SANFL Top 10 in 2024 – Midfielders

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2024 are being unveiled through the SANFL Top 10 rankings.

SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank will reveal his high performing midfielders, rucks, forwards and defenders now that the dust has settled on this year’s exciting campaign.

Form across the 2024 season was used as the chief factor in the ranking process, with selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and West End State team weighing heavily, together with placings in the Magarey Medal, Shearman Medal, Club best-and-fairest awards and strong performances in finals matches.

High rankings in statistics such as total disposals, marks, contested marks, goals, clearances and tackles were also taken into account, along with Champion Data ranking points.

Find out who were the most influential midfielders in 2024.

A raging bull for Sturt at the stoppages, Tom Lewis knows how to influence a match on the inside of the contest.

The solidly-built midfielder averaged a massive 118 Champion Data ranking points in 2024 while also applying plenty of defensive pressure to lay 9.3 tackles per game, second only to teammate Will Snelling.

Selected on the interchange of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Lewis will be aiming to stay clear of the casualty ward in 2025 after playing in 13 minor round games this season.

He will form a lethal combination in the centre square with his great mate Mitch Crowden at Unley in 2025.

Last year’s Magarey Medallist was able to post another strong campaign in 2024 despite enduring bad luck with injury.

Grant, selected on the interchange of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, averaged an impressive 125 Champion Data ranking points from his 15 minor round matches.

The 23-year-old featured in the West End State team for the first time against the VFL while also finishing in the top five of the Magarey Medal.

Bulldogs fans will be forever pondering how much further their team could have gone in September considering Grant was unable to participate due to a broken jaw.

Highly-rated at Tigerland, James Bell put his name in lights after a sensational finals campaign helped Glenelg to a stunning premiership win.

Joint winner of the Bays’ best-and-fairest award with Matt Allen, Bell upped his output in September as he proved he was more than just a damaging half-forward.

The former Sydney Swan was particularly effective at the centre clearances while averaging 22.5 disposals, 7.5 tackles, 5 clearances and 5 inside 50s during the major round.

Averaging 18 disposals per game across the season, the 25-year-old also hit the scoreboard with 12 majors for the Bays while also displaying a penchant for goal assists in 2024.

West Adelaide fans would have been delighted, and relieved, to learn Sam Frost had signed on to remain at Richmond in 2025.

That’s because their dynamic midfield maestro enjoyed an outstanding 2024 campaign in which he joined teammate Kobe Ryan at the top of the leaderboard for the Neil Kerley Medal as club champion.

A natural ball-winner, Frost racked up the third most disposals in the competition at the end of the minor round whilst also earning a damaging average of 122 Champion Data ranking points this year.

A berth in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year was also fitting reward for the 22-year-old who can expect more attention outside of Hisense Stadium in 2025.

Time doesn’t appear to slow James Battersby down after he was selected in his seventh The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year in 2024.

The proud Sturt captain was also selected as skipper of SANFL’s elite group after producing another fine campaign in which he averaged 24.7 disposals across the minor round and 114 Champion Data ranking points.

Placed second in the competition for total clearances while also racking up his 200th Hostplus SANFL League match, earning Player Life Membership of the League.

At 29, Battersby – who banked another top-10 placing in the Magarey Medal – will be the elder statesman of Sturt’s star-studded midfield mix in 2025.

Baynen Lowe went from crafty small forward to creative, consistent midfielder in 2024.

Norwood’s best in the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final, the Tasmanian was a member of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and West End State team whilst finishing runner-up to Harry Boyd in the Michael Taylor Medal for club champion.

The silky 21-year-old placed third in the Shearman Medal and top 10 of the Magarey Medal whilst averaging 119 Champion Data ranking points.

It was no surprise he was invited to train for a place on Fremantle’s AFL list during the SSP, only to injury his shoulder and return to The Parade.

Glenelg’s game-breaking left-footer made another significant impression as his Tigers claimed back-to-back premierships in 2024.

Matt Allen is a joy to watch with his penetrating kick and elite running capacity for a player standing 193cm.

The 27-year-old was a joint-winner of the Bays’ best and fairest, member of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and West End State team whilst also finishing fifth in the Magarey Medal and seventh in the Shearman Medal.

Averaging 114 Champion Data ranking points, Allen also boasts the flexibility to play as a lead-up forward should coach Darren Reeves wish to cause a mismatch inside 50m.

Five Barrie Robran Medals in succession tells you all you need to know about Campbell Combe’s stunning consistency.

North Adelaide’s popular midfielder as now won the club’s past five club champion awards while also placing fourth in the Magarey and Shearman Medals.

A member of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and the West End State team in 2024, the 29-year-old also averaged 125.7 Champion Data ranking points, the fourth best in the competition.

After commuting from his hometown of Crystal Brook in the state’s far north, Combe has made the tough decision to hang up the boots at Prospect, ensuring a different Rooster will claim the Barrie Robran Medal for the first time since 2019.

West Adelaide’s Kobe Ryan continues to shine in the Hostplus SANFL League as he emerges as one of the competition’s best midfielders.

Runner-up in the 2024 Magarey Medal, the 20-year-old was a joint-winner of the Neil Kerley Medal as Bloods best-and-fairest while finishing equal fifth in the Shearman Medal as voted by the SANFL coaches.

Racked up a massive 466 disposals across the minor round at an average of just under 26 whilst also boasting an average of 139 Champion Data ranking points, the third most in the competition behind Will Snelling and Harry Boyd.

Named on the wing in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Ryan will be aiming to make his debut in the West End State team after being trimmed from the initial squad in 2024.

Sturt fans rejoiced when Will Snelling was announced as a surprise signing ahead of the 2024 season – for good reason.

Instead of returning to West Adelaide – where he earned a 2015 League premiership medallion – Snelling donned the Double Blue in fine style as he shared the 2024 Magarey Medal with Norwood ruckman Harry Boyd.

The natural ball magnet touched the ball more than any other player at the end of the minor round, despite missing two matches to mourn the passing of his father mid-season.

A former Essendon forward, Snelling was also named in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year whilst also averaging 154.9 Champion Data ranking points, shaded only by Boyd.

The 27-year-old also claimed his first P. T Morton Medal as Sturt’s club champion as well as the Bob Quinn Medal as best afield on Anzac Day.