SANFL spirit is alive and well
Glenelg defeated Port Adelaide in Sunday’s SANFL grand final at Adelaide Oval, and the spirit of state football was alive and well.
Six years ago, Port Adelaide legend Chad Cornes revealed his top 10 South Australian AFL players at the time.
You won’t believe how much has changed since then!
Multiple best and fairests, a premiership player and one of the best taggers the game has seen, Kane Cornes played 300 games for Port Adelaide over a lengthy career.
An elite runner, Cornes was a nightmare for the opposition’s best midfielders.
Described as one of the “best blokes off the field”, Vince had elite skills and stood up in big games.
After 129 games with Adelaide, Vince made the move to Melbourne where he made 100 games before retiring.
Before moving to Adelaide, where he’s struggled to get a game this season, Gibbs was one of Carlton’s classiest operators.
A smooth-moving on-baller, Gibbs was the Blues’ shining light for many years before being traded to the Crows.
A creative defender/midfielder who has had a career ravaged by injury, Hartlett was one of the competition’s most damaging players when at his peak.
His long kick broke the lines from defence, and he often sunk goals from long range when drifting forward.
A staple in the Western Bulldogs’ side for many years before finishing his career at GWS, Griffin was brilliant to watch when in full flight.
Sometimes hampered by up and down form, the midfielder was always a class act over his 257-game career.
At the peak of his powers, Fisher was arguably the best defender in the game.
Strong above his head, agile below his knees, and rarely beaten, he was a bit part of St Kilda featuring in grand finals in 2009 and 2010.
Originally starting his career at Richmond, Schulz became on of the competition’s elite forwards after moving to Port Adelaide in 2010.
Deadly accurate in front of goal, with his loping, relaxed run up, you wouldn’t have wanted anyone else kicking for your life when he was at his best.
Drafted to Carlton but playing just 17 games, the Ardrossan-born big man truly came into his own after being traded back to his home state to play for Adelaide.
A three-time Showdown medallist, Jacobs remains one of the competition’s elite ruckmen when fit.
You don’t get the nickname ‘Silk’ unless you have some truly gifted skills, and the former Port Adelaide superstar has that in spades.
A member of the Power’s 2004 premiership team, Burgoyne has since gone on to win three flags at Hawthorn and has played a staggering 365 games – a true champion.
The greatest ever Fremantle Docker, the ‘Super Pav’ will go down as one of the best forwards ever to play the game.
While team success eluded him over his 353-game career, Pavlich’s individual accolades – 700 goals, six-times All-Australian – rank him amongst the all-time greats.