Sturt’s Tom Lewis wins 2025 Magarey Medal

By ZAC MILBANK

A dominant mid-season burst has catapulted Sturt superstar Tom Lewis to a convincing Magarey Medal victory at SANFL’s gala event on Monday night.

Widely-tipped by rival coaches to claim SANFL’s most prestigious individual crown, Lewis asserted himself on the count when he polled maximum votes in five consecutive matches en route to landing a significant tally of 33.

Sitting equal third with 13 votes after Round 9, the 25-year-old surged into the lead with 28 by the end of Round 15 as he leapfrogged eventual runner-up, Woodville-West Torrens’ Kobe Mutch (23), and teammate Will Snelling (21).

The long-kicking left footer then polled another five votes to streak towards his statement-making triumph, becoming the 16th Double Blue to win the Magarey after midfield sidekick Snelling saluted with Norwood’s Harry Boyd last year.

Norwood’s Nik Rokahr, who won the WAFL’s Sandover Medal last season, was placed fourth on 18 votes while Glenelg’s Jarryd Lyons and Redleg Billy Cootee were next on 17 each.

Named vice-captain in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Lewis’ outstanding campaign has also been reflected in him winning the R.O Shearman Medal as voted by the coaches, The Advertiser Player of the Year Award and the SANFL Now Player of the Year Award.

Lewis, who polled Magarey votes in 13 of his 18 appearances this season, tallied a total of eight first preferences, four second preferences and one third preference.

He averaged 25.8 disposals, 7.4 clearances and 8.4 tackles as he regularly flexed his muscle at the centre stoppages for the record-breaking Double Blues.

Originally from the Meningie Football Club, now known as Coorong Cats, Sturt’s No.2 has displayed great resilience after overcoming serious injury at various junctures in his blossoming career.

The West End State representative suffered a life-threatening ruptured spleen in 2022 after undergoing a knee reconstruction in 2019, having been overlooked in the 2018 AFL National Draft.

Lewis has thrived in an acting captaincy role for much of this year’s minor round, with Sturt captain James Battersby and fellow vice-captain Snelling missing significant periods with injury.