SA local footy’s top 25 goalkickers in 2022 including Lindsay Thomas, Ben Haren, Alex Forster, Daniel Nobes
SA’s local footy grounds have seen plenty of gun forwards dominate this season, so we’ve ranked the top 25 goalkickers around the state. Who will reach 100 goals?
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There is no shortage of goalkicking talent on SA’s local footy grounds, with a number of local icons, as well as ex-SANFL and AFL stars representing local clubs around the state.
Big names such as Ben Haren for Lockleys Football Club, Daniel Nobes for Hope Valley and Alex Forster for Pembroke Old Scholars have been dominant through season 2022.
Finals are just around the corner and many forwards are still chasing the 100-goal mark, but who will get there?
With just a few minor round games remaining, we’ve ranked the top 25 goalkickers in local SA footy.
Here’s who made the cut:
BEN HAREN – 93 goals in 14 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Lockleys)
The former Port Adelaide and South Adelaide marksman has been on fire for Lockleys this season.
A big forward with a strong mark and reliable kick, Haren has recorded a 10-goal-haul three straight times in the last three rounds of division five action to top the state in majors so far.
With two games remaining this minor round – one against bottom side Salisbury – the dominant Demons star remains a big chance at hitting the 100-mark.
MATT GIBSON – 87 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Greenacres)
Despite experiencing a brief slump late in the season, Gibson’s performance has been the driving force behind Greenacres’ undefeated season.
A medium forward who is pacy and comfortable on either foot, the Dragons star has dominated division seven and kicked 10 or more goals twice this year.
He’ll need two more big performances in his last two games if he is to make 100 majors for season 2022.
DANIEL NOBES – 78 goals in 15 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Hope Valley)
Nobes has been a star goalkicker in local SA footy for over a decade and has not let up this season.
A strong and skilled forward with almost unmatched marking ability at the local level, Nobes has taken the Adelaide Footy League by storm in season 2022.
The former South Adelaide forward has dominated division four in his first year at Hope Valley, recording two 10-goal games, a nine-goal performance against Pooraka and six six-goal displays on his way to 78 majors so far.
JOSH VANDERMEER – 78 goals in 13 games
(Hills Football League Country Division, Ironbank)
Playing in the Hills Football League’s Country Division, Vandermeer has been integral in the Bankers’ top four placement this year.
After booting 51 goals in 10 games for Ironbank in 2020, Vandermeer has topped that performance by slotting home six goals a game on average.
Vandermeer’s best display this season came in round 12 at the start of July, during which he booted 14 goals against Torrens Valley in a 153-point win.
LIAM VERITY – 77 goals in 15 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Modbury)
Former North Adelaide star Verity has been the catalyst for Modbury’s rise to top three in the Adelaide Footy League’s third division this year.
Verity kicked six goals in one half against Morphettville Park before leaving with concussion in round 14, and could be much closer to 100 goals if he had not missed a game and a half as a result.
Unbeatable on the lead and a reliable kick in front of the big sticks, he’ll undoubtedly pile a bag more on to his season total and play a key role in the Hawks’ finals campaign.
ADAM PROUD – 74 goals in 15 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Walkerville)
Proud had a hot start to the 2022 season but has gradually cooled off as finals draws closer.
A tall and reliable target, the Walkerville key forward has kicked bags of 11 against Mitcham, eight against Pooraka, and six against Pembroke Old Scholars and Woodville South.
Proud will be a strong chance at over 80 goals this year and a major asset for the Cats’ finals series if he can stay in form.
ALEX FORSTER – 73 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Pembroke OS)
Forster has kicked 21 goals in his last three games to catapult himself inside the top 10 goalkickers in SA so far this year.
Booting over 100 majors for the Kings last season, Forster is on track to back that achievement up with another strong year of 80 or more.
The former Fremantle and Norwood man remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the Adelaide Footy League from both inside and outside 50, and will undoubtedly cause opposition headaches come finals.
SHAWN MANSELL – 70 goals in 14 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Eastern Park)
Mansell kicked a competition-high 20 goals in one game earlier this season for Eastern Park in a 250-point win over St Paul’s Old Scholars – the most in a game since Darren Mitchell kicked 32 for Hope Valley in 2019.
One of the fastest on the lead in the Adelaide Footy League, the Demons forward has booted multiple other big totals in division five this season, including nine against Salisbury in round 15.
The key frontman has been a major part of Eastern Park’s rise to the top four.
JAK GOUDMAN-GLASSON – 67 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Hectorville)
A versatile and dangerous target forward for the Hounds, Goudman-Glasson has put together a strong 2022 in division five.
With an eight-goal and seven-goal performance against Kilburn and another seven-goal day against Blackfriars Old Scholars, the skilful star remains one of the top 10 scorers in local SA footy.
BEN EDWARDS – 66 goals in 13 games
(Yorke Peninsula Football League, CMS Crows)
Edwards has eight bags of six majors for CMS Crows as well as a seven-goal performance against Bute to his name in season 2022.
The former Port Adelaide gun is an imposing forward who boasts a reliable pair of hands and an accurate kick off both feet, making him one of the standout players in SA country footy.
MAXWELL SMYTH – 65 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Mitcham)
An 11-goal performance against Pulteney three weeks ago too Max Smyth into the top bunch of local SA footy goalkickers, capping off what has been a strong year for the key forward.
The Hawks’ main target inside 50, Smyth has been one of the most reliable set shots at goal in division four of the Adelaide Footy League.
JOSH SCOTT – 63 goals in 11 games
(River Murray Football League, Jervois FC)
A former goalkicking machine in the SANFL for Glenelg, Scott is now booting bags for fun in the River Murray Football League for Jervois.
