2014 Magarey Medal Preview - Chris Kendall (SANFL/5RPH)

5RPH Commentator and SANFL writer Chris Kendall provides the most indepth preview of the 2014 Magarey Medal, held on Monday September 1

http://www.sanfl.com.au/news/sanfl_news/2655/

Adelaide

Matt Crouch – May be the bolter over the closing rounds, albeit after a very slow start. Will split the top votes with brother Brad in the round nine win over the Eagles, as both collected 31 touches and seven clearances, before again being high on the slips after a 35-disposal effort in the round 11 North Adelaide win. The indisputable BOG after 42 possessions and 13 clearances in the narrow round 12 loss to West, should be followed by more in the round 13 win over South after 24 disposals and five inside 50s. The round 15 win versus the Eagles should carry him another three votes with 38 touches and seven clearances, with more expected in the round 16 defeat of Glenelg after 31 disposals, seven clearances and a goal. The round 17 last-gasp loss to Sturt may prove crucial to his chances, with 35 touches, 13 clearances and six inside 50s, and while they lost to Norwood by 55 points in the last round, his 38 possessions, 12 clearances and 10 Inside 50s made him clearly Adelaide’s best. Could prove interesting.

Roughie: Jarryd Lyons – So many players going in and out of the Adelaide line-up will make it hard for consistent pollers, but Lyons’s strong presence all season will keep him right in the mix. His first chance comes in the round two loss to Sturt, with 28 touches, 11 clearances and a goal keeping him under notice all day, before a near certain three-vote game in their inaugural round 3 win over Central with 26 disposals, 14 clearances and two goals. The Port loss in Clare may bring a minor vote, but the round seven loss to Norwood should bring him close to the three votes after 34 touches and three goals. Teammate Matt Crouch would be the only player to beat him to the top votes in the Round 15 Eagles win, with 38 touches and 2.5. Should poll strongly, but will fall short.

Central District

Josh Glenn – May get the ball rolling early with minor votes in round one, with Central only overrun late en route to Glenn’s 24 disposals, five clearances and a goal. Should fight it out with Luke Habel for the top votes after 22 touches, four tackles and two goals in the round two Norwood win, before being instrumental all day in the narrow round six loss to North with 22 possessions and 11 clearances. The key performer in the round ten win against Adelaide with 31 touches, five clearances and a goal, he should also be called out in the round 13 win over West after 29 handlings, five clearances, nine inside 50s and 1.3. A blistering first half in the round 14 Eagles win may net him votes, as well as a strong 23 touches, six clearances and four inside 50s in the last kick Port victory of round 16. A tally of 25 disposals and three goals in the round 17 defeat of Glenelg will keep him high in the umpire’s thoughts also. Looks good for a top ten finish and may be the bolter.

Roughie: Travis Schiller – Very impressive at times in 2014, his chances will depend on whether umpires have really noticed him in his second season. A haul of 26 touches and seven clearances in the narrow round loss to South should set his night moving, before 19 disposals – second highest for Central – and eight clearances in the one goal round seven loss to Glenelg may also net him attention. 28 touches, three tackles and six clearance should keep him in the umpires mind in the round 11 South win, and could net a minor vote in the round 13 win over West. The round 15 win over Sturt will keep a range of players from both teams in the mix with a five point margin, but his 25 disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s were influential. Will probably concede the top votes, despite being on the winning team, to Port’s Tom Logan in round 16, but 25 disposals, eight clearances and five inside 50s kept the engine room moving all day. Should battle it out with teammate Glenn for the top marks in the Round 17 Glenelg win after 27 touches and ten clearances. Deserves to get his share.

