2025 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year

By ZAC MILBANK

Sturt’s minor round dominance has been reflected in having seven players selected in the 2025 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

The record-breaking Double Blues, who went agonisingly close to remaining undefeated before their two-point loss to Adelaide in Round 19, are also represented by their coach Martin Mattner, who was a clear-cut choice as the competition’s best mentor.

Magarey Medal favourite Tom Lewis, the team’s vice-captain, leads the charge for Sturt after being named in the centre while fellow midfielder Angus Anderson was rewarded for his breakout campaign on the interchange.

Classy small forwards Josh Hone and Sam Conforti are among a dangerous mix inside 50m, together with resting midfielder Will Snelling at half-forward, while West End State defenders Casey Voss and Will Coomblas provide rebound from the half-back line.

Second-placed Glenelg has five players chosen, headlined by captain Liam McBean, who is the skipper of the 2025 The Advertiser Team of the Year after being named at centre half-forward.

Ken Farmer Medallist Lachie Hosie is the natural choice at full forward and talented Tiger Matt Allen retains his place on the wing from last year.

Triple premiership defender Jonty Scharenberg’s consistent campaign was recognised at half-back while star veteran Jarryd Lyons starts in the centre square.

Adelaide captain Jack Madgen, at full back, is one of three Crows in the side, together with strong-marking forward Chris Burgess (forward pocket) and Lachlan McAndrew (ruck).

Elimination Finalists Central District and Norwood have three players, with Rhett Montgomerie (back pocket) representing the Bulldogs alongside Redlegs Billy Cootee (wing) and Pierce Seymour (back pocket).

Woodville-West Torrens pair Kobe Mutch and James Rowe landed on the interchange after making strong contributions amid a challenging second half of the season.

Ultra-consistent Port Adelaide ball magnet Jack Watkins (rover) and South Adelaide gun Oliver Davis (interchange) are among the 12 debutants in the elite line-up, joined by Anderson, Conforti, Lyons, Scharenberg, Burgess, McAndrew, Madgen, Cootee, Seymour and Mutch.

McBean (six Team of the Year selections), Rowe (five) and Lewis, Allen and Voss (four) are the most capped players in the side.

North Adelaide and West Adelaide were the only clubs without a player selected.

The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year was selected by SANFL’s Sean Toohey, Daniel Joyce and Zac Milbank, The Advertiser’s Andrew Capel, Football Budget editor Peter Cornwall, and Channel 7’s John Casey.

FORWARDS
Josh Hone (Sturt, 2nd selection), Lachie Hosie (Glenelg, 3rd), Chris Burgess (Adelaide, 1st)
HALF-FORWARDS
Will Snelling (Sturt, 2nd), Liam McBean (C) (Glenelg, 6th), Sam Conforti (Sturt, 1st)
CENTRE
Matthew Allen (Glenelg, 4th), Tom Lewis (VC) (Sturt, 4th), Billy Cootee (Norwood, 1st)
HALF-BACKS
Casey Voss (Sturt, 4th), Will Coomblas (Sturt, 2nd), Jonty Scharenberg (Glenelg, 1st)
BACKS
Pierce Seymour (Norwood, 1st), Jack Madgen (Adelaide, 1st), Rhett Montgomerie (Central, 2nd)
RUCK
Lachlan McAndrew (Adelaide, 1st), Jarryd Lyons (Glenelg, 1st), Jack Watkins (Port, 1st)
INTERCHANGE
Angus Anderson (Sturt, 1st), Kobe Mutch (Eagles, 1st), Oliver Davis (South, 1st), James Rowe (Eagles, 5th)
COACH
Martin Mattner (Sturt, 3rd)