Adelaide SANFL utility Blayne O’Loughlin has taken out the 2023 Dean Bailey Award.
The Dean Bailey Award assesses on-field performance, dedication to training and overall commitment to the team, in honour of the late Strategy and Innovations coach’s passion for nurturing young footballers.
O’Loughlin, a nephew of former Sydney 300-gamer and AFL Indigenous Team of the Century star Michael O’Loughlin, lined up in 15 SANFL games with the Crows, including the qualifying, semi and preliminary finals.
Across the 15 matches, the 20-year-old averaged 10.9 disposals and 2.5 tackles.
He enjoyed standout games in Round Six against Sturt, in which he amassed 17 disposals and six marks, as well as in Round 14 against the Eagles (17 possessions, four defensive rebounds).
O’Loughlin signed with Adelaide’s State League side ahead of the 2023 season, as part of the SANFL Rookie Program.
The speedy defender/wing was a member of the Crows’ Next Generation Academy as a junior and trained with Adelaide’s AFL side in 2020 and 2021, while playing with North Adelaide.
O’Loughlin joins teammate and previous winner Jay Boyle, who claimed the award back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.
Dean Bailey Award winners:
2014 – Michael O'Malley
2015 – Matthew Spencely
2016 – Luke Carey
2017 – Lachlan Murphy
2018 – Corey Davey
2019 – Matt Merrett
2021 - Jay Boyle
2022 - Jay Boyle
2023 - Blayne O’Loughlin