Glenelg

Sam Lonergan: Highly unlikely the winner will come from the Bay, but Lonergan should pick up his share of votes. Despite being on the losing end of a 43 point opening round loss to Sturt, he was outstanding all night in picking up 29 touches, four clearances and seven inside 50s, and was clearly best afield with 33 disposals, six tackles, 11 clearances and five rebound 50s when they knocked over Adelaide in round four. Another brilliant display against Norwood in round five, when he had a game high 24 touches, along with seven tackles, 12 clearances and a goal should bring him more votes, but his next opportunity won’t be until round 12, with 30 disposals, 12 clearances and six inside 50s, albeit in a 43 point loss to the Eagles. May lose out to teammate Warwick McGinty for any Glenelg votes in a 14 point round 13 loss to Sturt, although his 22 possessions, seven clearances and a goal were strong. Could wind out a frustrating season with votes in their round 18 win over the Magpies, after 21 disposals, three clearances, four inside 50’s and two goals. Should easily top the Glenelg votes.

Roughie: Matthew Snook: Probably sums up the Tigers season that their likely next best votegetter is unlikely to be called out until round 15, when he found it 24 times, after laying five tackles, amassing six clearances and a goal in the win over West. Was everywhere in the round 16 loss to Adelaide, with 27 possessions, eight clearances and four inside 50’s, before a game high 36 disposals, six clearances and five rebound 50’s in the round 17 loss to Central. Ended the season with a near best afield 33 touches and 11 clearances in the upset win over the Magpies.

North Adelaide

Jay Shannon: Has been one of the heartbeats of the Roosters all season and some games could not be missed. We may get a gauge on things as early as round two, collecting 22 possessions and ten clearances in the loss to South, before turning the Anzac Day round four clash on its head with 28 touches, nine clearances and a goal to take home the Bob Quinn Medal. Unlikely to be called out again until round ten, where he may fight it out with a number of teammates in a 29-disposal, six clearances, one goal match in the big win over West, but could not miss the umpires’ attention with 29 disposals, ten clearances and two goals in the narrow round 11 Adelaide loss. The round 13 win over Port should nab more votes after 28 possessions, four tackles and four inside 50s, but it will be a travesty if his name is not at the top of the slips in round 17. A tally of 29 touches, five tackles and 12 clearances against the Eagles had him clear best afield. If it is a lowish count, may be a dark horse.

Roughie: Nick Amato: Polled surprisingly poorly last year, but has lifted his game to another level in 2014. Should be right up there in the round one win over Adelaide, with 25 disposals, six inside 50s, four clearances and a goal, and could net more votes in the round 3, 15 point win against West after a team high 23 touches and five clearances. Will be hard to ignore in the 57-point round nine win versus Glenelg after 27 disposals, seven clearances and seven inside 50s, and was among several dominant teammates when they smashed West in round ten by 87 points, his 30 touches, five inside 50s and a goal being a primary contributor. The round 14 belting of Glenelg had him as equal leading possession getter on the ground with 22 handlings and eight clearances, and if any Rooster polled in the 53-point round 15 loss to Norwood, it is likely to be him after 27 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal. Should fight it out for best afield honours, despite being in the losing team against Sturt in round 16, after 31 possessions, eleven clearances and three goals. Will certainly improve on 2013.

Norwood

Matthew Panos: Hard to believe he spent time in the reserves in 2013 through form, as he reinvented himself as a bullocking midfielder in 2014 for a career breakout season. Could start the night with a bang in round one, where his 20 touches, ten clearances and seven tackles where instrumental in bringing about Port’s downfall. May not be heard again until round nine against West, but should net the top votes with 27 disposals, ten clearances and six inside 50s. A haul of 26 possessions, four tackles and nine clearances in the round ten win versus Sturt should snare votes, before amassing 30 touches, seven tackles, nine clearances and six inside 50s when the Redlegs smacked Glenelg in round 11. Could sneak a vote in the round 12 win over Central where 19 touches (equal best for Norwood), three clearances, four inside 50s and a goal were vital. Was brilliant early in the round 14 win over South and may sneak a vote, but the top votes loom in round 16 after 34 possessions, four inside 50s and a goal when the Redlegs beat West by 89 points. Clearly Norwood’s best in the round 17 loss to Port with 23 disposals, seven tackles and eleven clearances, but may need to swoop home to catch some of the others.

