Harry Boyd wins 2024 R. O. Shearman Medal

By ZAC MILBANK

Norwood’s Harry Boyd has had his tremendous 2024 campaign fittingly rewarded, becoming the first Redleg in 11 years to win the R.O Shearman Medal.

Widely-regarded as the standout ruckman in the Hostplus SANFL League this season, the Redlegs giant polled 109 votes to hold off Sturt midfielder Will Snelling on 101.

Heading into Round 19, Snelling had the opportunity to leapfrog Boyd with a perfect 10 but failed to attract a vote from the coaches while Boyd gathered one from his last outing against the Eagles.

The 2022 Jack Oatey Medallist posted eye-popping averages of 21 disposals, 10 clearances, four tackles and 41 hit outs across his 18 matches in 2024.

Boyd is just the second Norwood player to win the R.O Shearman Medal, joining Matt Thomas in 2013.

Fellow Redleg Baynen Lowe placed third with 76 votes, ahead of North Adelaide’s Campbell Combe on 65.

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.

2024 Shearman Medal Leaderboard

Player Club Votes
Harry Boyd Norwood 109
Will Snelling Sturt 101
Baynen Lowe Norwood 76
Campbell Combe North 65
Kobe Ryan West 58
James Rowe Eagles 58
Matt Allen Glenelg 55

R. O. Shearman Medal Honour Roll

Year Player Club
2000 Gavin Colville Woodville-West Torrens
2001 Ryan O'Connor Port Adelaide
2002 Jade Sheedy Sturt
2003 Brett Backwell/Marco Bello Glenelg/Central District
2004 Salim Hassan West Adelaide
2005 Jeremy Clayton Port Adelaide
2006 Justin Cicolella Woodville-West Torrens
2007 James Allan North Adelaide
2008 James Allan/Jade Sheedy North Adelaide/Sturt
2009 James Allan North Adelaide
2010 James Allan North Adelaide
2011 James Allan North Adelaide
2012 James Allan North Adelaide
2013 Matthew Thomas Norwood
2014 Steven Summerton Port Adelaide
2015 Joel Cross South Adelaide
2016 Jared Petrenko Woodville-West Torrens
2017 Joel Cross South Adelaide
2018 Nick Liddle South Adelaide
2019 Luke Partington Glenelg
2020 Matthew Snook Glenelg
2021 Campbell Combe North Adelaide
2022 Riley Knight Woodville-West Torrens
2023 Harry Grant Central District
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