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.
9. Rhett Montgomerie (Central District)
After being delisted by Essendon at the end of last season, Montgomerie started the 2024 campaign with Footscray in the VFL before returning home to his junior club in May in search of more opportunities.
The versatile defender has played every game since and has been an inspired acquisition by Central District in their quest for a top-three berth.
In his nine games back at SANFL level, Montgomerie has averaged 15 disposals, seven marks and three rebound 50s, slotting seamlessly into the Bulldogs' backline.
He has been a major presence with his intercept marking, using his innate ability to read the play to patrol the defence and cut off opposition attacks.
Measuring in at 190cm, Montgomerie can play on a variety of opponents and is more than comfortable in one-on-one contests.
A penetrating kick and good decision-maker, Montgomerie has been key in kick-starting much of the Bulldogs' ball movement out of defence.
In addition to his own performance, Montgomerie's inclusion has added crucial depth and experience to the Bulldogs' defence, giving them a healthy array of key defenders to alter match-ups if needed.
