Matthew Snook wins 2020 R. O Shearman Medal

By ZAC MILBANK

Glenelg’s Matthew Snook has become the second Tiger in as many seasons to win the R. O Shearman Medal.

Polling a commanding 68 votes, Snook joined fellow Bays midfielder Luke Partington who also gained the respect of SANFL coaches in 2019.

Snook, who won the 2019 Jack Oatey Medal as best afield in the Grand Final, finished well clear of Sturt co-captain James Battersby on 53 votes and North’s Campbell Combe on 52.

The 28-year-old – who has played 127 League games for the Bays since 2011 – is the third player from Brighton Road to win the award, also joining Brett Backwell in 2003.

Voted on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis by the SANFL coaches during the minor round, the R. O Shearman Medal voting, including leaderboard, appears weekly in the SANFL Budget.

The medal is named after five-time Sturt premiership player and SA Football Hall of Fame member Bob Shearman.

Triple Magarey Medallist James Allan has dominated the award, claiming a record six R. O Shearman Medals playing for North Adelaide, sharing it with Sturt’s Jade Sheedy in 2008.