Gibbs and Tsitas join SANFL greats on Magarey Grove

By ZAC MILBANK

It wasn’t your conventional Magarey Grove ceremony at Adelaide Oval, but the occasion was still a memorable one for 2021 additions Bryce Gibbs and James Tsitas.

While South Adelaide veteran Gibbs was able to attend in person with his family, it was a very different story for Eagles premiership star Tsitas who viewed the event on Friday via Zoom link from the Gold Coast.

Signed last month by AFL club Gold Coast, Tsitas took time out from his busy training schedule with the Suns to soak up the moment his name was etched in SANFL history alongside Gibbs.

The pair became the first joint winners of SANFL’s fairest and most brilliant individual trophy since South Adelaide’s Joel Cross and Central District’s Brad Symes shared honours in 2012.

Magarey Grove, located outside the northern entrance to Adelaide Oval, is a tree-lined tribute to the winners of the Magarey Medal – Australian football’s oldest and longest awarded medal.

Brought to life by former SANFL president Max Basheer AM and former City of Charles Sturt Mayor, the late John Dyer AM, the original Magarey Grove was established in 1988 along West Lakes Boulevard adjacent to South Australia’s home of football for 40 years, Football Park.

Following the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval and subsequent sale of Football Park, SANFL worked closely with the City of Charles Sturt and Adelaide City Council to relocate Magarey Grove, which was officially opened at Adelaide Oval in 2018.