2022 TopSport SANFL Top 50 – 21-30

One selfless act illustrated Jacob Kennerley’s season perfectly.

Asked to shoulder a heavy workload through the midfield while filling in as acting captain for the injured Matthew Nunn during the middle section of the year, Kennerley put his team first to lay a vital block for teammate Matthew Panos to kick the winning goal in the 2022 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final.

Placed third in the Michael Taylor Medal as Norwood’s best-and-fairest, the former Geelong Cat – who averaged 101 Champion Data Ranking Points – also received the Redlegs’ Trademark Player award.

Brooksby’s desperation to taste premiership success with his beloved Panthers took on new meaning in 2022.

The 32-year-old – employed by AFL club Hawthorn – commuted between Adelaide and Melbourne regularly as he continued to make his presence felt in the Hostplus SANFL League.

The former South captain finished runner-up in the Knuckey Cup – behind Joseph Haines – while averaging a significant 118 Champion Data Ranking Points, illustrating his impact in several facets of the game.

There’s never any fanfare about Eagles midfielder Joseph Sinor but that doesn’t mean he is any less effective.

Runner-up in the Eagles’ Club Champion award, the 28-year-old averaged a consistent 109 Champion Data Ranking Points per game in 2022.

Few have worked harder than Sinor to earn his first West End State guernsey, with his attitude since rewarded with club captaincy heading into season 2023.

When Hamish Hartlett lined up for the Bloods, they became a more difficult proposition for opposing sides in 2022.

The only problem for Westies was that the 32-year-old only managed 15 games due to minor niggles but it was still enough to take home the Neil Kerley Medal as club best-and-fairest.

Returning to Alberton as an assistant coach, Hartlett will be missed at Milner Road, where he averaged 113 Champion Data Ranking Points last season.

Bulldogs midfielder Presbury backed up his breakout 2021 campaign with an even better individual performance this season.

Joint Norm Russell Medal winner as Central’s best-and-fairest, the 25-year-old is coming into his prime after collecting the 10th most disposals in the competition in 2022.

Glenelg’s captain was in Tasmania when he answered the late call to play for the West End State team in Perth this year but that didn’t prevent him from playing a part in a memorable win.

Bays’ best-and-fairest in 2022, Proud ranked fifth in the competition for marks as he regularly read the play nicely to intercept opposition forays.

North’s Cameron Craig continues to underline his reputation as one of the most exciting defenders in the Hostplus SANFL League.

Given a licence to fly for his marks, the 28-year-old regularly did so throughout 2022 as he finished fourth in the competition for total marks.

Selected at full back in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Craig finished eighth in the Roosters’ best-and-fairest.

A member of Glenelg’s 2019 premiership side as a specialist small forward, Bailey reinvigorated his career with a shift to half-back in 2022.

The move paid dividends as he racked up the fifth-most kicks than any other player in the competition while earning a debut berth in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year (back pocket).

Finishing fourth in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest count, the 28-year-old averaged 101 Champion Data Ranking Points after being entrusted to bring the ball back into play after a behind.

Few would have forecast Montgomerie’s selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year at the start of the season.

But the high-flying defender caught the eye with his ability to snare intercept marks as he finished third in Central’s best-and-fairest count.

Invited to the AFL’s State Combine held in Adelaide in October, Montgomerie was the first South Australian selected in the AFL Rookie Draft when he landed at Essendon at pick No.4.

Runner-up to fellow defender Casey Voss in the P.T. Morton Medal as Sturt best-and-fairest, Page’s consistency was fittingly recognised with selection at half-back in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Taking the second most marks in the competition for the season, the 29-year-old veteran is a vital steadying presence for the youthful Double Blues line-up.