2023 TopSport SANFL Top 50 – 31-40

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2023 are being unveiled through the TopSport SANFL Top 50.

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 2023 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.

If there is one player in the Hostplus SANFL League who isn’t judged on statistics, it is Sturt’s Luke Edmonds.

The Double Blues’ reliable key defender doesn’t touch the ball often but he can be relied upon to regularly nullify his opponent, as evidenced by his third placing in the P. T Morton Medal count.

And the role this plays in his team’s success is illustrated in him winning the 2023 Best Team Man award at Unley.

Turner may have been plagued by a foot injury and an abdomen strain at various stages this year but he still played a valuable role in Glenelg’s run toward the 2023 premiership.

The big-bodied midfielder – who has since departed the Bay due to employment – represented the West End State team while also placing 10th in the club’s best-and-fairest award.

Woodville-West Torrens midfielders must love kicking the ball deep into their attacking 50m arc when Connor Ballenden is present.

The 200cm Eagles forward ranked second in the competition for contested marks while also finishing fourth in the Perce Johns Medal count.

A member of the West End State team for the past two seasons, the former Brisbane Lion also booted 29 goals for the minor round.

Central District’s captain shows no signs of slowing down.

Another fine campaign from Jarrod Schiller resulted in him being edged out by Magarey Medallist Harry Grant for the Norm Russell Medal as the Dogs’ best-and-fairest.

A master at the stoppages, the new dad finished fourth in the competition for total clearances while also enjoying a career highlight when awarded the Channel 7 Adelaide Goal of the Year for his over-the-head effort in the clip below.

Craig joined fellow Rooster Mitch Harvey in earning his first West End State guernsey this season, which was richly-deserved.

The reliable premiership defender placed third in the Barrie Robran Medal while also taking home the club’s Most Consistent Award, ensuring he will be missed in retirement next season.

Few players are more dangerous from a set shot than dual Glenelg premiership forward Luke Reynolds.

Booting a total of 42 goals for the season, including three in the Tigers’ Grand Final win, the sharp-shooting left-footer placed fourth in the Ken Farmer Medal and only had two games without a major in 2023.

South Adelaide fans have become accustomed to seeing the flame-haired Joseph Haines rebounding from their back half, often from the kick-in after a behind.

The Panthers No.4 – who has announced his retirement – was at it again in prolific fashion this year when he registered the second most total kicks in the competition while finishing runner-up in the Knuckey Cup count.

Will Coomblas’ value to the Sturt cause cannot be understated.

Not only can he play on the talls and the smalls in defence, he is a master of taking the intercept mark.

Finishing seventh in the club’s best-and-fairest and seventh in the competition for marks, he kicked his first League goal in the 2023 Grand Final, his 62nd outing for the Double Blues.

Glenelg was missing one key ingredient when it finished fourth at the end of the 2022 season – a No.1 ruckman.

The recruitment of former South Adelaide bigman Cam McGree not only ensured Liam McBean could remain inside 50m, it gave the Tigers a mobile tap ruckman who was able to have an impact around the ground.

Snapped up from the Reynella Wineflies, the Bays’ premiership ruckman finished fifth in the club’s best-and-fairest while also being selected in the initial West End State squad.

Smooth-moving Szekely was a vital cog for the Roosters again in 2023, providing much-needed pace on the outside of the contest for the bevy of inside ball-winners at Prospect.

A member of the victorious West End State team, the speedy wingman was eighth in the competition for total kicks while placing second in the Barrie Robran Medal behind Campbell Combe.