Magarey Medal

Finally we have one, congratulations Changa!

Woohoo

By ZAC MILBANK

South Adelaide midfielder Bryce Gibbs and Woodville-West Torrens ball magnet James Tsitas have been crowned joint winners of the 2021 Magarey Medal.

Highly-credentialed Panther Gibbs and Eagles ball-magnet Tsitas polled 21 votes, to be the first players to share SANFL’s prestigious individual award in nine years.

In what proved to be an enthralling count, three players – Gibbs, Tsitas and Glenelg’s Matthew Snook – were a chance to win with one round to be counted.

Tsitas, who failed to attract a vote in Round 19, was joined on 21 by Gibbs, who was awarded two in the Panthers’ final minor round win against West Adelaide.

Snook, who polled two votes in Round 19, finished joint runner-up with Eagles star Jack Hayes, who drew level with Snook on 20 votes when he was adjudged best afield in his team’s final minor round win against Central District.

The winners of the past two Magarey Medals – North Adelaide’s Campbell Combe (2020) and Glenelg’s Luke Partington (2019) – finished equal third with 17 votes each.

Gibbs’ strong start to the season resulted in him leading the count after eight rounds, en route to finishing with four first preferences, four second preferences and one third preference.

The 32-year-old is the eighth South Adelaide player to win the Magarey Medal, joining Panthers’ greats such as Dan Moriarty, Mark Naley and the retiring Joel Cross.

Featuring in his first full SANFL season since playing with Glenelg in 2006, Gibbs averaged 27 disposals, six tackles and six clearances to have a major influence in his team’s run to the Preliminary Final.

Tsitas, the first Woodville-West Torrens player to win the Magarey Medal since the Warriors and Eagles joined forces in 1991, joins illustrious names such as West Torrens’ Lindsay Head and Woodville’s Malcolm Blight in earning SANFL’s prized trophy.

A former captain of Geelong’s VFL team, Tsitas has thrived since arriving at Oval Avenue at the start of the 2020 season, playing in a League premiership in his first SANFL season.

Tsitas joins a pretty impressive list of names. Well done to him, thoroughly deserved.

2021: James Tsitas
1972: Malcolm Blight
1955, 58 & 63: Lindsay Head
1946 & 47: Bob Hank
1932: Max Pontifex
1921: John Karney
1912: Dave Low
1902: Tom Mackenzie

James is a great player, a ball magnet who gets the ball and brings his team mates into the action. Getting a vote in the game against Port at Alberton when we were soundly beaten proved important as it turned out. I thought last year if he came back he might be Magarey Medal chance as he got 8 votes in just 11 games in 2020. Jack Hayes could be our next if he continues his great form. Congratulations to both from grateful supporters

Tsitas has signed on for next year just saw a tweet

goddy11 wrote:How was this for a prediction



New Recruits
Post by goddy11 Fri Nov 20, 2020 10:51 am

goddy11 wrote:James Tsistas is the one I want back. He will win a MM with us.

We done goddy