2024 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year

By ZAC MILBANK

Top two clubs Norwood and Sturt have dominated selection in the 2024 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, with a combined 10 players recognised for their outstanding form throughout the minor round.

Earning direct entry to the Hostplus SANFL League Second Semi-Final, the Redlegs have four stars selected including Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd, who has been the standout ruckman this season.

Premiership and West End State mentor Jade Rawlings continues the red and blue flavour as the coach, guiding his team to the minor premiership after enduring a 2023 campaign in which Norwood missed September action.

Baynen Lowe, who has established himself as a fine midfield option, together with fellow twin tower defensive posts Jack Heard and Tom Donnelly, round out Norwood’s representatives.

The Double Blues, who matched Norwood with 15 victories for the season, have six players selected including inspirational captain James Battersby, who is a fitting skipper of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year in his seventh appearance.

Sturt’s miserly back six is well recognised with Casey Voss returning to half-back while Will Coomblas and Luke Edmonds thoroughly deserve their debut selections in the back pockets.

Star Blues midfielders Will Snelling (rover) and Tom Lewis (interchange) have also been named despite missing seven games between them in 2024, such was the strength of their impact while present.

Ken Farmer Medallist Mitch Harvey earned his debut selection at full forward after booting 45 goals throughout the minor round, joined in the elite line-up by fellow Rooster Campbell Combe (ruck rover).

Reigning premier Glenelg has two players selected in forward pocket Liam McBean, who is the vice-captain of the side, while the game-breaking Matt Allen finds himself providing flexibility on the wing.

Fellow finalist Central District boasts three players in this year’s team, with Aiden Grace making his debut in the forward pocket, dual Fos Williams Medallist Jez McLennan at half-back and Magarey Medallist Harry Grant on the interchange.

The fifth-placed Eagles have a strong presence across half-forward with the nifty James Rowe earning his fourth selection alongside debutant Connor Ballenden at centre-half forward.

Adelaide ruckman Kieran Strachan will provide back up to Boyd in the ruck from the interchange, starting alongside prolific Bloods midfielder Sam Frost, who fittingly earned his first selection with West teammate Kobe Ryan, who was listed on the wing.

South Adelaide and Port 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
Aiden Grace (Central, 1st), Mitch Harvey (North, 1st), Liam McBean (Glenelg, 5th)
HALF-FORWARDS
James Rowe (Eagles, 4th), Connor Ballenden (Eagles, 1st), Baynen Lowe (Norwood, 1st)
CENTRE
Matt Allen (Glenelg, 3rd), James Battersby (Sturt C, 7th), Kobe Ryan (West 1st)
HALF-BACKS
Casey Voss (Sturt, 3rd), Jack Heard (Norwood, 2nd), Jez McLennan (Central, 2nd)
BACKS
Will Coomblas (Sturt, 1st), Tom Donnelly (Norwood, 1st), Luke Edmonds (Sturt, 1st)
1ST RUCK
Harry Boyd (Norwood, 2nd), Campbell Combe (North, 4th), Will Snelling (Sturt, 1st)
INTERCHANGE
Harry Grant (Central, 2nd), Kieran Strachan (Adelaide, 4th), Tom Lewis (Sturt, 3rd), Sam Frost (West, 1st)
COACH
Jade Rawlings (Norwood, 1st)