Roughie: Sam Baulderstone: In such an even season at the Parade, the lion-hearted ruckman has had some magnificent games that should be rewarded. Despite Norwood losing by 21 points on Anzac Day, his 21 disposals, seven clearance and 29 hitouts were highly influential, before a mammoth 60 taps to go with 18 possessions and three clearances in the round five Glenelg win. The last gasp round eight loss to the Eagles still had him clearly the best big man on the ground after 20 disposals, four tackles, 37 hitouts and a goal, and his 20 possessions and 34 hitouts in the round 10 Sturt win may bring him to attention. A 118-point round 11 win over Glenelg should be a raffle for the Redleg votes, but 21 touches, five clearances and 38 hitouts still exceeded the total output of both main Tigers rucks, followed by 11 possessions, four clearances and a monster 62 taps in difficult conditions when they defeated Central in round 12. Would only be headed by Panos for the three votes in round 16 against West, after an astonishing 28 touches, 11 marks, six clearances and 25 hitouts, and could prove a real surprise on the night.

Port Magpies

Steven Summerton: One of the favorites and should kick off early with a 36 disposal, nine inside 50 effort in the round two win over Glenelg, before a chance at minor votes in the round three Eagles victory after 25 touches, four clearances and two goals. An almost certain three vote game in round four versus West when amassing 39 possessions, eight clearances and eight inside 50s, and backed it up with a dominant 28 disposals, six clearances and six inside 50s in the inaugural round five SANFL Showdown win. A tally of 28 disposals, eight inside 50s and two goals in the round six win over Sturt should net more votes and the round eight win over North will go close also to top votes after 34 possessions and ten clearances. Should be at the top of the umpires’ slips again in round ten, when amassing 37 touches, four clearances and ten inside 50s when the Magpies downed the Eagles. Will fight it out with teammates Aaron Young and Ben Newton for BOG honours in round 12 against Sturt after 36 disposals, and 34 touches, eight clearances and a goal in the round 14 win over Adelaide should also see him pick up more votes. Would need a big buffer at this point, as unlikely to be called out for at least the next three rounds. Round 18 may set up the grandstand finish, with him collecting 27 possessions, four clearances and four inside 50s in the shock 32-point loss to Glenelg. Could face a nervous last four rounds, but the deserved favorite.

Roughie: Ben Newton – With such a dominant season at Alberton, they will have a number of five to six vote games, and Newton looks well placed to benefit. His 31 touches, 13 marks and four inside 50’s in the round two rout of Glenelg ought to have him well placed, and will go close to the maximum in round three against the Eagles, when he found it 33 times and racked up 14 clearances, ten inside 50s and two goals. The round four defeat of West featured him strongly with 31 possessions, 16 marks and three tackles, followed by another 30 disposals, seven clearances and four inside 50s in the round six win versus Sturt. May not be called again until their next defeat of Sturt, in round 12, where he registered 30 disposals, five tackles, seven clearances and a goal, and finished the season well with 23 touches, three free kicks, six clearances and four inside 50s in the win over Norwood in the penultimate round. May find his name called out in many games with Summerton, stealing votes from each other.

South Adelaide

Brent Macleod: One of the drivers of the Panthers’ engine room, we should get a handle on his chances early on, with South bursting from the blocks. Could kick off his night in round two, with 20 disposals (equal third best on ground), five inside 50s and two goals in the 34-point win over North, before 22 touches, four clearances, six inside 50s and three goals should notch close to top votes in the round six win over Norwood. Was brilliant with a 25 possession, five clearances and three goal game in the narrow round nine loss to Sturt, before amassing 31 disposals, seven clearances, four rebound 50s and a goal in the big round ten win over Glenelg. May sneak a vote when the Panthers smacked North by 78 points in round 12, where his 23 touches, ten marks and a goal kept him around the mark. Racked up 38 possessions and six clearances when the Panthers downed the Magpies in round 15, and should also close with votes in the final game against Sturt, where his 29 dipsosals, seven clearances and two goals were vital in turning the contest. Might surprise many on the night.

