Statewide Super League Top 50 – No.30

By ZAC MILBANK

Woodville-West Torrens forward James Rowe didn’t know if he would get a Statewide Super League game at the start of 2019.

By the end of it, he was arguably the best goalsneak in the competition after securing a berth in the forward pocket of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year.

Averaging more than two goals a game for a total of 35 for the season, Rowe finished third in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal behind Glenelg pair Liam McBean and Luke Reynolds.

Unlucky to be pipped by Norwood’s Cole Gerloff for the 2019 Powerade Breakthrough Player Award, Rowe was the Eagles’ most improved player, illustrated by him placing fourth in the Club Champion Award after playing just six League games in 2018.

Now the nuggety 20-year-old is looking to take his game to the next level with his natural ability to be at the fall of the ball while also proving to be incredibly elusive inside 50m.

No doubt Rowe’s next ambition will be to push into the midfield rotation under new Eagles coach Jade Sheedy.

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.

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)