2020 Post Season SANFL Top 50 – 31-40

Plenty of debate surrounds who are the best players in the Statewide Super League. 

After selecting his Top 50 players in the preseason, SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank has now chosen his Top 50 at the conclusion of the 2020 premiership campaign.

Form across the 2020 season was used as the chief factor in the ranking process, with selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, placings in the Magarey Medal, Shearman Medal and Club best-and-fairest awards 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.

Stay tuned as the countdown continues on the SANFL website and social media channels, here are players 31 to 40.

Assumed the captaincy at The Parade this year and led from the front in averaging more than 20 disposals per game while booting 16 goals for the season. Campaign was cut short when he injured the ACL in his knee during Round 11 but it didn’t prevent him from finishing seventh in Norwood’s best-and-fairest count.

Recruited from the Sydney Swans Academy, Parks posted an impressive first season in the Statewide Super League in finishing fourth in Glenelg’s best-and-fairest count. An exceptional intercept mark, the medium-sized defender took 90 in total for the season which placed him in the competition’s top 10.

Hindered by a restricted preseason due to foot surgery, Travis Schiller was still a strong contributor for the Bulldogs while placing fourth in the Norm Russell Medal count. Averaged 25 disposals a game while also managing to finish in the competition’s top 30 for possessions despite only playing 11 games.

The Geelong VFL recruit proved to be a solid addition for the Redlegs as he led the competition for marks taken while playing a consistent role in defence this year. Finished equal fourth in the Michael Taylor Medal count after being successfully moved into the midfield late in the season, where he also kicked the winning goal against Sturt in Round 12, featured in the clip below.

One of the success stories of the season for the Bloods, Johnson went from fringe League player to Neil Kerley Medallist in the space of the 2020 season. Booted 17 goals for the year while averaging more than 15 disposals playing chiefly across half-forward and the wing. An elusive left-footer who can make something out of nothing as evidenced by his contender for Round 6 Goal of the Week below.

One of the most unheralded players in the Statewide Super League, Nicholson is rated very highly at Brighton Road where he finished third in the John H. Ellers best-and-fairest. The smooth-moving wingman plays tall for his height (186cm) while finishing 11 in the competition for total kicks en route to reaching his 100-game milestone in Round 9.

The experienced Redleg averaged 22 disposals per game while dividing his time between the midfield and half-forward in 2020. Placing sixth in the Michael Taylor Medal count, Grigg continues to relish not being relied upon as heavily as he was during his Magarey Medal-winning seasons of 2017 and 2018.

A vital cog in the Eagles’ premiership-winning forward line, Nick Hayes finished 12 in the competition for total marks taken while averaging more than five a game. Plays taller than his 188cm as evidenced by him snaring 21 contested marks for the season, placing him inside the competition’s top 10 for that category. Finished eighth in the Eagles’ star-studded best-and-fairest count.

Began his first season as a Double Blue playing deep in attack as a marking forward before switching to his more familiar midfield role for the majority of the year. Placed third in the P. T. Morton Medal count while averaging more than 21 disposals per game in a solid start for his new club.

Finished sixth in the Barrie Robran Medal count despite missing two minor round matches with a hamstring strain. Posted impressive averages of 22 disposals, five tackles and five clearances while playing a vital role through the midfield as the Roosters’ joint vice-captain.