Adelaide Footy League division one’s top 45 players of 2025 ranked
Division one of the Adelaide Footy League is packed with elite local talent so we’ve ranked the top 45 players for 2025. See who made the cut.
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The Adelaide Footy League’s top division has long been a competition filled with some of SA’s top footballing talent and season 2025 has been no exception.
Based on this season’s form and with the help of league insiders and coaches, we’ve ranked division one’s top 45 players.
Here are our rankings from 45 to 1.
45. JORDAN WEST
(Glenunga)
One of the top rucks in D1.
West is a strong and skilled player who has had standout performances against some of the top division’s best sides, impressing in the ruck and also impacting the game around the ground.
Has five best player nods in 12 games.
44. JAKE WAGNER
(Salisbury North)
A talented player around the ground for the Hawks.
Wagner finds plenty of the footy in the contest and is one of his team’s best by foot.
11 goals and three best player nods in 10 games.
43. MALACHY CARRUTHERS
(St Peter’s OC)
A big part of SPOC’s rise towards the top of the ladder.
Carruthers is a fast, potent inside and outside midfielder with top drawer skills and can also play a variety of positions all over the ground.
Has 13 goals and seven best player mentions in 14 games.
42. FINN WAKELIN
(Rostrevor OC)
A dominant utility, Wakelin’s ability to impact the game in multiple ways has been big for ROCS.
Wakelin is a strong and athletic player who can play in the ruck or have big performances up front with his marking and goalkicking ability.
Has 21 goals and four best player nods in 14 games.
41. MATT ROSE
(Port District)
Rose’s arrival at Port District after a strong career with South Adelaide marked a major move for the club and helped them win a flag again in 2024.
A damaging halfback/wing this year who reads the play as well as anyone, provides important run and carry and top drawer distribution.
Has five best player nods in 13 games.
40. LIAM MODYSTACH
(Port District)
An emerging young star for Port District at the back.
Modystach’s ability to stand on the division’s best key targets and compete well in the air and at ground level makes him a top defender.
Has three best player performances so far.
39. CAMERON SHENTON
(Golden Grove)
Shenton has been a star for Golden Grove through multiple seasons and 2025 has been no exception.
A versatile weapon with the ability to play back or in the contest, Shenton wins plenty of the footy for the Kookaburras and is one of his side’s most reliable in disposal.
Has two best player performances in nine games.
38. CALLUM HAY
(Salisbury North)
An imposing key position player, Hay has starred for Salisbury North this year.
One of the strongest players in the competition, Hay competes hard in the contest to win the footy and is a reliable distributor.
Has six best player nods through 12 games.
37. BRAD NOBLE
(Sacred Heart OC)
A consistent performer for SHOC, Noble has emerged as one of the league’s top onballers this year.
Noble is a tough competitor who provides valuable skill inside whether he is winning his own footy or setting others up with his clearance work and accurate disposal.
Has five best player performances and eight goals in 13 games.
36. COOPER O’LEARY
(Broadview)
Improving for Broadview during each A Grade season, O’Leary has become one of the Tigers’ best players.
A tough and tireless competitor through the middle, O’Leary is a great user of the ball and can also burn opponents with pace.
Has seven best player nods and eight goals in 14 games.
35. LOUIS SHARRAD
(Port District)
A gun midfielder during his time in the SANFL with Woodville-West Torrens and Adelaide, Sharrad has hit the ground running for Port District this year.
Sharrad provides a powerful presence through the middle and at the back, often doing a lot of damage to opposition with his disposal.
Has five best player nods and 10 goals in nine games.
34. ETHAN MOORE
(Sacred Heart OC)
A talented player for SHOC who continues to improve each season.
Moore impacts the contest in a number of ways with his ability to find the footy, distribute efficiently and also apply important pressure.
Has seven best player nods in eight games.
33. HAYDEN JOLLY
(Prince Alfred OC)
Jolly has been strong for PAOC yet again this season, impressing at halfback and in the contest.
A strong and creative player with a high footy IQ, Jolly can take big marks to intercept attacks and is one of the best distributors in the competition.
Has seven best player mentions in his 13 games.
32. JAMES BUTTERWORTH
(Rostrevor OC)
A consistent player for ROC through a number of years, Butterworth is having a strong season for the club.
The versatile star can slot in to a number of positions and hurt opposition with smart distribution and relentless attack at the footy.
Has eight best player mentions in 13 games.
31. ANTHONY HELLEBAUT
(Salisbury North)
One of division one’s top goalkickers so far this year.
