Tom Lewis wins 2021 Powerade Breakthrough Player Award

By ZAC MILBANK

Strongly-built Sturt midfielder Tom Lewis has won the 2021 Powerade Breakthrough Player Award.

A member of the 2021 The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, the 21-year-old posted an outstanding season for the Double Blues in averaging 22 disposals, six clearances and a competition-leading 10 tackles per game.

Originally from the Meningie Football Club, the long-kicking left-footer relished the extra responsibility thrust upon him in the centre square, having only played 10 games last year.

Lewis has displayed great resilience across the past two seasons, having missed the entire 2019 campaign due to a knee reconstruction after missing out on being drafted by an AFL club at the end of 2018.

Earning a $1000 cash prize and a trophy courtesy of SANFL Premier Partner Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia, Lewis earned his nomination in Round 4 when he registered 21 disposals and seven clearances while laying 14 tackles against South Adelaide.

He is the first Sturt player to win the Powerade Breakthrough Player Award since premiership utility Jarrod Lienert in 2016.

Introduced in 2007, the Powerade Breakthrough Player is designed to recognise and reward the best emerging young talent in SANFL’s Statewide Super League.

To be eligible, players must be aged 23 and under as well as having played 10 Statewide Super League games or less at the start of the year.

Round 1 – Jason Horne-Francis (South)
Round 2 – Josh Shute (Sturt)
Round 3 – Zane Williams (Eagles)
Round 4 – Tom Lewis (Sturt)
Round 5 – Josh Gore (West)
Round 6 – Dyson Hilder (North)
Round 7 – Jackson Callow (Norwood)
Round 8 – Henry Nelligan (Norwood)
Round 9 – Luke Beecken (Eagles)
Round 10 – Mani Liddy (Sturt)
Round 11 – Leek Alleer (Central)
Round 12 – Oliver Davis (Adelaide)
Round 13 – Bailey Chamberlain (West)
Round 14 – Lachie Wilsdon (North)
Round 15 – Will Coomblas (Sturt)
Round 16 – Anzac Lochowiak (Sturt)
Round 17 – Harry Grant (Central)
Round 18 – Jack Heard (Norwood)
Round 19 – Max Litster (Eagles)