Chris Kendall's Team of the Year

Courtesy of SportsBeat and the SANFL and 5RPH. here is CK's Team of the Year.

2015 SANFL TEAM OF THE YEAR

S Green (WA) C Alleway (Gl) J Hoskin (CD)

A Fielke (WA) B Eddy (SA) J Cross (SA)

T Schiller (CD) C Schmidt (WA) J Porplyzia (WA)

L Jarrad (W/WT) K Beard (St) B Seccull (SA)

M Motlop (NA) T Keogh (WA) P Thomas (CD)


1st Ruck: S Baulderstone (Nwd), A Rowntree (W/WT)), Z Kirkwood (St)

Inter: M Panos (Nwd), M Snook (Gl), S Summerton (Port)

Coach: Roy Laird (CD)

This yeat’s Team Of The Year was both one of the easier ones and one of the mote contentious simultaneously. Some players were automatic selections, while others were very unlucky to miss out. No AFL listed player was eligible for selection, and the team was selected as if it were actually taking the field and could adapt to roles, rather than simply naming players in positions they were unlikely to occupy. As it transpired, all teams except Adelaide were represented.
The forwardline virtually selected itself. West’s Shannon Green proved an absolute revelation when moved from defence into attack, his 43 goals finishing third on the league goalkicking. Ken Farmer Medallist Clint Alleway had to win the goalsquare position after a stellar season leading the Tiger attack, while Bulldog Justin Hoskin has taken the next step this season, snaring 23 goals in a midfield/forward role to slot into the other pocket.


Blood Aaron Fielke’s 40 goals were critical to West’s rise up the ladder, providing a point of difference in attack, while Panther Brett Eddy continued to be the catalyst for South in attack all season. Dual Magarey Medal winning teammate Joel Cross added a goalkicking dimension to his game this season to complement his undoubted class and poise around the ball and slots in to half forward as a menacing changing option through the middle.
Bulldog Travis Schiller took his game to another level this year and while normally more around the middle, can shift out to a wing and give some run and carry. West’s Chris Schmidt has been pivotal again around the middle for the Bloods this season and while a number of players could fill the role, the leading possession getter in the league has been excellent again in 2015. Teammate Jason Porplyzia was excellent in his full time return to SANFL duties and while he has played an onball and half back role for much of 2015, his run and carry around the wing also generates a number of attacks.
Luke Jarrad continues to defy Father Time at the Eagles, his raking left boot being the spark for so many attacks for their rise up the ladder from fifth last season. Sturt’s Kory Beard was one of the easiest selections in a key defensive role, particularly with his ability to move up forward in times of need. Panther Brede Seccull may not be a household name outside of Noarlunga, but one of the leading tacklers in the league, as well as averaging over 18 disposals a match, has been vital in creating turnovers to South’s advantage in defence this season.
In a wretched year for North Adelaide, Marlon Motlop took his game to new levels, averaging nearly 25 disposals as a running defender and while the Roosters finished bottom, his efforts could not be faulted. West’s Tom Keogh, the Fos Williams Medallists in the state game against Western Australia, holds down the key defensive position but can also push forward to create headaches for the opposition, while Paul Thomas was outstanding for Central District this season. Polling 20 Magarey Medal votes at the age of 33 is testament to the continued high standards the skipper sets at Elizabeth.
Norwood’s Sam Baulderstone’s work both in the air and at ground level, creating space for his midfielders, was a shining light in a difficult second half of the season at the Parade. Eagle Angus Rowntree was exceptional this year in the clearances, and while running second in Magarey Medal is some consolation, the knee injury that ends his season and much of 2016 is a cruel blow for the youngster. 2014 Magarey Medallist Zane Kirkwood did not drop his efforts at all this season and remains a key ingredient for the Double Blues aim to return to finals next season.
Matthew Panos was vital for Norwood in the first half of the season and shouldered a heavy burden as the season drew on, and Glenelg’s Matthew Snook was simply too damaging around the clearances all season to be ignored. Port skipper Steven Summerton held his stellar standard this year and occasionally pushing up forward, typified by five goals in the final round against West, offered a new dimension to his game.


Selecting the coach was the toughest task of all. There is a real case to be made for how Eagle mentor Michael Godden reinvented his game plan with largely the same group to be the league benchmark, while West coach Mark Mickan’s rise from ninth to a grand final was nothing short of spectacular and extremely close to being the choice. Many pundits had written off Central District at the start of the season and early on, the predictions looked on the mark. The way that Roy Laird was able to motivate a group with few key additions and take them to a preliminary final, with a barnstorming last two thirds of the season, proved how much he continues to change and adapt to shifting game plans and still retain the key ingredients to remain so competitive.





