We won't get the 15th ever back-to-back winner of the Medal in 2022, but there is no shortage of familiar names and faces up for the voting count
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Previous Winners
2012 Tom Daly (Sturt)
2013 Daniel Johnson (West Adelaide)
2014 Alexander Starling (Woodville)
2015 Matthew Lycett (Norwood)
2016 Nelson Kirksey (Woodville)
2017 Eian Davis (South Adelaide)
2018 Alexander Starling (North Adelaide)
2019 CJ Turnage (Southern Tigers)
2022 CJ Turnage (Norwood Flames)
Did you know???
In the Mens the club who has won the most Woollacott medals is Sturt who also were United Church prior to 1972 with 12, West Adelaide and Norwood with 11. Out of the 10 current clubs, everyone has posted a winner with Steve Brekke the least recent club player to win it for Central District Lions way back in 1984. The biggest multiple winner of the Woollacott is “Chairman of the Boards” himself Mark Davis who has won it five times between 1986 and 1992 including a tie with former 36ers teammate Mike McKay in 1987. There have also been 14 back-to-back winners of the award with the most recent CJ Turnage in 2019 and 2021 and the first Don Collins for West Torrens in 1951.
The Favourites
Jeremy Smith (South Adelaide Panthers)
The runner up to Matt Lycett in 2015 fell one vote agonisingly short in the season. This time around he’s been the dominant player in most of the Panthers games and with their most successful season in 14 years; he’s the front runner. I expect him to poll 3 votes at least eight times plus a bunch of 2 voters and there’s only one consistent vote getter in his team likely to pinch off him making him a strong contender
Adam Doyle (Forestville Eagles)
Back in the league and back in the votes after polling 34 in 2016; the superstar guard of the Eagles always catches the eye of the officials mainly from his average of 8.3 assists per game. Couple this with his 15.9 points per game, I expect he’ll poll strongly but unlike Smith have multiple Eagles grab some of the deserved 3 voters from him…
Jawan Stepney (Woodville Warriors)
Was a warm early favourite for the medal pre-season and had the complete package to win the whole thing. Obviously the top of the ladder Warriors have to have a contender and Stepney with 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists certainly fits the bill. The only thing for him similar to Doyle is that two of his teammates have had particularly good seasons and the squad overall has been very even.
The Smokeys
Terry Winn (North Adelaide Rockets)
Super super consistent through the whole season for the defending champions and produces a statline worth a look at. 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists are the kind of numbers you need to win the award; the L column for the Rockets and some of Jamar Akoh’s standout games may prevent him gaining enough to get close to Smith and Doyle but you never know.
Nik DeSantis (West Adelaide Bearcats)
Very dark horse for the medal with only injury probably robbing him of being right-up in the favourites. He’s not only hit a stackload of points but been amongst the rebounds and assists and more importantly in the wins; I’ve got him down for five 3 voters plus a bunch of ones and twos in losses. His teammate Nate Sheppard is his biggest threat and been ultra-impressive this season.
Trey “Walter” McBride (Norwood Flames)
The Flames had a big run early/mid-season and the import has been right at the front of the queue of those performances. He led his team to a bunch of wins and formed a powerful one-two punch with Ray Harding. Does he have enough in him to turn my 2 voters into 3 voters in the count itself which is the difference between a top ten finish and being right on the podium…
Keep An Eye on
David Humphries (Woodville Warriors)
Quiet underrated performer for the Warriors has had a sneakily very good season. I’ve got him down for in a majority of the Warriors wins a lot of 3 and 2 voters. Could be a mover on Sunday afternoon…
Alex Starling (South Adelaide Panthers)
You can be sure that if Smith doesn’t grab 3 votes in the Panthers wins where both have played; then Starling will have them instead. The 2014/2018 medallist and podium finisher for 2016 always attracts votes and that’s likely to be no different this season.
Lachlan Olbrich (Southern Tigers)
The Adelaide 36ers rookie has gone to another level this season and has been a strong performer in all games he’s played this season. There’s a good chance he’ll grab some 2 and 1 voters in losses as well with only an early finish possibly preventing him from a top 5 finish in the medal.
The Winner is… Jeremy Smith
Led the Panthers to their first finals appearance in 14 years and won his team a huge amount of games off his own back in the dying minutes; no arguments here
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