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.
2. Billy Cootee (Norwood)
With premiership midfielders Nik Rokahr and Matthew Nunn departing the Redlegs at the end of last season, Norwood went about finding quality replacements in the engine room.
One of their marquee signings was former Essendon VFL captain Billy Cootee, who has been a key component in Norwood's rise back into premiership contention.
Boasting terrific speed, agility and skill, Cootee has reinvigorated Norwood's midfield, adding polish and game-breaking bursts away from stoppage.
With lightning-quick hands and an acute ability to read the play around him, Cootee also holds his own in the clinches and often releases teammates into space to set up scoring opportunities.
Cootee's season was interrupted by a calf injury that saw him miss two games, which coincided with two of Norwood's three losses to this point of the season.
In 13 games Cootee has averaged 22 disposals, six tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s per game, demonstrating the balance in his game.
With Mitch O'Neill still stuck on the sidelines with an ankle injury that seemingly won't go away, Cootee will be a crucial figure as Norwood enter September action.