Let the comments flow.

Who's lucky, who's unlucky and why Mark Mickan should be Coach

Hartlett and Kaine Stevens are stiff. Can't see who they push out though.

I may be biased, but Mickan has to be coach. Laird's achievements can't be underestimated but they did spend the majority of the year in the bottom half of the competition.

Team of the year

FLAG NO 9............BENW.......CHAMBO

FIRST BLOOD.......BIG phil.....THE EMPEROR

THEILE................LEE...........BAYMAN

GINGERNUTS.....HARTS7.....THE HATCHET

BRUCETIKI...   .BOONEY.........UNCLE HUEY

SCRAPPY
BLUEANDWHITE
SOUTHEE

This team has it all
Very very very pacy centre line
BENW and Chambo good targets up forward
All teams need a BIG centre half forward and this team has one
Booney at full back, so he can be guarenteed of getting a kick
No interchange needed , these blokes will get the job done

Think Harts7's a bit lucky.

Good job CK. Godden coach of the year for mine - Changing your style and philosophies isn't something I think many coaches could do, at least successfully. That said, if Westies win this weekend it would be hard to keep Rubbers out. Laird the best coach in the comp., but just pipped for this years honour (imho).

Scrappy wrote:Team of the year

FLAG NO 9............BENW.......CHAMBO

FIRST BLOOD.......BIG phil.....THE EMPEROR

THEILE................LEE...........BAYMAN

GINGERNUTS.....HARTS7.....THE HATCHET

BRUCETIKI...   .BOONEY.........UNCLE HUEY

SCRAPPY
BLUEANDWHITE
SOUTHEE

This team has it all
Very very very pacy centre line
BENW and Chambo good targets up forward
All teams need a BIG centre half forward and this team has one
Booney at full back, so he can be guarenteed of getting a kick
No interchange needed , these blokes will get the job done

I'l take that, half forward flank feeding off Big Phil and snagging a few goals.

didnt make it this year

The question has to be asked
Will Southee or Blueandwhite pass the ball to BenW ?

PS
CK
Did James Allan get considered in your team ?

Pretty good effort by CK. Good to see his usual 'left field' selection (Seccull).

Wouldn't argue with much he's done at all.

Agree with Scrunch that the Coach should be either Godden or, if West win, Mickan easily. That doesn't diminish my respect for Laird, whose effort has been outstanding and I understand CK's reasoning.

blacky wrote:didnt make it this year

I guess you must have missed too many matches!
Big rumour is, if Westies win this weekend, will Flag No 9, change his name?

Scrappy wrote:Team of the year

FLAG NO 9............BENW.......CHAMBO

FIRST BLOOD.......BIG phil.....THE EMPEROR

THEILE................LEE...........BAYMAN

GINGERNUTS.....HARTS7.....THE HATCHET

BRUCETIKI...   .BOONEY.........UNCLE HUEY

SCRAPPY
BLUEANDWHITE
SOUTHEE

This team has it all
Very very very pacy centre line
BENW and Chambo good targets up forward
All teams need a BIG centre half forward and this team has one
Booney at full back, so he can be guarenteed of getting a kick
No interchange needed , these blokes will get the job done

Like in a tug-of-war....I'm always the anchor.

Half back flank! Not sure how much pace I'd offer on the rebound.

Chambo Off To Work We Go wrote:

blacky wrote:didnt make it this year

I guess you must have missed too many matches!
Big rumour is, if Westies win this weekend, will Flag No 9, change his name?

Like this posters name , well thought out
Yeah will he change it to Flag number Barrie Robran if the Blacky and Tars win this week ?

It's a question I've been pondering myself. I'm thinking I might change it to Flag No.14, just so I've got the rest of the decade covered.

Flag No.9 wrote:It's a question I've been pondering myself. I'm thinking I might change it to Flag No.14, just so I've got the rest of the decade covered.

Chickens. Counting. Hatched.

Humour. Sense of. Get.

Enough with the Yoda talk!

Flag No.9 wrote:Humour. Sense of. Get.

You'd have to have one, barracking for your mob.

And patience. Lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of patience.

Scrappy wrote:The question has to be asked
Will Southee or Blueandwhite pass the ball to BenW ?

PS
CK
Did James Allan get considered in your team ?

Yes, was certainly under consideration, but then came the issue of who to omit in his favour. It was a tough decision to leave him out.