Four-way tie for 2024 McCallum Tomkins Medal

By ZAC MILBANK

Four players have won the 2024 McCallum Tomkins Medal as the fairest and most brilliant performers in the SANFL U18 competition.

In an historic first, Glenelg’s Ben Camporeale, South Adelaide’s Phoenix Hargrave, Sturt’s Oscar Merrett and North Adelaide’s Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier each polled 18 votes at the end of the minor round.

With two rounds to play, Camporeale, Hargrave and Merrett were all locked on 18 votes but were joined by Oudshoorn-Bennier, who polled three votes in Round 17 and one in Round 19, to make it a four-way tie.

Tiger Camporeale, who was SA’s U18 MVP at the AFL National Championships, appeared in just six matches where he averaged 32 disposals per game.

Hargrave, who was runner-up for the McCallum Tomkins Medal in 2023, averaged 25 disposals in his nine appearances for the Panthers while Merrett racked up an average of 19 disposals in his 17 matches.

Roosters midfielder Oudshoorn-Bennier averaged 26 disposals across his 17 matches as he joined Rooster Angus Tully, who won last year’s McCallum Tomkins Medal.

North’s Sam Cumming and Eagle Zac Schwarz were next with 17 votes each.