Statewide Super League Top 50 – No.2

By ZAC MILBANK

Daniel Menzel issued an ominous warning for his SANFL rivals upon his Central District homecoming late last year.

”My body has never felt better in my life, it’s feeling as good as it can,” Menzel told The Advertiser in December.

”I’ve never really felt like this, had my body back me up and give me the best chance to play my best footy.”

After managing just seven of his 80 AFL game for Sydney in 2019, the 28-year-old was poised for a big campaign with the Swans in 2020.

Instead he is embracing the next best thing by linking up with younger brother Troy to make his Statewide Super League debut with his beloved Bulldogs.

The eldest Menzel sibling has only ever played Under-17s, Under-19s and Reserves at Elizabeth but now he’s ready to let loose inside the Dogs’ attacking 50m arc.

And there’s no doubting new Central coach Jeff Andrews will also be considering how much time to hand Menzel in the centre square, such is his creativity with ball in hand.

Despite enduring four years on the sidelines in his career due to a series of serious knee injuries, Menzel believes this has freshened him up to play exciting footy for the Bulldogs in 2020.

And that’s something all SANFL fans will be eagerly anticipating.

Selected by SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank, the 2020 Statewide Super League Top 50 is being unveiled one player at a time on the League’s website and social media channels.

For incumbent SANFL players, form across the 2019 season was used as a significant factor in the selection process, with selection in The Advertiser Team of the Year, West End State squad, club leadership group and placings in club best-and-fairest weighing heavily.

This is to ensure there is meaningful movement of player rankings between each year’s Top 50 list at the start and end of the season.

Recruits to the Statewide Super League for 2020 have also been included, with significant AFL experience, performance at State League level and their predicted impact proving critical in deciding the order of players.

2 – Daniel Menzel (Central)
3 – Richard Douglas (Norwood)
4 – Sam Colquhoun (Sturt)
5 – Joel Cross (South)
6 – Matthew Broadbent (South)
7 – Ryan Bastinac (Norwood)
8 – Billy Hartung (North)
9 – Liam McBean (Glenelg)
10 – Sam Baulderstone (Norwood)
11 – Jordan Foote (Eagles)
12 – Jarrod Schiller (Central)
13 – Lewis Johnston (Norwood)
14 – James Battersby (Sturt)
15 – Zane Kirkwood (Sturt)
16 – Max Proud (Glenelg)
17 – Andrew Moore (North)
18 – Luke Reynolds (Glenelg)
19 – Abe Davis (Sturt)
20 – Tyson Goldsack (Port)
21 – Jarred Allmond (North)
22 – Marlon Motlop (Glenelg)
23 – Kaine Stevens (West)
24 – Matthew Snook (Glenelg)
25 – Travis Schiller (Central)
26 – Billy Stretch (Glenelg)
27 – Joseph Haines (South)
28 – Brad McKenzie (Norwood)
29 – Matthew Rose (South)
30 – James Rowe (Eagles)
31 – Dom Barry (Norwood)
32 – Justin Hoskin (Central)
33 – Harrison Wigg (North)
34 – Matthew Allen (Glenelg)
35 – Troy Menzel (Central)
36 – Mitch Grigg (Norwood)
37 – Jack Hayes (Eagles)
38 – James Rose (South)
39 – Robbie Young (North)
40 – Andrew Bradley (Glenelg)
41 – Tom Schwarz (North)
42 – Matthew Panos (Norwood)
43 – Brad Agnew (Glenelg)
44 – Cole Gerloff (Norwood)
45 – Matthew Wright (Adelaide)
46 – Dean Gore (Sturt)
47 – Tom Keough (West)
48 – Jesse Lonergan (Eagles)
49 – Alex Spina (North)
50 – Logan Hill (West)