In just 11 games for the Bluds so far this season, Scott has kicked 63 goals, a strong average of 5.7 a game.
The gifted talisman can do it all, from taking big pack marks and slotting home set shots, to finishing difficult shots on the run.
TOMMY LEE-RUSSO – 63 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Woodville South)
A recent nine-goal-haul against Pulteney saw Lee-Russo jump into the top 15 goalkickers in SA.
While his club remains in danger of relegation to division five of the Adelaide Footy League, the key forward has been one of the highlights of the division four competition this year.
MICHAEL KRIEGER – 62 goals in 12 games
(Mid South Eastern Football League, Kalangadoo)
A 10-goal performance against Nangwarry in round four remains Michael Krieger’s best performance of the year, but the Mid South Eastern Football League forward has remained dominant through most of 2022.
The standout goalkicker in the competition, Krieger has everything a coach would want in a forward, leading his side to a 12-1 top spot campaign so far.
DEAN CUTTING – 61 goals in 13 games
(Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association, South Gawler)
South Gawler currently sits top of the BLGFA, thanks in part to the continued dominance of Cutting up front.
The gifted talisman booted 10 goals against Kapunda over the weekend, adding to what has been a strong year.
A booming boot on either side and a strong mark one-on-one, Cutting remains one of the best goalkickers in the state’s local scene.
JAKE VON BERTOUCH – 61 goals in 12 games
(Yorke Peninsula Football League, Kadina)
One of Kadina’s newest additions, Von Bertouch has more than lived up to his billing in season 2022.
The Bloods star kicked 12 against Ardrossan two weeks ago and could be in for another big total this weekend after the bye.
Virtually unbeatable one-on-0ne, Von Bertouch has been the catalyst for Kadina’s 12-1 season so far and arguably the best player in the Yorke Peninsula competition.
JAKE MARTIN – 60 goals in 16 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Houghton Districts)
Martin has produced a consistent season in division seven of the Adelaide Footy League, earning himself a spot among the top 20 goalkickers in local SA footy.
A versatile forward who can move up the ground or sit deep and have an impact, Martin has kicked five or more goals on six occasions this year, including seven against Hackham.
BEN GEYTENBEEK – 59 goals in 12 games
(Southern Football League, Happy Valley)
The top scorer in the Southern Football League, Geytenbeek inevitably makes his way into this list.
A 10-goal display against Port Noarlunga over the weekend has become the big forward’s highest scoring performance of the year, with two nine-goal days, both against Aldinga, close behind.
JARAD CLINTON – 59 goals in 15 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Elizabeth)
Elizabeth has a strong chance to make finals in division five and Clinton will play a significant part in determining whether the Eagles make it or not.
An agile and accurate forward, Clinton is coming off a 10-goal game against Salisbury and a five-goal performance against Eastern Park just last weekend.
JAKE MEDHURST – 58 goals in 12 games
(Riverland Football League, Blanchetown-Swan Reach)
Blanchetown-Swan Reach’s captain has put together a standout year for his club, leading them to an undefeated 13-0 record so far through strong play and guidance up front.
A strong and courageous forward who consistently hits the scoreboard for multiple majors, Medhurst has five or more goals in seven of his 12 appearances.
LINDSAY THOMAS – 58 goals in 12 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Portland)
The Adelaide Footy League’s biggest name, Thomas has continued his star career at Portland in 2022.
The former North Melbourne AFL gun has kicked six goals three times this year and has two seven-goal performances against Hope Valley and Pulteney.
He remains one of the most skilful players in the Adelaide Footy League, often leaving fans in disbelief with remarkable work around the goal.
BRAYDEN KAIN – 58 goals in 12 games
(Western Border Football League, South Gambier)
Kain has dominated the rest of the Western Border Football League up front this season.
The imposing forward has seen his South Gambier side to the top of the ladder with a number of star performances, including a standout 10-goal day against West Gambier.
With one round left this season, a final tally in the mid-60s is not out of the question for Kain.
JOSHUA STUDHAM – 57 goals in 13 games
(Adelaide Plains Football League, HWE A Grade)
Studham is a consistent and hardworking key who has consistently hit the scoreboard this year.
A 14-goal day out against United highlighted what Studham could do this season, the athletic and speedy target crashing packs, taking hangers and kicking long range bombs.
SAM STAFFORD – 56 goals in 15 appearances
(Western Border Football League, North Gambier)
Another star forward from the Western Border Football League, Stafford has been a consistent weapon for North Gambier.
While the Tigers sit fourth, Stafford’s multiple six and seven-goal showings, plus a nine-goal game against East Gambier, have ensured his team still has the potential to make some noise in finals.
DOM BARILLA – 54 goals in 10 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Trinity OS)
Barilla has one of the best goal averages per game in local SA footy and has been a key to Trinity OS’ undefeated season so far in division six.
The crafty and energetic key forward kicked a season-high 14 goals against Para Hills in round 12, and added to that with a second-best nine goals against Brahma Lodge last weekend.
If he stays in form, Trinity OS looks a sure-fire 2022 premier.
JUSTIN HARDY – 54 goals in 12 games
(Adelaide Footy League, Flinders Park)
The former West Adelaide star and Ken Farmer Medalist for Central District has been a standout for Flinders Park as they aim for a division three flag this season.
Sitting equal 25th on the list with Barilla, Hardy has combined brilliantly with the Schwarz brothers for the Reds, the champion forward has his side looking strong heading into finals.
Hardy put together a damaging run of six, eight and eight goals against CBC OC, Modbury and Seaton Ramblers earlier in the year.
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