The Hills Football League Country Division’s top 35 players ranked
The Hills Football League’s Country Division is full of talented local footballers, so we’ve ranked the top 35 players of 2024. See who made the cut.
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The Hills Football League’s Country Division has gone from strength to strength in recent years and boasts top SA country footy talent.
With the second half of the season well underway, we’ve ranked the top 35 players in the division for 2024.
2023 grand finalists Meadows and Gumeracha topped the competition for representation with 14 players making the cut between them.
Players with less than four appearances were ruled ineligible.
Here are our rankings from no. 35 to 1.
35. BENJAMIN BIAGI
(Gumeracha)
A major goalkicker for Gumeracha, Biagi has developed into a reliable forward option for the Magpies since arriving from Tanunda.
Biagi is a clean user of the ball who makes good leads up front and is adept at gathering in the contest and hitting the scoreboard.
Has 17 goals and two best player appearances in seven games.
34. BAILEY GAL
(Gumeracha)
A hard runner with a big tank and impressive skills, Gal has been a standout for Gumeracha this season.
Works hard through four terms to win plenty of the ball and create opportunities with his disposal and also covers well at the back when needed.
Has three best player nods in eight games.
33. BEN EVANS
(Kangarilla)
Evans has developed into a star for Kangarilla and has been one of the side’s best performers again this year.
The gun Double Blue has the ability to play a number of roles, applying strong tackle pressure and booting goals in almost every game.
Has four majors and three best player nods in eight games so far.
32. ISAAC LALLARD
(Macclesfield)
A skilled mid who can impact a game in the contest or up front.
Lallard remains one of Macclesfield’s most integral players and has been among the Blood and Tars’ best in four of the eight games he has played in 2024.
Attacks the contest relentlessly and uses the ball exceptionally well.
31. JARAD CLINTON
(Birdwood)
Joining Birdwood from Elizabeth for season 2024, Clinton has been a force up front for the Roosters.
The league’s leading goalkicker is a strong body inside 50 who leads well, takes strong marks and finishes efficiently.
Has 28 goals and a best player nod in eight games.
30. FRASER GEHRICH
(Birdwood)
Consistently one of his club’s best in recent seasons, Gehrich has been a standout this year as the Roosters aim for finals.
A tall player with great skills below his knees and above his head, Gehrich takes big marks, wins plenty of the footy and sets his midfielders up.
Has four best player mentions and four goals in seven games.
29. JEREMY HACKETT
(Gumeracha)
Playing all A Grade footy this year after time mostly with the B Grade last season, Hackett has produced some of his best performances in Gumeracha’s biggest games so far this season.
A skilled player who can fill a number of roles for the Magpies and do damage up front with accurate goalkicking.
Has booted 13 goals to go along with three best player nods in eight games.
28. DANIEL YOUNG
(Meadows)
One of his club’s most improved players so far this season, Young has proved important both on and ahead of the ball.
A skilled player who creates a number of options for himself or others and is clean by hand and foot.
Has 11 goals and four best player nods in six games.
27. TYLER WESTLEY
(Kersbrook)
An athletic player who does damage through the middle and in the forwardline, Westley has produced a top level of footy this year.
The Kersbrook gun damages sides with his marking prowess and impressive disposal.
Has six goals and five best player nods in eight games.
26. TIM WEBBER
(Meadows)
The former Onkaparinga Valley A Grader has been important for Meadows this season as the Bulldogs make another finals charge.
One of his side’s toughest players, Webber fights hard in the contest through four quarters each week and wins key possessions for his team.
Has four best player appearances and two goals in six games.
25. DANIEL GONZALES
(Torrens Valley)
A former gun for Mt Lofty and Bridgewater-Callington, Gonzales is a speedy player who can dominate up front.
Gonzales uses his pace to burn defenders and either set up teammates with an accurate boot or hit the scoreboard himself.
Has been dominant so far this year with 21 goals and three best player nods in eight games.
24. NAT RYAN
(Macclesfield)
A star through the middle who can also play forward and kick goals, Ryan has been a dominant presence for Macclesfield this year.
