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Imports dominate SANFL Team of the Year

First year recruits have dominated selection of The Advertiser’s SANFL Team of the Year after a stellar debut season in South Australia.

Imports making the list for 2007 include Magarey Medallist James Allen, premiership winners Ian Callinan and Nathan Grima, plucky Sturt rover Luke Crane, Tigers’ pair Ben Kane and Sam Rudoph, and the Redlegs’ running defender Keiran McGuinness.

Three players, Double Blues leading goal-kicker Brant Chambers, Port Adelaide small man Jeremy Clayton and Eagles ruckman Paul Lindsay back up from last year’s side.

Central District’s superiority of this year’s competition rewarded them with five members in the 22-man squad. Port Adelaide Power’s Brad Symes was named after playing the minimum 14 games for an AFL-listed player to be considered.

Seven of the nine SANFL clubs had at least one representative, with South Adelaide and West Adelaide – eighth and ninth – failing to contribute a player. Along with the Bulldogs, Sturt had five players in the team, Glenelg four, Woodville-West Torrens three, North Adelaide and Norwood two, Port Adelaide one. 

Sturt co-captain Ben Nelson was honoured for his outstanding season with the captaincy and Central District co-skipper Paul Thomas was named his deputy. Premiership winning mentor Roy Laird was named Coach of the Year.

2007 SANFL Team of the Year

BACKS:  Paul Thomas (CD) Nathan Grima (CD) Sam Rudolph (GLG)
H-BACKS:  Brad Symes (CD) Daniel Schell (CD) Keiran McGuinness (NWD)
CENTRES:  James Gallagher (NWD) Jade Sheedy (ST) Leigh Treeby (WWT)
H-FWDS:  Adam Fisher (GLG) Clint Alleway (NA) Jeremy Clayton (PA)
FORWARDS:  Justin McConnell (GLG) Brant Chambers (ST) Ian Callinan (CD)
RUCK:  Simon Feast (ST) Ben Nelson (ST) James Allen (NA)
I/C:  Paul Lindsay (WWT) Luke Powell (WWT)
Ben Kane (GLG) Luke Crane (ST)
COACH:  Roy Laird (CD)

The Advertiser