As the SANFL home and away season nears a close, we're taking a look at the 10 best recruits who have joined the SANFL this season and the impact they have had on their new club.
A number of ex-AFL players, and one current one, feature in our list, as does an Eagles big man and a Tiger defender who were pulled out of retirement.
In no particular order, here are our 10 best SANFL recruits of the year.
8. Chris Burgess (Adelaide Crows)
Burgess was traded onto the Crows' AFL list at the end of last season after five years with the Gold Coast Suns, where he received limited opportunities in the senior team.
The 193cm utility has again spent significant time at state league level, playing eight SANFL matches and proving a valuable pick-up.
Stationed mostly in attack, Burgess has kicked 19 goals to sit equal with Lachie Gollant as the team's leading goalkicker so far this year.
The 29-year-old has stood out with his strong contested marking, averaging three per game to sit fourth in the competition despite missing seven games with AFL duties.
He has been crucial as a key marking target both inside 50 and further up the ground, serving as a bail-out option for defenders exiting the backline under pressure.
Playing mostly as a key defender in his previous SANFL stint with West Adelaide, Burgess has on several occasions pushed into defence to provide extra support when needed.
His addition has also helped ease the load on younger key forwards Gollant and Toby Murray, allowing the Crows much greater flexibility with their forward set-up.
Burgess' state league level dominance is not new either, with the former Suns sharpshooter claiming the past two Jim 'Frosty' Miller Medals as the VFL's leading goalkicker.
