Print this pageGlenelg's serious assault on the SANFL premiership has been reflected in the announcement of The Advertiser Team of the Year.
The Tigers, who will chase their first flag since 1986 when they clash with Central District in the grand final at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, have five players in the team.
Mentor Mark Mickan has been honoured for his efforts in taking the Tigers into their first premiership decider since 1992 with his selection as coach.
Ruckman Trevor Cranston, midfielders Ty Allen and Adam Fisher, forward Todd Grima and full back Sam Rudolph have earned a spot in the Team of the Year after outstanding seasons.
Grima's selection in his debut season in the competition after being lured from Victoria is recognition of his imposing role deep in attack for the Tigers.
The Bulldogs endured an inconsistent lead-up to the finals with just two representatives - Paul Thomas in defence and onballer Chad O'Sullivan who is on the interchange bench.
Glenelg's healthy playing contingent was matched by Sturt, which also earned five spots after finishing the minor round just a game behind the Tigers.
Brant Chambers, the Ken Farmer Medallist for the second successive year, bagged 97 goals for the minor round to be an easy selection at full forward. Ian Perrie had a huge impact in his debut season with the Double Blues and was given a role in the forward line while former Panther Scott McGlone thrived at Unley to be in defence. Magarey Medallist Luke Crane is an obvious choice on the ball while Jade Sheedy, an unanimous selection as captain, retained the centre position he earned last year.
Jeremy Clayton, The Advertiser Player of the Year, earned his spot along with Port Adelaide team-mates Daniel Elstone and James Meiklejohn.
As with Central District, Woodville-West Torrens endured an inconsistent season. Luke Powell and Mark McKenzie were among the exceptions, though. Both Eagles again were prominent.
The defence contains a couple of new faces with Norwood's Brett Zorzi and West Adelaide's Damian Cupido selected in the back pockets. Cupido was used in a variety of positions by Bloods coach Andy Collins with stints in attack and down back.
His form was superb despite the Bloods winning just two games.
The team was selected by The Advertiser writers Zac Milbank, Andrew Capel, Candice Keller and Warren Partland, sub-editor and devout SANFL fan Peter Cornwall and Sunday Mail writer Scott Walsh.
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Warren Partland