Magarey Medal
Norwood’s Nik Rokahr has etched his name into Australian Football history, becoming the first player to win the Magarey and Sandover Medal at SANFL’s gala event on Monday night.
Joint winner of the WAFL’s most prestigious individual trophy in 2024, the Redlegs’ midfielder steamrolled his way to claim SANFL’s cherished prize in 2026, awarded to the competition’s fairest and most brilliant player.
Placing fourth in last year’s Magarey Medal and runner-up in 2022 and 2023, the 31-year-old’s dominance resulted in him polling a massive haul of 38 votes from 18 games, the most since four-time winner Russell Ebert attracted 42, from 21 matches, under the 3-2-1 system in 1976.
Named rover in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Rokahr’s outstanding campaign was also reflected in him winning the R.O. Shearman Medal as voted by the coaches, The Advertiser Player of the Year Award and the SANFL Now Player of the Year Award.
Polling a total of 10 first preferences, Rokahr had amassed 17 votes by the end of Round 9 before continuing on his vote-winning rampage by attracting the umpires’ attention for eight games in succession from Round 12 to 19.
Last year’s Magarey Medallist, Sturt’s Tom Lewis, was runner-up with 23 votes while West Adelaide’s Kobe Ryan, North Adelaide’s Angus Schumacher and Eagle Ted Clohesy were equal third on 22.
R.O. Shearman Medal
Norwood ball magnet Nik Rokahr has earned the respect of the Hostplus SANFL League’s coaches to become just the third Redleg to win the R.O. Shearman Medal.
Widely-regarded as the competition’s standout midfielder this season, the 31-year-old polled a significant tally of 111 votes to win by a convincing margin, in front of second-placed Eagle Ted Clohesy on 83.
Norwood’s No.9 posted admirable averages of 32 disposals, six clearances, five marks and five tackles across his 18 matches in 2026.
Rokahr joins his great mate from Shepparton, Harry Boyd (2024), and Magarey Medallist Matt Thomas (2013) as the only Redlegs to win the R.O. Shearman Medal.
Norwood’s Finn Heard placed third with 79 votes, ahead of Glenelg pair Lachie Hosie (72) and Corey Lyons (71).
North Adelaide’s James Allan has dominated the award, claiming a record six R.O. Shearman Medals, including one with Rokahr’s current coach Jade Sheedy in 2008.
Voted on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis by the SANFL coaches during the minor round, the R.O. Shearman Medal voting appears weekly on the SANFL website.
Introduced in 2000, the medal is named after five-time Sturt premiership player and SA Football Hall of Fame member Bob Shearman.
Reserves Magarey Medal
Norwood’s Daniel Gauci’s impactful campaign has been rewarded by becoming the second Redleg in seven years to win the Reserves Magarey Medal.
Finishing fourth in last year’s Reserves Magarey Medal count, the strongly-built midfielder claimed the 2026 prize after polling 19 votes from just 11 appearances.
Averaging an eye-popping 32 disposals, five clearances and six tackles in the Reserves this season, the 21-year-old also managed seven matches for the Redlegs’ Hostplus SANFL League team.
Recruited from New South Wales for the start of the 2025 season, Gauci had been a member of the GWS Giants Academy and the East Coast Eagles in Sydney’s Premier Division.
The latest Redleg to win the Reserves Magarey Medal since Jed Spence in 2019, the 175cm ball magnet attracted five first preferences from the seven matches he polled votes in.
Sturt’s mature-age recruit James White was runner-up with 16 votes while Glenelg’s Tasmanian rover Isaac Hyatt placed third with 14.
Double Blues pair Louis Kellaway and Oscar Merrett finished equal fourth on 13 votes.
Courtesy SANFL & Zac Milbank
