Rory raising the bat for 100 Hostplus SANFL League games

By ZAC MILBANK

When you think about the best team players in the Hostplus SANFL League, Sturt’s Rory Illman has to be at the top of the conversation.

The Double Blues’ no-frills defender has willingly sacrificed himself for the betterment of his Double Blues for 99 League matches.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, the 27-year-old insists nothing will be different when he reaches triple figures against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Saturday.

By his own admission, Illman isn’t the flashiest of performers and he has displayed his selfless nature in strong fashion across the past 12 months.

Sturt’s No.32 was squeezed out of the line-up to play in the 2025 SANFL Grand Final win but he was determined to remain positive by assisting the club’s younger players in the Reserves finals series.

Now, after several constructive chats with coach Marty Mattner, Illman has re-established himself at the highest level, featuring in every League match this season.

Originally from the Mitcham Football Club, the KPMG accountant began with Sturt’s Under-15 development program after initially playing Rugby Union due to his family’s Scottish heritage.

Making his League debut against North Adelaide at Prospect in 2019, he fondly remembers being presented with his first guernsey by fellow Sturt small defender Guy Page.

Page has since returned to Unley as an assistant coach this season, acting as a key sounding board and encouraging presence for Illman in his 2026 form resurgence.