Roughie: Keegan Brooksby: The best ruckman in the league this season, he has had some brilliant displays that could not be missed. A tally of 19 possessions, seven marks, 33 hitouts and a goal kicked off his season with the round one win over West, before backing it up with 20 disposals, 26 hitouts and eight clearances in the round two North win. Registering 25 touches, 12 clearances, six frees and 38 taps should bring him the maximum votes in the round three Glenelg win, but may not poll again until round eight, with 13 touches, 27 hitouts and six clearances in the loss to Adelaide. The round ten win over Glenelg gives another opportunity for votes, after 11 possessions, eight clearances, 45 hitouts and four inside 50s. While South narrowly lost the round 14 game against Norwood, he, like many teammates, was excellent after quarter time with 15 touches, 31 hitouts and six tackles and in the round 16 win over the Eagles, twelve disposals, seven clearances and 48 hitouts – seven more than the entire Eagles team – were a major factor. Collecting 18 possessions, ten marks, four clearances and 25 hitouts held West at bay all day in the round 17 win, but whether a flat spot in the middle of the season is costly remains to be seen.

Sturt

Zane Kirkwood: One of the key factors for the Double Blues’ rise up the ladder, his night should start strongly, with a clear best afield in round one over Glenelg, after 36 possessions, nine clearances and five rebound 50s. Was in everything in the round two win against Adelaide, with 27 disposals, four clearances and five inside 50s, and should keep the wheels turning when Sturt defeated Norwood in round three, amassing 27 touches, five clearances and a goal. Again brilliant in round five, finding the ball 26 times, along with four clearances and three tackles in the big South win, and his 33 possessions, ten marks, eight clearances and seven inside 50s in the massive defeat of West will go close to another three votes in round seven. A total of 28 disposals, five clearances, four rebound 50s and a goal should move him into clear double figures in the round eight win over Central, and while his team went down by 21 points to Norwood in round ten, his 36 disposals, four tackles and eight clearances had him easily Sturt’s best. The second half onslaught by Sturt to down the Eagles by 40 points in round 11 was led by Kirkwood’s 27 possessions, 14 clearances and five inside 50s, and 22 touches, ten tackles, three frees and five inside 50s in the round 13 win over Glenelg will also keep him high in the umpires’ minds. May only have one more batch of votes up his sleeve, where 29 possessions, eight clearances and a goal in the round 16 North win should see him on the slips. Along with Summerton, may also find himself away from most of the pack early and then have a nervous last few rounds, but a massive chance.

Roughie: Richard Tambling: Relished being full time at Sturt this season, and this was reflected in his season. Made a point to the Crows hierarchy in their round two victory, when he collected 26 touches, eight clearances and a goal, but unlikely to collect more votes until the round seven win over West, where his 30 possessions, six clearances and six inside 50s were only shaded by Kirkwood. Clearly the best Double Blue when his team downed South in round nine, his 23 disposals, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal likely to have his name called out at the top of the slips. Was again in a tandem with Kirkwood in round 11 against the Eagles, with 24 possessions, four frees, nine clearances and three inside 50s keeping him under attention, and kept Sturt motoring all day in the last gasp round 17 win over Adelaide with 26 touches, four tackles, five clearances and three rebound 50s. Chance for a top ten finish.

West Adelaide

Chris Schmidt (*ineligible): A perennial votegetter, should take the maximum votes despite losing in round two to the Eagles, after 33 disposals, eleven clearances and a goal, and would be hard to beat again in the narrow round three loss to North after finding it 27 times, along with five tackles and six clearances. Could make it a hat-trick of threes after round 5, when his 35 possessions, ten clearances and eleven marks were pivotal as West downed Central, while 23 disposals, four clearances and two goals could be noted in the 37-point win over Adelaide. Should move into double figures in round 11, when the Bloods knocked over the Magpies, where his 36 touches, 14 marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s had plenty of impact, and the round 12 victory over Adelaide should bring him minor votes behind Matt Crouch after 29 handlings and four clearances. Will fight it out with teammate Jon Beech, and Sturt’s Kirkwood for votes when he found it a game high 30 times, along with seven clearances in the round 14 win over the Blues, and 20 touches, seven tackles, four clearances and three rebound 50s had him everywhere when they downed Glenelg in round 15. Should be high on the boards, albeit with an asterisk next to his name and a lack of teammates to take votes will help, but likely to fall short, fortunately.

