2022 TopSport SANFL Top 50 – 1-5

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2022 are being unveiled through the TopSport SANFL Top 50.

After selecting his Top 50 players pre-season, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank has chosen his Top 50 now that the dust has settled on this year’s exciting campaign.

Form across the 2022 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.

So here they are – the top five players in the Hostplus SANFL League for 2022!

Norwood’s star midfielder gained plenty of admirers this year considering what he achieved in the last six weeks of the season playing under duress from a foot injury.

Instead of complain, Rokahr got on with the job to finish second in the Michael Taylor Medal, fourth in the Shearman Medal and runner-up in the Magarey Medal.

The 27-year-old made his debut in the West End State team and The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, where he earned selection as the starting rover.

Averaging 117 Champion Data Ranking points in 2022, Legs fans will be keen to see what Rokahr can produce when fully fit should he be lining up in next September’s action.

Aaron Young looked to have dealt Norwood a dagger blow in the Grand Final when he gave his Roosters a 17-point lead approaching the 12th minute of the final term.

While his fine finish on goal wasn’t quite enough to haul North across the line, it didn’t dampen his excellent individual campaign which was capped off by winning the 2022 Magarey Medal.

Placed second in the Barrie Robran Medal – behind Campbell Combe – the 30-year-old was named at half-forward in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Averaging 110 Champion Data Ranking Points per game this year, Young also finished fourth in the Shearman Medal.

There isn’t much left for Campbell Combe to achieve on an individual level and after reading through his 2022 accolades, it’s easy to understand why.

The 27-year-old won the Barrie Robran Medal as North’s best-and-fairest while also being named vice captain of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year as the side’s centreman.

Averaging 120 Champion Data Ranking points per game (fourth in the competition), the bullocking midfielder also placed in the top 10 of both the Magarey and Shearman Medals.

His ball-winning influence was also noteworthy in the West End State team’s triumph against the WAFL in Perth.

The Eagles may not have qualified for the finals but that didn’t prevent Riley Knight from trying everything he could to ensure qualification.

Winning the Shearman Medal as voted on by SANFL coaches weekly throughout the season, Knight was also equal third in the Magarey Medal count while claiming the Eagles’ Club Champion crown.

The 27-year-old earned the third highest Champion Data Ranking Points average (121) in the competition while also representing the West End State team in Perth.

To top it off, Knight – a former Crows utility – was selected as the Ruck Rover in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

The noise outside of The Parade was well and truly heard by Harry Boyd before a ball had been bounced in 2022.

Questions were being raised about the Redlegs’ lack of a genuine ruck option leading into the season, leaving Boyd to take matters into his own hands.

His answer couldn’t have been more emphatic as he became the most influential player in the competition this year, capped off by earning the 2022 Jack Oatey Medal for his stunning display in the Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final.

No player in the competition logged a higher Champion Data Ranking Points average than the 24-year-old’s significant 146 per game as he claimed the Michael Taylor Medal as Norwood’s best-and-fairest in a premiership year.

Finishing runner-up in the Shearman Medal, Boyd just fell short of becoming the first ruckman since Port’s Ryan O’Connor in 2001 to win the Magarey Medal, when he placed sixth.

The 198cm giant also made his debut in the West End State team and The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, where he was selected in the ruck after averaging a League-high 35.7 hit outs per game.