South Australian football’s must-watch Indigenous stars include Lindsay Thomas, Jake Neade and Robbie Young
From electric midfielders to goal-kicking machines, we’ve picked the must-watch indigenous players in local footy to celebrate Indigenous Sport Month.
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South Australia is lucky to have superstar Indigenous footballers plying their trade in amateur leagues.
For some players staying local is a choice that allows them to spend more time with family and friends, for some it’s the next step after a glittering career in the AFL and for others it’s a way of giving back to the game and the community.
One of the biggest names getting around SA is former St Kilda player and North Adelaide star Robbie Young.
Now playing at Tailem Bend in the River Murray Football League, Young believes Indigenous Sport Month and the AFL’s Indigenous rounds are important steps forward for the game and players.
The RMFL has an Indigenous round on July 2 – the highlight a match between Tailem Bend and Meningie for the Hartman/Wilson Medal, named after RMFL Indigenous greats Noel Hartman and Roger Wilson.
However, Young wants to see an Indigenous round more widespread.
He wants to the leagues come together and support a statewide Indigenous round – and it’s something he’ll push for as he continues to star for Tailem Bend.
“They’ve been good, but I think the leagues can get better at it,” he said. “It would be pretty special to see it (across the state).
“It could start out at that division one and division two level and in time progress it through to the other divisions and leagues.
“It’s something I’m willing to push because it gives our people a way of telling stories and giving players at their club a bit of an insight about what goes on in an Indigenous household and community.
“It would be awesome for our game so we can have those conversations, be on the same page about things and work on things our people go through like racism.
“All players can be there and be able to help Indigenous players deal with those battles.”
Young is one of the many incredible Indigenous amateur stars The Messenger is highlighting as part of Indigenous Sport Month.
Meet the other Indigenous players starring across the state.
LINDSAY THOMAS (Portland – Kaurna)
Thomas needs no introduction.
After an 11-year, 205 game, 325 goal career with North Melbourne in the AFL, the excitement machine returned to SA to join Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
After a season with the Magpies, Thomas joined Portland in the Adelaide Footy League and is currently on a tear.
The gifted forward has booted 32 goals in six games for the club this season as the club aims for division four finals and promotion to division three.
With the ability to slot goals on both sides of the body and take many a specky, there may not be a more entertaining player in local SA footy.
ANTHONY WILSON (Payneham Norwood Union, Old Ignatians – Kaurna)
The former Norwood star has bounced around a bit since retiring from the Redlegs, representing Payneham Norwood Union in the Adelaide Footy League as well as Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
The electric forward is now listed with Old Ignatians in division one of the Adelaide Footy League and also remains with Port Adelaide as a top-up player.
He kicked 25 goals in 11 games for PNU last season, and has played two games for Iggies this year.
Wilson packs blistering pace, sublime skills and an incredible goal sense, making him one of the most talented players at any local club.
JAKE NEADE (Portland – Kaurna)
Jake Neade has been a fan favourite at every club he has ever played at.
A tireless, skilful and exciting small forward, Neade was a reliable player for Port Adelaide from 2013 to 2018, providing endless forward pressure as well as many exciting moments with ball in hand.
He kicked 55 goals in 66 AFL appearances for the club, including a classy four-goal display against Collingwood at the MCG in 2016.
Neade also spent time with Port Adelaide and North Adelaide in the SANFL until last season, and is now playing with Lindsay Thomas at Portland.
He’s as smooth and skilful as ever on the ball through the middle and up front for the division four club and has been among its best performers in six of his eight appearances this season.
HASSAN AHMAT-WATKINS (Myponga – Peramangk)
Hassan Ahmat-Watkins has returned to SA after a stint in the Northern Territory, making his name as a key forward for the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL, the territory’s top league.
As an U18 in 2014, he dominated for West Adelaide booting 57 goals in 20 games before eventually moving to the NT.
He kicked 23 goals for the Buffaloes last season in the NT and was among the side’s best on multiple occasions.
He has now established himself as a star forward for Myponga in SA’s Great Southern Football League, kicking 25 goals in eight games, with two best on ground performances.
A strong mark, explosive lead and reliable kick, Ahmat-Watkins is the full package as a forward and could lead his 7-2 club to a flag this year.