Is an accurate kick around the ground and has no trouble finding teammates under pressure.
Has three best player mentions and four goals in eight appearances this year.
23. JORDAN SADLER
(Birdwood)
An integral part of Birdwood’s line-up this season and also an interleague member in 2023, Sadler has solidified himself as a mainstay through the midfield or behind the ball for the Roosters.
A tall player who can take big grabs and uses the ball efficiently, Sadler has four best player nods in his seven games so far this season.
22. LOCHI KLEINSCHMIDT
(Kangarilla)
The former Brighton player has been a standout through his five appearances for Kangarilla so far in 2024.
A strong player who damages sides around the ground with his ability in the contest and his efficient disposal to teammates.
Has four goals and four best player mentions in five games.
21. CODY GRIFFITHS
(Kersbrook)
The former Goolwa/Pt Elliot player has been a star for Kersbrook since joining the club at the start of the 2023 season.
A young and mobile ruckman who impacts the game through his tapwork or with his ability to take big grabs and set up teammates with efficient disposal.
Has four best player mentions and a goal in eight games and also played interleague.
20. MAX BUCKLEY
(Meadows)
A gun midfielder and halfback for Meadows, Buckley has been a key contributor in 2024 so far.
The club leader provides strong run and carry for the Bulldogs and is a great user of the footy, hitting teammates with pinpoint accuracy.
Has five best player nods and five goals in eight games so far this year.
19. CHARLES TROTMAN
(Kangarilla)
Joining Kangarilla from Victoria in the pre-season Trotman has provided a major boost for the side.
A silky left-footed midfielder with a big tank and reliable skills, Trotman has been a standout for the Kangas so far this season.
Has five best player mentions and a goal in seven games.
18. DEAN TERLICH
(Meadows)
The former Melbourne and Norwood gun joined Meadows after a number of years with Uraidla Districts and has been a strong contributor for the Bulldogs.One of the competition’s most skilled players, Terlich can play up front or in the middle and has the ability to set up teammates by foot or damage the opposition with smart handpassing.
Should be a major factor later this year as his side competes for finals.
17. DYLAN BURGE
(Kersbrook)
A reliable player for Kersbrook, Burge is in the midst of one of his best seasons in the HFL’s Country Division.
Versatile around the ground with the ability to win the footy in the contest and find teammates quickly under pressure, Burge can damage sides in a number of ways.
Has six best player nods and four goals in eight games.
16. REECE JOLLY
(Macclesfield)
A spiritual leader for the Blood and Tars, Jolly has been a standout for his club yet again in 2024.
Jolly is a versatile player who can have an impact across the forwardline or do damage around the ground with his ability to win the contested footy and find teammates.
Has 10 goals and five best player nods in seven games.
15. DANIEL TREPKA
(Gumeracha)
A versatile player who can do damage on or behind the ball, Trepka has emerged as one of Gumeracha’s best this season.
Attacks the contest courageously and wins plenty of hard balls for the Magpies while also disposing around the ground efficiently and damaging sides with his run and carry.
Has five best player nods in eight games.
14. NICK INGRAM
(Torrens Valley)
The top performer for Torrens Valley during what has been a challenging season for the club.
Dangerous in possession, Ingram is a skilled player who can impact the game in a number of ways through the middle and in other roles around the ground.
Has seven goals and seven best player nods through eight games so far.
13. JARRED JONES
(Birdwood)
Star captain of the Roosters, Jones has been a standout in the competition yet again this season.
A hard-nosed player who loves doing the dirty work for his side and racking up important possessions through his toughness and high work rate.
Has five best player appearances and a goal in seven games.
12. TYLER VIRGO
(Kangarilla)
A gun onballer who returned to the Kangas after time with Nangwarry in the South East, Virgo has starred for his side this season.
Is a tireless player who accumulates plenty of the footy in the contest or on the outside and can also boot goals when needed.
Virgo has 13 goals and five best player mentions through seven games and was one of the HFL’s best against the River Murray FL.