A strong and skilled player with great overhead ability and a reliable finish.
Has 33 majors and five best player performances in 13 games.
30. DARCI BEST
(Rostrevor OC)
Joining ROCS full-time after time with Norwood, Best has been a standout for the club.
A versatile player who does damage in the contest and is a top drawer distributor.
Has five best player performances through 13 games.
29. SCOTT BEDFORD
(St Peter’s OC)
One of SPOC’s most skilled players.
Bedford has done major damage around the contest with his ability to find the footy and create for his teammates with crafty disposal.
Has seven best player nods in 13 games.
28. ALEX CAILOTTO
(Sacred Heart OC)
Sacred Heart OC’s star playing-coach, Cailotto has led from the front for Hearts playing a dominant ruck and forward utility role.
One of the strongest players in division one, Cailotto can dominate in the ruck to feed midfielders with elite tap-work and distribution.
Has nine majors and three best player performances so far.
27. BEN GOOLD
(Port District)
Goold’s performances on the wing have been a huge part of Port’s big season so far.
A powerful and skilled athlete for his side, Goold provides important run and carry and as one of his side’s most damaging players with the footy.
Has six best player nods in 13 games.
26. AIDAN THATCHER
(Golden Grove)
One of the best key backs in the competition, Thatcher has been as reliable as ever for the Kookaburras.
A tireless worker at the back who can stand on a number of forwards, Thatcher’s aerial and ground level contest work and ability to read the play makes him a standout for the Kookaburras.
Has six best player appearances through 14 games.
25. BEN MORONEY
(Sacred Heart OC)
Moroney joined Sacred Heart OC this year after time in the River Murray and has been dominant on the ball.
An athletic and skilled player who applies strong tackle pressure, wins contested footy and deals to teammates efficiently.
Has six best player nods and 11 goals through eight games.
24. TOM WAGNER
(Payneham Norwood Union)
A star again for the Falcons during a challenging year.
Capable of playing up front or through the midfield, Wagner’s skill and versatility makes him one of his side’s most damaging players.
Has 18 goals and eight best player nods in 11 games.
23. SAM GRAY
(Port District)
The former Port Adelaide and Sydney player has been a weapon since arriving at Port District in 2022 and is having another strong campaign.
A versatile player who is able to fill a number of roles for his side, Gray is an excellent user of the footy and can do damage through the middle in the contest or have an impact up front.
Has 15 goals through his 13 games so far.
22. JESSE MCKINNON
(St Peter’s OC)
Dual GSFL medallist Jesse McKinnon was one of the most anticipated signings of the AdFL season and he has contributed significantly for SPOC so far.
A top ball-winner with a high footy IQ and the ability to dominate with his size and skill, McKinnon is one of the tougher opponents to match up on.
Has five best player performances in 12 games.
21. JORDAN OPPERMAN
(Glenunga)
One of his side’s most talented players.
Opperman’s ability to impact the contest by finding the footy and distributing efficiently can damage opposition teams but he is also able to play a dominant role up front and bag goals.
Has 17 majors and six best player nods in 14 games.
20. NED MCHENRY
(Prince Alfred OC)
Joining Prince Alfred OC as playing-coach this season, former Crow McHenry has been a standout on the park.
A versatile gun who can play anywhere around the contest and also have an impact up front, McHenry boasts top drawer skills in close and is a creative distributor.
19. JACOB RUSSO
(Salisbury North)
Russo has been typically dominant in the ruck again for the Hawks this year.
A skilled big man with the ability to service his mids with strong tap-work and also take big marks and push forward.
Has eight best player nods in his 14 games.
18. TYRAN HILL
(Broadview)
A consistent standout for Broadview during what has been a tough season for the Tigers.
Hill injects speed and a high level of skill into the contest with his ability to find the footy, explode in possession and damage with his distribution.
Has six best player performances in 14 games.
17. DECLAN FAHEY
(Glenunga)
A star utility who can play a number of roles for the Rams.
Fahey is a strong player who is reliable overhead and accurate by hand or foot and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has six goals and six best player nods in 11 games.
16. SAM MORRIS
(Payneham Norwood Union)
Joining the Falcons after time with Norwood, Morris has been a standout on the ball and around the ground.
Can do damage in a number of ways as a hard-ball winner who distributes efficiently and also creates chances in front of goal.
Has seven best player nods and nine goals in 12 games.
15. XAVIER TRANFA
(Rostrevor OC)
Tranfa has been dominant for Rostrevor OC during a strong year for the club.
