Dullest sides got walloped mid-contest (9)

I believe the answer is:

stodgiest

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'dullest' is the definition.
('stodgy' can be a synonym of 'dull')

'sides got walloped mid-contest' is the wordplay.
'walloped' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'wallop' mean this).
'mid-contest' becomes 't' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'sides'+'got'='sidesgot'
'sidesgot' is an anagram of 'stodgies'.
'stodgies'+'t'='STODGIEST'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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