World News – UA – Campbell Combe wins 2020 Magarey Medal – SANFL

Campbell Combe of North Adelaide stalks the stray ball in round three Image – Deb Curtis

North Adelaide midfielder Campbell Combe took home the 2020 Magarey medal becoming the 17th rooster to win SANFL’s Fairest and Brightest Individual Award

The unannounced left foot collected a total of 19 votes to edge Glenelg on ball Matthew Snook on 17 and Sturt co-captain James Battersby on 16

Combe, preparing to play in the state’s Super League grand final on Sunday, drew first preferences from referees in six of the seven matches he recorded, before ending with his only third preference in of the 14th day

The 25-year-old was among the favorites on the count, racking up six votes in the first three rounds before moving ahead of Snook in the 13th round with a better performance at distance against Sturt

« I’m very, very surprised to be honest that I didn’t expect this tonight, » Combe told Channel 7 after the virtual countdown

« I have been fortunate enough to be part of successful teams and this year has been no different I have been very lucky in that regard

« I can’t thank my family enough especially my parents who have supported me so much throughout my career Surj (coach Jacob Surjan) and the football club have been very supportive and accommodating so I really enjoyed my football this year « 

Battersby played a leading role at the start, leading the count in Round 10, before failing to register a vote after his second preference over South in Round 11

Last year’s Magarey medalist Tiger Luke Partington, two-time Magarey winner Joel Cross and outgoing Double Blue Sam Colquhoun were all next in the standings with 15 votes each

Measuring 178cm and 84kg, Combe is the first player from the North to win the Magarey medal since James Allan won his third in 2011

Product Crystal Brook now joins famous roosters such as Barrie Robran, Andrew Jarman and Brenton Phillips to claim the coveted trophy

Making his league debut as a teenager in 2014, Combe played 12 games in his first senior season before returning home to work on his family’s farm in 2015

It was in his beloved Crystal Brook Roosters that Combe developed a penchant for grabbing the attention of referees with his prolific and hard-to-win tackles.

Non du Nord18 won three consecutive Northern Areas Football Association medals from 2016 to 2018 to highlight his footballing talent

Returning to Prospect in 2019, Combe played 45 league games while building a reputation as an incredibly consistent performer over the past two seasons.

Magarey Medal, Andrew Jarman, North Adelaide Football Club, William Ashley Magarey