TERRY MILERA (Portland – Kaurna)
After a stint with St Kilda in the AFL which saw him kick 31 goals in 30 games, Terry Milera has made a big name for himself in SA footy.
The gifted forward booted 67 goals in 30 games for Glenelg in the SANFL from 2017-2018 before moving to Noarlunga in the Southern Football League.
He now plays for Portland in the Adelaide Footy League along with Lindsay Thomas and brothers Ian and James.
Milera has kicked 25 goals in nine games this year and been among Portland’s best on six separate occasions.
IAN MILERA (Portland – Kaurna)
Ian Milera has been a star of local SA footy since a stint with Glenelg in the SANFL.
Milera kicked 11 goals in one of his best performances for Portland in 2019 before a season with Port Noarlunga where he kicked 29 goals in just eight games including an impressive bag of seven.
Milera was also the subject of racism while at Port Noarlunga when he and teammate Elijah Satala were abused in a game against Flagstaff Hill. He and his teammates came together in a stand against racism and pushed for harsher penalties to clubs found guilty of racial vilification.
He has represented the Adelaide Footy League in rep matches and continues to star for Portland, where he has kicked 19 goals from seven games this year.
ROBBIE YOUNG (Tailem Bend – Ngarrindjeri)
A star midfield/forward blessed with lightning pace, Robbie Young has proved to be a headache for defenders in local football, the SANFL and the AFL.
He played a key role in North Adelaide’s incredible premiership victory against Norwood in 2018, including a three goal performance in a come-from-behind victory for his side in the preliminary final lost in a 19th man drama.
That performance caught the eye of St Kilda recruiters who snapped Young up with pick 67 in the 2018 draft before he went on to represent the club three times.
Young was the target of a racist comment by Crows star Taylor Walker before appearing in a video where Walker apologised to him.
Young now works as an Aboriginal community education officer at school while playing for Tailem Bend, on Ngarrindjeri land, where he has dominated.
He said it took him some time to adapt to amateur football, but getting back to his roots and being a role model for the man Indigenous juniors at the club kept him going.
TREVOR RIGNEY (OSB Lonsdale – Kaurna)
Also featured in The Messenger’s ‘local SA footy’s goalkicking legends’, Rigney has become a household name in the local game.
Originally a defender, Rigney, a Ngarrindjeri man, has turned into a remarkable forward, booting more than 1,000 goals while representing multiple clubs across SA – most recently O’Sullivan Beach Lonsdale in division seven of the Adelaide Footy League.
The 37-year-old is as electrifying as they come up front, relying less on strength and more on his spectacular jumping ability and safe hands.
He kicked 21 goals in a single game for the Lions in 2018 and has tallied 24 goals in eight games so far this season.
MALCOLM KARPANY (Moonta – Narangga)
A former West Coast Eagles, Woodville-West Torrens and South Adelaide player, Malcolm Karpany is a thrilling small forward/midfielder who now plays at his hometown club of Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula.
A skilful player who makes intelligent and reliable decisions, Karpany has been among the best on ground in each of his six appearances so far this year after a strong return to the club last season.
The club lost last season’s grand final by a point to CMS Crows and will need Karpany fit and firing once finals comes around this year.
GARY KARPANY (Encounter Bay – Ngarrindjeri)
Nicknamed ‘Gary Magic’, Karpany has become a cult hero at the Encounter Bay Football Club.
He has been a sensational forward for the club with over 300 goals and 150 games to his name at the club and is a favourite for fans and members due to his entertaining skills and leaping ability.
Karpany can kick a major from anywhere, possessing elite goal-sense and the ability to bend the ball from any position.
The Eagles premiership player has unfortunately missed the majority of this season so far but local footy fans will be chomping at the bit once he’s set to return.
BEN DAVIS (Encounter Bay – Ngarrindjeri)
Another wonderfully skilful player for the Eagles, Davis has tallied nearly 200 games for the club playing through the middle and up front.
He has 170 goals for Encounter Bay, a gigantic effort for someone who plays as a part-time forward and has also won multiple premierships as well as a club best and fairest.
Davis is another club favourite for his scary speed and silky smooth skills and he consistently gives opponents headaches with his ability to lose taggers and hit teammates lace-out, or kick goals from any angle.
With Davis and Karpany partnering up in the Great Southern League, it’s no wonder their club has been so successful.