A hardworking and skilful player who finds plenty of the footy, damages with his disposal and can also kick goals.
Has 10 majors and seven best player nods in 14 games.
14. COOPER GAFFNEY
(Port District)
Gaffney has been one of the star performers for the division’s reigning premier again this year.
An excellent distributor off of halfback and can also apply his trade through the middle, fighting hard for possession as a key contributor for Port District.
Nine best player nods in 14 games.
13. ABE DAVIS
(Glenunga)
Back-to-back Keith Sims OAM medallist Abe Davis has been a standout for Glenunga again this year.
A strong and versatile star who can ruck, do damage on the ball or move up front to bag goals, Davis is supremely skilled and one of the competition’s most effective.
Has 21 majors and four best player performances in 13 games.
12. TYE BEDFORD
(St Peter’s OC)
A highly skilled and dominant player around the ground for SPOC, Bedford has been a big part of his club’s success so far this year.
Bedford is an electric and silky player who finds the ball consistently and does damage with his disposal while also having the ability to boot goals or create for teammates.
Has 13 goals and seven best player nods in 14 games.
11. LACHLAN PASCOE
(Golden Grove)
Pascoe has been dominant as a key forward in a division which is renowned for being tough to boot goals in.
The former Norwood gun leads well, takes big marks and can finish from anywhere.
Has six best player nods in 14 games to go along with 59 majors and leads the goalkicking by 26.
10. JORDAN O’BRIEN
(Salisbury North)
Salisbury North captain Jordan O’Brien remains a standout inside player in division one.
The Hawks star and former Central District player is an athletic and skilled asset who covers ground as well as anyone in the competition and can find teammates anywhere around the ground with efficient disposal.
Has nine best player nods in 14 games.
9. JOSEPH HAINES
(Port District)
One of multiple key inclusions for Port District last season, Haines has starred across halfback for the club.
The former South Adelaide gun reads play well, boasts great ability overhead and can damage opposition with penetrating disposal.
Five best player performances in 14 games.
8. HUNTER WINDOW
(Sacred Heart OC)
One of the top recruits in the competition this year, former Glenelg gun Hunter Window has been big for Sacred Heart OC.
A skilled and relentless player in the contest who finds plenty of the footy and is a reliable distributor.
Has six best player nods in 10 games.
7. CRAIG PITT
(Prince Alfred OC)
Stepping down from his role as playing-coach of PAOC at the end of last season, Pitt has found a rich vein of form in season 2025.
One of the most versatile players in the competition, the former Glenelg man can dominate in the contest and around the ground or move up front to provide aerial presence and create important goals.
Has 12 majors and 10 best player nods in 14 games.
6. MATTHEW NUNN
(Payneham Norwood Union)
Nunn has remained as one of the top players in the division despite PNU’s struggles this season.
A skilled and gritty player in the contest, Nunn consistently finds the footy and teammates around the ground and is one of the competition’s most accurate distributors.
Has seven best player nods in nine games.
5. JAMES WARTON
(Rostrevor OC)
A star for ROCS last season as the club won a D2 premiership, Warton has been a standout for his club yet again this year.
Covers ground as well as anyone and wins plenty of the contested footy before releasing teammates with slick disposal.
Has nine best player mentions in 14 games.
4. JOSH GLENN
(Golden Grove)
Former Gold Coast and Norwood player Josh Glenn has had another strong season for the Kookaburras.
A versatile utility who can play up front or do damage in the contest, Glenn is a strong and athletic player who boasts great hand and foot skills.
Has nine best player nods and nine goals in 14 games.
3. HENRY NELLIGAN
(St Peter’s OC)
Joining SPOC after a strong stint with Norwood, Nelligan has been a major part in his new club’s resurgence towards the top of the division.
One of the cleanest players in the competition in the contest, Nelligan does major damage around the ground with his ability to find the footy, distribute and create goals.
Has 12 majors and 10 best player nods in 14 games.
2. JAKE PITMAN
(Golden Grove)
Former Norwood onballer Pitman has been dominant for Golden Grove through a number of years and 2025 has been no different.
A bull in the contest who wins plenty of tough and important possessions for the Kookaburras, lays big tackles and distributes as well as anyone.
Has eight best player appearances in 14 games.
1. SCOTT LYCETT
(Port District)
Playing his second year with Port District, Lycett has been dominant in ruck and up front as his side chases back-to-back D1 flags.
A strong and highly skilled star who can dictate a game with his tap work and aerial ability while also moving up front to create important contests and kick big goals.
Has seven best player nods and 22 goals in 14 games.
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