The Adelaide Footy League’s top 45 players in division one for season 2022 so far
Who have been the stars in the Adelaide Footy League this season? We’ve named the top players in division one so far. See the bumper list.
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The Adelaide Footy League is rife with top talents in 2022 and they have not disappointed during what has been a thrilling season of football.
Based on this season’s form and with the input of coaches, we’ve named the top 45 performers in division one so far.
Leading sides Port District (seven) , Goodwood and St Peter’s OC (six) lead the way in players listed, while reigning premier Prince Alfred OC also has six players feature.
Surprise packets Old Ignatians (five) and Glenunga (four) also get a nod.
Those who have played less than eight games so far were ruled ineligible.
Here’s our best in alphabetical order.
ADAM PERRYMAN
(Prince Alfred OC)
It has been a challenging season for PAOC so far but Perryman has been a consistent positive for the club.
One of the most reliable players in the competition coming out of the back half, he has the ability to hit any target by foot and can set his team up with ease.
Perryman has also remained an undeniably strong leader for the Old Reds.
ALEX HAREN
(Glenunga)
Newly-promoted Glenunga has been one of the stories of 2022 and Haren has played a big part in his side’s success.
The Rams’ captain leads by example through the middle with a hard-nosed playing style and a large tank, allowing him to cover ground with ease and hit the scoreboard.
ALEX MCKAY
(Tea Tree Gully)
Returning to Gullies this season, playing-coach McKay has been a strong presence on and off the field.
He has the versatility to play through the middle and hit the contest hard or move into the forwardline and impact the scoreboard.
McKay is also one of the standout leaders in the competition.
BEAU SCHWARZE
(Glenunga)
Schwarze’s last month of play has been exceptional — the classy small forward wreaking havoc against opposition defences.
Schwarze has hit the scoreboard, but he does the most damage forcing turnovers and opening up opportunities for his teammates with clean disposal by foot or hand.
BEN GOOLD
(Port District)
Goold has worked as a top drawer connecter between midfielders and forwards for Port, presenting up the ground as a strong link during attacks.
He has been among the club’s best on a handful of occasions so far.
BEN HOLZBAUER
(Goodwood)
The Saints captain has been instrumental in their charge toward the top of the ladder this season.
Holzbauer’s run on the wing and reliable ball use have punished multiple opposition teams in division one.
BEN MILLMAN
(Port District)
Port District boasts one of the best defensive sides in the competition and Millman has played a significant part in that success.
He provides security and leadership for his teammates at the back and continues to nullify some of the best forwards in division one.
BRAD JONES
(Old Ignatians)
Jones has been a star target man for Old Ignatians this season, booting 26 majors in 12 appearances.
A strong contested mark and a reliable shot at goal, he has been among Iggies’ best on five separate occasions.
BRAD MCKENZIE
(Payneham Norwood Union)
The Falcons’ star signing for 2022, former North Melbourne and Norwood star McKenzie has remained a dominant force through the middle of the park.
He has been a reliable and consistent player for PNU, with an unparalleled ability to find space and make the best decision with ball in hand.
BRAYDEN DE PRINSE
(Old Ignatians)
Old Ignatians coach Damian Boots has sung the praises of De Prinse throughout this season, and it’s no surprise.
Giving his midfielders first use week-in and week-out in the ruck, the big man has his side competing for a finals spot with six games remaining.
CHRIS CURRAN
(Prince Alfred OC)
Glenelg premiership captain Curran was one of the biggest signings over the offseason and he continues to prove why.
His leadership has been second to none and his defensive positioning remains a difficult ability for opponents to nullify.
Curran has been in the Old Reds’ best six times in his eight appearances and if he can remain fit and on the park his club will undoubtedly make a strong finals push during the remainder of the season.
COOPER GAFFNEY
(Port District)
One of the most consistent performers in the competition, Gaffney remains a major key to Port District’s success this season.
An excellent intercept mark and an explosive player with the ball at his disposal, Gaffney’s work off half-back has made him a weekly star for his club.
DANIEL MCCALLUM
(Rostrevor OC)
A reliable defender off the back half who can also put in a shift through the middle, McCallum provides strong drive and a damaging boot for ROC.
EDWARD ALLAN
(St Peter’s OC)
The SPOC midfielder has established himself as one of coach Geoff Riddle’s hardest working players at the contest and has featured in the club’s best in four of his eight appearances so far.
