Riley Knight wins 2022 R. O. Shearman Medal

By ZAC MILBANK

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Riley Knight is the first Eagle in six years to win the R. O. Shearman Medal.

Polling a total of 83 votes, the Eagles premiership star held off fast-finishing Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd, who attracted to maximum votes in Round 19 to fall just four short of Knight.

Central District rover Travis Schiller placed third with 69 votes while 2022 Magarey Medallist Aaron Young and runner-up Nik Rokahr finished equal fourth with 66.

Knight’s consistency throughout 2022 was reflected in averaging 29.3 disposals, five marks, six tackles and five clearances to imprint himself as one of the competition’s most damaging players.

The 27-year-old is just the fourth Woodville-West Torrens player to win the R. O. Shearman Medal, joining Gavin Colville (2000), Justin Cicolella (2006) and Jared Petrenko (2016).

North Adelaide’s James Allan has dominated the award, claiming a record six R. O Shearman Medals, including one with Sturt’s Jade Sheedy in 2008.

Voted on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis by the SANFL coaches during the minor round, the R. O Shearman Medal voting appears weekly on the SANFL website.

Introduced in 2000, the medal is named after five-time Sturt premiership player and SA Football Hall of Fame member Bob Shearman.