Roughie: Jonathon Beech: Arguably career-best season and it will be interesting to see how well that translates to Magarey votes. Should find out by round six, when he found it 29 times, along with 16 marks and six inside 50s as the Bloods defeated Adelaide, and 24 touches, five inside 50’s and 4.2 should nail the maximum in the round eight win over Glenelg. Was among a host of solid Bloods in the round 11 win over the Magpies, but 25 possessions, 12 marks, four clearances and two goals were a pivotal factor, and should have only Schmidt and Kirkwood for rivals for top votes in the round 14 Sturt victory with 22 touches and 4.4. Won’t have enough to win, but should be top two at Milner Road.

Woodville/West Torrens

Luke Powell: Would be the ultimate fairytale if the retiring Powell saluted, and the numbers have been impressive at times in 2014. A good chance to kick things off in the opening round win over Central, after racking up 23 possessions, four tackles and six clearances, backing it up in the round two West win, with 26 disposals, nine clearances and seven inside 50s. A very even team performance when they defeated Sturt in round four may see him under notice, where 23 touches, 10 clearances and five inside 50s had him in the umpires’ eyes all day, should be followed by minor votes in the round six win over Glenelg after 27 touches, five tackles and eight clearances. The round eight win against Norwood was characterised by low disposal numbers across the board, so his 17 possessions, nine tackles, seven clearances and a goal have him right in the mix, but he is unlikely to feature again until round 17 in the loss to North. A tally of 20 touches, six tackles, seven clearances and five inside 50s should keep him in the forefront, giving him a solid tally to wind out a stellar career.

Roughie: James Boyd: Proven votegetter who should come under notice again at times this year. Round two may bring his first votes, with his 26 possessions, seven clearances, five rebound 50s and a goal pivotal in the win over West, and the round four victory over Sturt, with 27 disposals, five clearances and five rebound 50s having him under close attention. A 50-point defeat of Glenelg in round six should see the Eagles pick up all six votes, and Boyd’s 27 touches, five tackles, five clearances and four frees are likely to keep him under notice. Their 76-point round seven win over North had Michael Wundke and Andrew Ainger combine for 13.5, but Boyd’s 23 disposals, six clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal played a strong role. While the Eagles fell to the Magpies by 23 points in round 10, 11 inside 50s, seven clearances and 30 possessions were easily their best, but this may close out his night.

CK’s TOP FIVE:

1. Steven Summerton (Port)
2. Zane Kirkwood (Sturt)
3. Matthew Panos (Norwood)
4. Matt Crouch (Adelaide)
5. Brent Macleod (South Adelaide)

DARK HORSE: Jay Shannon (North Adelaide)

Hate to put a spanner in the works Macleod no invite means no votes

atthebar wrote:Hate to put a spanner in the works Macleod no invite means no votes

Seriously?????

This is a seriously sensational effort by C.K.

I've never seen such a comprehensive MM review in all my time following football.

Full marks, C.K, it's a great read and a realbonus for the SANFL.

For South, I think Joel Cross will go close.

Also don't forget Aaron Anderson fromWest.

wont be a bay player, young Matt Snook got an invite & he didn't play league until about round 9

whoever wins the coveted award will be a worthy winner as is always the case

Admin wrote:Roughie: Travis Schiller – Very impressive at times in 2014, his chances will depend on whether umpires have really noticed him in his second season.

He does get noticed by the umpires, having shared a reserves Magarey Medal last year, but this is only Travis' first year of League football.