HAYDEN JOLLY
(Prince Alfred OC)
Jolly showed signs of becoming one of the top midfielders in division one last season and he’s continued that trajectory this year.
Strong on the ball and a tireless runner, Jolly has booted eight majors from the midfield this season and has been in Princes’ best seven times in 11 appearances.
HUGH FERRARI
(Old Ignatians)
A fiery competitor on the ball, Ferrari provides toughness and courage at the contest for Iggies.
He has been among the side’s best seven times in 11 games so far this season.
JACK O’LEARY
(Payneham Norwood Union)
PNU coach Jeremy Cini has been high on O’Leary’s development this year, and it’s easy to see why.
The key defender rarely gets beaten one-on-one and has done a job on some of the competition’s best forwards including Jock McLeay and Angus Rana.
JACK TRENGOVE
(Prince Alfred OC)
Last season’s Keith Sims OAM Medallist took a while to get going this season but has had a sensational past month.
A midfielder who does it all from laying tackles to setting up teammates and booting goals, Trengove was among the Old Reds’ best on ground in every one of his last five games.
JAKE SUTCLIFFE
(St Peter’s OC)
Sutcliffe has struggled to stay on the field for SPOC but when he has been available, he has been a matchwinner.
The former Sturt premiership forward sits on a tally of 25 goals in nine appearances and looks set to be a big factor in how the season transpires from here on out.
JAMES HARGREAVES
(St Peter’s OC)
Debatably St Peter’s OC’s best player this season, and one of the top few in the competition, Hargreaves continues to tear teams apart in the midfield.
The ball magnet has kicked seven goals in 12 games on the ball and has featured in Saints’ best nine times, the most of any player.
JARMAN SIGAL
(Brighton Bombers)
Sigal is playing only his second season of senior footy for the Bombers but has become one of the major pieces of the club’s present and future.
The energetic defender fits coach Brett Backwell’s plan to develop the youth and has been among Brighton’s best six times in his 10 appearances.
JASON NYSKOHUS
(Port District)
Nyskohus hits the scoreboard the most out of any on-baller in division one, booting 13 majors in 12 games.
He has also been selected in his side’s best on five separate occasions and has well and truly hit his straps throughout the past month.
One of the first selected by coach Josh Ramsay each week, Nyskohus could be the key to a premiership run for Port.
JOCK MCLEAY
(St Peter’s OC)
With 33 goals in 11 games, SPOC’s McLeay is currently the division’s top goal getter.
The strong key forward has almost single-handedly won games for Saints this season, namely in round four against PAOC during which he kicked six in tough conditions away from home.
JONNIE READ
(St Peter’s OC)
Saints’ key back has announced himself as one of the most reliable defenders in the competition this season, sticking to key forwards and consistently winning contests on the ground and in the air.
JORDAN NEAL
(Prince Alfred OC)
A strong ruck who beats opponents around the ground, Neal has been a constant threat for PAOC.
Possessing clean skills for a big man and working hard at ball ups, he has been named in the side’s best on ground five times.
KRISTIAN ROOCKE
(Old Ignatians)
Arriving from Payneham Norwood Union in the preseason, Roocke has provided the x-factor for Iggies.
Powerful at the contest and a constant threat when played up front, Roocke can damage opponents in multiple ways.
LACHLAN MCNAMARA
(Prince Alfred OC)
PAOC’s captain has been deadly in 2022, providing explosive run on the wing to go along with 10 goals in 12 appearances.
McNamara has been especially outstanding throughout the past few weeks, picking Port District, Old Ignatians and Payneham Norwood Union apart with strong disposal from the flanks in his last three appearances.
LOU WHITELOCK
(Goodwood)
The Goodwood champion has been showing signs of being back to his best this season, holding the backline down with assertiveness and toughness in the contest.
His leadership and high work rate have been significant in the Saints’ surge back to premiership contention.
MICHAEL MCMAHON
(Glenunga)
Rams coach Nathan Grima believed McMahon was among the top five players in the competition this year, and it’s hard to disagree.
A high possession getter as a link up player at half-forward who kicks goals every week (25 so far) and has a huge work rate, the effective forward has hardly missed a beat throughout his 12 appearances.
NICK BURGESS
(Goodwood)
Burgess has been Goodwood’s most damaging forward throughout his career and 2022 is no exception.
Quick off the mark and a deadeye in front of the big sticks, he has 25 goals in 11 games, with five-goal-hauls against Port District and Tea Tree Gully.
