The SANFL 2014 season has been a watershed: a return to a 10 team competition, the arrival of an Adelaide reserves side and new Port Magpies structure.
These changes come half a century on from the year that Woodville and Central Districts were admitted to the League’s senior division.
Peter Argent analysed the 2014 minor round where South Adelaide revived its fortunes in the 50th anniversary year of the last Panthers premiership, Central District’s decade of dominance was fading and Norwood showed why it loves September – here’s his SANFL Team of the Year (excluding AFL-listed players).
Reigning premier and this season’s grand finalist Norwood collected four picks, while this Sunday’s Preliminary finalists, South and Port, claimed three and two respectively. Sturt enjoyed three selections as well.
Woodville West Torrens, Central District and West Adelaide have two each. North Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows garnered one a piece.
A place couldn’t be justified for a single Glenelg Tigers player.
A number of players commanded automatic selection, including ruckman Keegan Brooksby, the Magarey Medal winner, Zane Kirkwood, and runner-up Joel Cross.
The three tall forwards, Brett Eddy, triple Ken Farmer Medallist Michael Wundke (60 goals this year) and Norwood human highlight reel Michael ‘Juice’ Newton, pick themselves. All three made it to the 50-goal mark during the regular season.
Norwood veteran Kieran McGuinness, the man with the honour of leading this side, his teammate Jace Bode and Sturt’s Kory Beard also demanded selection, as did versatile small defender from the Ponderosa, via Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley, Jarrod Schiller.
Despite West Adelaide’s modest year, where they collected six wins and finished ninth, both skipper Chris Schmidt and Riverland lad Jono Beech, the player who took the most marks in the competition, could not be overlooked.
Brent Macleod’s season at South Adelaide saw him finish in the top four possession winners in the competition and as a midfielder he also kicked 23 goals.
The most conjecture came when considering the half forward and half back flankers.
In his first year coaching at this level, Norwood’s Ben Warren deserves his spot after steering the Redlegs into the grand final despite a large turnover of players.
InDaily’s SANFL team of the year
Forward Line: Brett Eddy (Panthers), Michael Wundke (Eagles), Brent Macleod (Panthers)
Half Forward Line: Ian Callinan (Crows), Michael Newton (Redlegs), Ben Hanson (Double Blues)
Centre Line: Jonathan Beech (Bloods), Steve Summerton (Magpies), Luke Jarrad (Eagles)
Half Back Line: Chris Schmidt (Bloods), Kory Beard (Double Blues), Nathan Krakoeur (Magpies)
Full Back Line: Jarrod Schiller (Bulldogs), Kieran McGuinness (Redlegs), Jace Bode (Redlegs)
1st Ruck: Keegan Brooksby (Panthers), Joel Cross (Panthers), Zane Kirkwood (Double Blues)
Interchange: Sam Baulderstone (Redlegs), Jay Shannon (Roosters), Luke Barmby (Bulldogs),
Matt Panos (Redlegs)
Coach: Ben Warren (Redlegs)
South Adelaide’s Keegan Brooksby