11. JACK DALGLEISH
(Meadows)
Dominating in season 2023, Meadows’ Jack Dalgleish sits firmly among the HFL Country Division’s best yet again in 2024.
A versatile player who can play on-ball or on the flank, Dalgleish has a major impact with his damaging disposal and his ability to find the footy.
Has three best player nods and three goals in his four games this year.
10. CHARLIE GRAEBER
(Gumeracha)
A star rover for Gumaracha, Graeber has been a standout yet again this year after a strong 2023.
Graeber is an explosive player who wins plenty of contested footy and deals efficiently to teammates.
His awareness in the contest and ability to hit teammates makes him one of the most vital players in the Gumeracha line-up.
Has six best player nods and six goals in eight games.
9. CONOR WHITE
(Macclesfield)
Macclesfield’s top performer so far this year, White has been among his side’s best in all six of his games so far.
The former Kapunda player is a versatile asset who produces strong performances in the contest and makes good decisions under pressure.
Has six best player nods and three goals in six games.
8. LUKE SMART
(Meadows)
A tireless worker through the middle for Meadows, Smart has tallied over 100 games for the Bulldogs and has performed in nearly every one.
With a high footy IQ, a strong frame and consistent skills, Smart is one of the best on-ballers in the competition and should have a major impact in finals.
Has six best player nods and six goals in his eight games so far.
7. BRETT ANCELL
(Birdwood)
A former division one and two AdFL gun with Payneham Norwood Union, Ancell has starred since joining Birdwood for season 2024.
Strong in the contest and a smart decision maker in possession, Ancell can cut teams up with his disposal and also hit the scoreboard.
Has nine goals and five best player mentions in eight games.
6. LACHLAN PETER
(Kersbrook)
The former Norwood player and Mail Medallist has been at his best so far in 2024 as Kersbrook looks set to go on a strong run to finals.
A standout through the middle who can also give defenders headaches up front, Peter is strong on the ball and can create for teammates or himself.
Has six best player mentions and 10 goals in eight games.
5. BEN HANNA
(Gumeracha)
Brother of Gumeracha teammate and superstar Sam Hanna, former Mail Medallist Ben has been one of the Magpies’ most important players for multiple years.
Hanna is hard at the footy and racks up disposals for fun.
Plays centre and can also move forward to have an impact with 10 goals and four best player nods in five games.
4. JOEL HARVEY-FRIEL
(Kangarilla)
One of the major standouts of the competition in recent years, Harvey-Friel has been at his best for Kangarilla in 2024.
A versatile player who can play on the ball and also do damage up front, the former Henley gun gives the Kangas a number of options, wins plenty of contested footy and always makes the right decision with ball in hand.
Has five best player appearances and eight goals in eight games this year and has been a major key to his side’s success so far.
3. DYLAN WEAVER
(Gumeracha)
The former Central District defender signed with Gumeracha after the 2023 season and has been a dominant force for the club at either end of the ground as well as in the contest.
A tough player who wins a number of contests in the air and at ground level, Weaver can do a job on some of the best players in the competition and also move up the ground to boot goals.
Has 12 majors and seven best player nods through eight games so far.
2. BRADY DAWE
(Meadows)
Former Norwood gun and triple premiership player Dawe has been near his best for the Bulldogs this season, dominating in the ruck and around the ground.
The Meadows leader can impact the game in a number of ways, whether it’s through setting up midfielders with brilliant tap work, taking big marks or hitting the scoreboard.
Has four best player nods and eight goals in his six games so far.
1. SAM HANNA
(Gumeracha)
Having won three consecutive Mail Medals for Gumeracha, Hanna’s status as the top player in the HFL Country Division remains so far in season 2024.
A strong and skilled player with safe hands and elite disposal by foot, Hanna has the ability to play anywhere on the ground, often dominating on the ball before moving up front or to the back if needed.
Has been a major goal threat so far this year, with 13 majors to go along with five best player nods in eight games, including a recent four-goal performance against Kersbrook and three-goal game against Meadows.
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