NICK FAVRETTO
(Goodwood)
Favretto has been on a tear for the Saints since he won the club’s best and fairest in its 2020 premiership year.
The gun midfielder looks on track to be named Goodwood’s best yet again with a series of dominant performances on the ball.
He has been named among the side’s best on ground a whopping 11 times in 12 games.
NICK MURPHY
(Rostrevor OC)
The star ROC veteran is again the club’s top goalkicker, booting 28 goals in nine games played so far in 2022.
Murphy is almost unstoppable one-on-one in the forwardline and has had some big performances this season, including four goals against Goodwood, five against Tea Tree Gully, and eight against Glenunga in round 12.
NIGEL OSBORN
(Brighton Bombers)
Former division one best and fairest Osborn has experienced a return to top form in 2022.
The on-baller has been significant in the Bombers’ late season push for finals, racking up eight goals from the middle to go along with four best on ground performances so far this season.
OTIS CARTHY
(Brighton Bombers)
Brighton’s captain is in the midst of one of his best years yet, playing consistently off of half-back by hitting the contest with aggression and disposing of the ball with high efficiency.
Carthy has had three best on ground performances this year.
RYAN SPITTLE
(Tea Tree Gully)
Returning to Tea Tree Gully in 2022, Spittle has re-emerged as one of the top flight’s most dangerous small forwards.
Spittle sits on 15 goals after 12 games to go along with his five best on ground performances.
His ability to kick goals on either side of his body, and also apply strong pressure to defenders when without the ball is of high value to Gullies’ game plan.
SAM GRAY
(Port District)
The former Port Adelaide and Sydney Swans AFL player announced his arrival to the Adelaide Footy League in style this season with four straight best on ground displays from rounds two to five.
Gray is highly efficient in the contest and can do damage up front as well.
TOBY SCHULZ
(St Peter’s OC)
A strong and athletic centre half-back, Schulz went on a spectacular run of games from round four to round eight, considered to be among SPOC’s best on ground in each matchday.
He has some of the safest hands in the competition and can rotate up front if needed, also kicking two goals this season.
TIM BACCANELLO
(Rostrevor OC)
Baccanello has been back to his best this season for ROC.
Winning best on ground honours on six occasions so far, the influential midfielder possessing some of the cleanest skills and fastest hands in the division, hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy.
He also has five majors so far.
TOM ANDERSON
(Goodwood)
Predominantly a winger in 2022, Anderson’s 18 goals in 12 games have come as a huge boost to Goodwood’s campaign.
The veteran can rotate through the forwardline and kick multiple majors if he isn’t dominating along the flanks with efficient disposal.
He kicked three goals against St Peter’s OC and four against Glenunga in two of his best performances so far.
TOM CARTER
(Goodwood)
A passionate competitor, Carter has provided the toughness and dominance the Saints have needed in the ruck this season.
The big man has been on a remarkable run of performances from round seven to 12, producing all six of his best on ground performances throughout that stretch.
TOM GRAY
(Port District)
Arriving at Port District with brother Sam in the preseason, Tom Gray’s performances up front have been key to the club’s resurgence in 2022.
The electric small forward has 17 goals in nine appearances – including a four goal display against SPOC and a six goal outing against ROC.
TYLER WEST
(Tea Tree Gully)
Gullies’ go-to forward, West has produced when called upon this year with 28 goals in 12 appearances to go along with his four best on ground nominations.
A tireless competitor with a durable body, West has formed a strong partnership with Ryan Spittle and remains key to any chance TTG has at finals.
WILL ABBOTT
(Old Ignatians)
Iggies’ captain has been the club’s best and most consistent performer in 2022.
Abbott has been a bull in the middle and consistently runs games out with ease, leaving opponents in the dust.
He has eight goals to go along with his seven best on ground performances.
ZAC HAWKINS
(Port District)
A tireless worker along the wing, Hawkins not only provides support for Port’s defenders, but he can also move up the ground with pace and hit the scoreboard.
He has churned out five best on ground displays in 2022.
ZAC SMITH
(Glenunga)
Nathan Grima was full of praise for Smith and it comes as no surprise, with the gun defender being the ideal option for his defensive-minded coach.
Glenunga has made its home ground a fortress in 2022 with the way it sets up behind the play and Smith’s ability to intercept mark while also playing tall and small has been worth its weight in gold.
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