The Magarey Medal is awarded to the 'Fairest and Most Brilliant Player' in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). The 'artistic', 'slippery' and 'cool-headed' Robert 'Bob' Snell won the medal in 1929 playing for the West Adelaide Football Club.

Bob Snell came to Adelaide from Western Australia where he was runner up for the first Sandover Medal (1924). His club, East Perth, refused him a clearance for the 1925 and 1926 seasons so he did not begin his playing career with West until 1927, a premiership year for the club. In 1931, at the height of the Great Depression, Snell moved to Tasmania to play for New Town in the Tasmanian Australian National Football League but moved back to West the following year. Upon his retirement from football at the end of the 1933 season, he became a licensed bookmaker. He passed away in 1983.

In 1897 William Magarey became the Chairman of the South Australian Football Association which later became the SANFL. He was eager to stamp out rough play and assist in gaining more respect for umpires. In 1898 Magarey instituted the award of a Medal to South Australia's fairest and most brilliant player. The first recipient of the coveted Magarey Medal award was Norwood's Alby Green.

• Agars, Merv. Bloods sweat and tears: West Adelaide Football Club, 1877-1987, [Adelaide?: West Adelaide Football Club,], c1987
• Wood, John. S.A. greats: the history of the Magarey Medal, Plympton, S. Aust.: J. and W. Wood, [1988]

• Agars, Merv. Bloods sweat and tears: West Adelaide Football Club, 1877-1987, [Adelaide?: West Adelaide Football Club,], c1987

• Wood, John. S.A. greats: the history of the Magarey Medal, Plympton, S. Aust.: J. and W. Wood, [1988]