2022 TopSport SANFL Top 50 – 31-40

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2022 are set to be 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, after releasing selections 41 to 50, here are 31 to 40.

Stay tuned as the remainder roll out across the SANFL website and social media channels in the coming days.

Glenelg’s 2019 Magarey Medallist missed Round 19 and the Elimination Final with an untimely hamstring strain before returning to be his team’s leading disposal winner with 26 and a goal in the First Semi Final loss to Norwood.

Placed sixth in the Bays’ best and fairest while averaging 25 disposals and 92 Champion Data Ranking Points in 2022.

Age certainly doesn’t appear to be a factor in slowing Central’s captain down after logging another exceptionally consistent campaign.

The 30-year-old Bulldogs skipper finished fourth in the Norm Russell Medal as club best and fairest while averaging an impressive 107 Champion Data Ranking Points per game.

Former Essendon midfielder Dylan Clarke was a late signing for the Eagles but that didn’t prevent him from hitting the ground full of steam, averaging 23 disposals, seven tackles and 98 Champion Data Ranking Points.

Ranking second in the competition – behind Tiger Matthew Snook – for total handballs, Clarke was third in the Eagles’ best-and-fairest count.

The Eagles will miss Clarke’s tenacity around the stoppages in 2023 after he announced his return to Melbourne at season’s end.

It’s fair to say Brett Turner won’t ever experience a season like 2022 again.

Starting the year in red hot form with the Tigers, he was selected by Adelaide in the AFL Mid-Season draft despite recovering from an ankle injury suffered in Round 4.

Eventually returning for the Crows’ SANFL team in Round 13 – against the Tigers – Turner became a key cog in Adelaide’s midfield, illustrated by his strong finals campaign.

The 26-year-old averaged 22 disposals, six clearances, six tackles and 111 Champion Data Ranking Points but it wasn’t enough to be retained by the Crows, leaving him to prepare for 2023 with the Bays.

The delisted Collingwood midfielder was desperate to prove himself in the best State League competition in Australia and he certainly did that in his consistent campaign with the Redlegs.

Placing seventh in the Michael Taylor Medal, the smooth-moving wingman performed when it mattered most in the Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final, tallying 25 disposals, eight clearances and six tackles.

Rantall has since penned a heartfelt letter to Redlegs members, revealing he will be returning to Melbourne for the 2023 season.

Returning from Hawthorn to play with his original SANFL club, Brand certainly didn’t let Westies down in 2022 after placing fifth in the Neil Kerley Medal.

Earning a berth in the victorious West End State team, the strongly-built key defender averaged 7.5 marks per game this year while registering at least one contested mark in all but two of his appearances in the red and black.

The latest SANFL premiership captain battled a serious ankle injury through the middle section of the year but performed extremely well either side of the ailment to average 122 Champion Data Ranking Points across 14 games.

A key member of the West End State team in its win against the WAFL in Perth, Nunn’s nous in big moments for his beloved Redlegs proved pivotal throughout a memorable September.

South Adelaide’s hard-running midfielder is one of the competition’s quiet achievers but he continues to get the job done whilst averaging 25 disposals, six tackles, five clearances, five inside 50s and 99 Champion Data Ranking Points in 2022.

Fittingly rewarded for his hot start to the season with selection in the West End State team, O’Neill finished sixth in the Knuckey Cup, the Panthers best-and-fairest award.

North Adelaide’s captain regularly controlled the tempo for his side while providing plenty of rebound for the Roosters in 2022.

Named vice-captain of the West End State team, Spina placed sixth in the Barrie Robran Medal as he prepares to continue his chase for an elusive premiership medal in 2023.

Sampson continued to make one of the wings his own at Flinders University Stadium as he took another major step in his development.

Boasting a nice turn of speed, the 22-year-old placed fourth in the Knuckey Cup count while also using his running power wearing the cherished red guernsey for the West End State team.