TYSON NEALE (Encounter Bay – Ngarrindjeri)
Perhaps the biggest Encounter Bay name is captain Tyson Neale, who has booted 441 goals for the club through 198 games.
Part of Encounter Bay’s team of the century, Neale is the Eagles’ longest serving captain and has won two premierships with the Great Southern Football League juggernaut – in 2013 and 2015.
He also has multiple A Grade best and fairest awards and leading goalkicker awards to his name.
Neale’s marking ability under pressure is second to none and he is one of the most reliable set-shots at goal in the competition.
RIGBY BARNES (Broadview – Kaurna)
Now playing at Broadview in the Adelaide Footy League’s second division, Barnes’ local footy resume is packed with achievements.
Often described as having ‘the x-factor’, Barnes spent four seasons at Encounter Bay, winning two Mail Medals as the most outstanding player in the Great Southern Football League to go along with two flags.
He then spent time at South Adelaide in the SANFL from 2017, booting 36 goals in 32 games for the Panthers.
Barnes recently moved to Broadview from Hahndorf in the Hills Football League where he was part of the club’s 2021 premiership run, and has been a big addition to the Tigers’ ranks as the club aims for promotion to division one.
He has been among the Tigers’ best through the middle and up front in four of his nine games this year as they remain undefeated so far.
TYRONE MILERA (Kapunda – Ngadjuri)
An SA footy journeyman, Milera remains a skilful, hardworking and reliable midfielder in the local game.
Starred for Virginia in the Adelaide Plains Football League in 2020 where he was named among his side’s best players in eight of the 10 games he played.
A move to West Croydon in the Adelaide Footy League division five for 2021 didn’t slow him down as he was again in his side’s best in 11 of his 12 games while kicking 13 goals to boot.
Now at Kapunda Milera has shown no signs of slowing down with five best player nods from his seven games this year.
ARI RIGNEY (Kapunda – Ngadjuri)
After plying his wares in the Adelaide Footy League, Rigney got a chance at U18 level for Woodville-West Torrens and then Central District in the SANFL where he proved his quality.
Despite strong performances in the reserves over three seasons, Rigney never played a league game, instead returning to the amateurs.
Now playing at Kapunda in the Barossa Light and Gawler competition, Rigney is amid a strong season during which he’s been named in the side’s best players in six of the seven games he’s played.
CASEY AMOS (Mallee Park – Banggarla)
Lining up for one of SA’s most famous breeding grounds for Indigenous footballing talent at Mallee Park, Amos has had big shoes to fill.
Among the club’s honour board are AFL stars Eddie Betts, Byron Pickett, Graham Johncock and Shane and Peter Burgoyne.
Amos won the Port Lincoln Football League Mail Medal in 2019 as he helped secure his side a grand final berth.
Now nearing 50 games with the Peckers, Amos has shown strong form in 2022 as a mid and forward and was selected for the area’s interleague match in May.
DERICK WANGANEEN (Mallee Park – Banggarla)
Derick Wanganeen may have only played one AFL game for Hawthorn but the experience saw him turn from a forward into a defender and win a VFL flag.
At one stage Wanganeen was one of Mallee Park’s most promising talents as he took his prowess to the big stage.
He had a short stint with Glenelg and North Adelaide before returning to where it all began at Mallee Park, where he still plays and coaches.
A local legend, Wanganeen has played a key role in five games for the Peckers this year.
DARYL DUDLEY (Koonibba – Wirangu)
Koonibba, a remote community 40 kilometres northwest of Ceduna, is home to the oldest surviving Indigenous football club in Australia, having been established in 1906.
The team now plays in the Western Eyre Football League and Daryl Dudley is one of its stars.
Dudley was selected from around the country to play in an MCG curtain raiser in 2015 and has since proved his talent.
In 2022 Dudley has been named in his side’s best in five of the seven games he’s played.
TYRON WARREN (Koonibba – Wirangu)
While 2022 is the first year Koonibba have had the privilege of ruckman Tyron Warren’s services, the Western Eyre legend has been dominating leagues for years.
‘T-bone’ played 150 games for West Augusta, winning club best and fairests, before heading to Koonibba.
He managed to snaffle two league medals and narrowly missed out on other occasions.
Note: A print version of this article implied Robbie Young called for the River Murray Football League to hold an Indigenous Round, but the RMFL has that round each season - with this season’s being held on July 2.
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