end of the season.

Recruits to the Statewide Super League for 2020 have also been included, with significant AFL experience, performance at State League level and their predicted impact proving critical in deciding the order of players.

9 – Liam McBean (Glenelg)
10 – Sam Baulderstone (Norwood)
11 – Jordan Foote (Eagles)
12 – Jarrod Schiller (Central)
13 – Lewis Johnston (Norwood)
14 – James Battersby (Sturt)
15 – Zane Kirkwood (Sturt)
16 – Max Proud (Glenelg)
17 – Andrew Moore (North)
18 – Luke Reynolds (Glenelg)
19 – Abe Davis (Sturt)
20 – Tyson Goldsack (Port)
21 – Jarred Allmond (North)
22 – Marlon Motlop (Glenelg)
23 – Kaine Stevens (West)
24 – Matthew Snook (Glenelg)
25 – Travis Schiller (Central)
26 – Billy Stretch (Glenelg)
27 – Joseph Haines (South)
28 – Brad McKenzie (Norwood)
29 – Matthew Rose (South)
30 – James Rowe (Eagles)
31 – Dom Barry (Norwood)
32 – Justin Hoskin (Central)
33 – Harrison Wigg (North)
34 – Matthew Allen (Glenelg)
35 – Troy Menzel (Central)
36 – Mitch Grigg (Norwood)
37 – Jack Hayes (Eagles)
38 – James Rose (South)
39 – Robbie Young (North)
40 – Andrew Bradley (Glenelg)
41 – Tom Schwarz (North)
42 – Matthew Panos (Norwood)
43 – Brad Agnew (Glenelg)
44 – Cole Gerloff (Norwood)
45 – Matthew Wright (Adelaide)
46 – Dean Gore (Sturt)
47 – Tom Keough (West)
48 – Jesse Lonergan (Eagles)
49 – Alex Spina (North)
50 – Logan Hill (West)