The Kangaroo Island Football League’s top 35 players of 2023 ranked
The Kangaroo Island Football League is full of talented SA country footballers so we’ve ranked the competition’s top 35 players of 2023. See who made the cut.
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Kangaroo Island has played host to some of SA’s most talented country footballers and season 2023 has been no exception.
With the help of league insiders and based on this season’s form, we’ve ranked the Kangaroo Island Football League’s top 35 players of season 2023.
Top three sides Western Districts, Wisanger and Kingscote led the way for representation with 26 players combined.
Here are our rankings from no. 35 to 1.
35. PETER ROLFE
(Kingscote)
A valuable utility for Kingscote, Rolfe competes at a high level each week and can also kick goals.
Rolfe is a smart footballer who allows his teammates to flourish and can also finish in front of the big sticks.
Has six goals in his five games so far.
34. BRODY FLORANCE
(Dudley United)
A standout for the Eagles this season, Florance has been influential as a goalkicking midfielder.
Has a big tank and can rack up possessions as well as anyone for his side, often distributing at a high efficiency.
Three best player mentions and three goals in six games.
33. JAI TURNER
(Wisanger)
A much improved player in season 2023, Turner has been a solid contributor along the flanks and in the middle for Wisanger.
Provides strong run and also makes smart decisions with ball in hand.
Three best player nods and two goals in seven games.
32. KHYAL STEAD
(Wisanger)
Stead remains an impactful forward and strong leader for Wisanger in 2023.
A smart and strong player up front who makes clever leads and also takes big grabs, Stead is a reliable kick for goal.
Has 13 goals and a best player nod in his four games this year.
31. RORY FLORANCE
(Dudley United)
A star midfielder for Dudley United, Florance has been at his best in the contest, winning the footy for his team and finding teammates under pressure.
A strong and hardworking player who is hard to bring down.
Three best player appearances in six games.
30. BEN GASKIN
(Parndana)
Gaskin can play a number of roles for Parndana, performing as a big in the middle or moving up front to hit the scoreboard or at the back to provide security in the air.
Has two best player performances so far this season and also has a goal.
Will be an important player for his side as it aims to close the year out on a high note.
29. SAM CLIFFORD
(Wisanger)
Clifford has been a star utility for Wisanger in season 2023.
An impressive forward who can be effective one-out or at ground level, Clifford can also move into the contest or behind the ball.
Has 18 goals in his seven games so far.
28. PAUL GREEN
(Kingscote)
A star veteran for the Hounds, Green’s presence up front and in the contest has been integral to his club’s success.
The Kingscote captain leads by example on the field, providing a consistent option in the air and on the lead up front and also possessing the ability to pinch-hit in the middle.
Has 14 goals in six games so far.
27. TRAE LOVERING
(Dudley United)
Dudley United’s best midfielder this season, Lovering remains one of the competition’s top players.
A contested machine who racks up clearances and does the dirty work for his side.
Has two best player nods and four goals in six games so far this year.
26. CALEB WHITTLE
(Western Districts)
One of Western Districts’ big improvers so far in season 2023, Whittle has been an important factor for his side this season.
Whittle does most of his work in the middle with clean skills by hand or foot and also has a big tank.
Has two best player nods and three goals so far in his six games for the Saints.
25. SAM MCLEAY
(Dudley United)
Dudley’s star player in 2023, McLeay’s work in the defence has been a positive for the club during a challenging season.
A strong player who competes at a high level in the air or at ground level, McLeay can take most of the competition’s standout forwards.
Can also move up the ground to hit the scoreboard if needed with three goals to go with six best player nods in his six games.
24. WILL STANTON
(Parndana)
A star ruck for Parndana, Stanton has been at his best this year.
Has no problem giving his teammates first look at it with elite tap-work and can also take big grabs in the air along the flanks or at the back.
Has three best player appearances in five games.
23. TIM LARCOMBE
(Western Districts)
A midfield/defence utility for Western Districts, Larcombe has been a standout player in the KIFL yet again this season.
Larcombe is a tireless worker in congestion, winning the contested ball for his side, and also provides security at the back by spoiling aerial contests.
22. RORY LOVERING
(Kingscote)
A valuable onballer for Kingscote, Lovering’s effort through the middle has been important for his side in 2023.
A consistent player who finds the footy with ease and can also have an impact up front.
Lovering has three best player nods and four goals in five games.
21. LUKE STEWART
(Wisanger)
A hardworking midfielder who has no issue getting his hands dirty.
Stewart loves the contest and covers ground as well as anyone in the competition, often moving into the forwardline to have an impact in front of goal.
Has six goals in seven games as well as three best player mentions.
20. ZACH TRETHEWAY
(Parndana)
A superstar for Parndana through a number of years, Tretheway is still one of the standout midfielders in the KIFL.
A ball magnet who can dominate in the contest by winning his own footy and distributing to teammates with high efficiency, Tretheway has been one of his side’s best through all of his appearances this year.
Four best player nods in four games this season and a goal.
19. DECLAN HARDY-CORBY
(Kingscote)
Hardy-Corby has been highly effective playing a bigger role up front and in the contest for Kingscote this year.
Has great awareness on the ball and in front of goal with the ability to finish or set-up teammates with ease.
Hardy-Corby has 10 goals and three best player nods in seven games.
18. ANTHONY ANDERSON
(Kingscote)
Kingscote’s leading goalkicker in 2023, Anderson’s presence up front and ability to finish in front of goal makes him one of the competition’s best forwards.
A strong target inside 50 who is one of the hardest to stop in the KIFL one-on-one, Anderson has racked up 24 goals in seven games so far.
Has also been among Kingscote’s best players twice.
17. JASON FRYAR
(Wisanger)
A reliable player in the contest and behind the ball for Wisanger, Fryar has reached another level in 2023 after a solid 2022 season.
The Panthers veteran brings elite leadership and a strong presence on the ball, laying multiple tackles a game and hitting teammates with consistent disposal.
Has four best player nods in seven games so far this year.
16. JACK GRIMES
(Kingscote)
A standout defender for Kingscote, Grimes has been a key part of his side’s makeup again this year.
Grimes provides a cool head at the back and competes tirelessly with opposition forwards, locking attacks down in the air or at ground level.
Has three best player nods in his seven games.
15. JOSH GRAHAM
(Western Districts)
A star utility who has been a consistent contributor for Western Districts this year, Graham remains one of the top players in the KIFL.
A workhorse who can win his own footy or hit the scoreboard as a forward, Graham has a high footy IQ and possesses top drawer skills.
Has two best player nods and 13 goals in his seven games so far.
14. BROK VINEY-OBST
(Wisanger)
Viney-Obst has been a damaging ruck for Wisanger and remains one of the club’s most important players.
A big presence in the contest who always deals to midfielders efficiently, Viney-Obst can also play as a key target up front with his ability to take big marks and finish in front of goal.
Has four best player nods and five goals in six games.
13. TRAD MCMULKIN
(Parndana)
A regular part of the KIFL’s interleague side, McMulkin is having another strong season for Parndana.
McMulkin is a dominant midfielder who hits the contest hard and can damage sides with distribution off of either foot.
Has four best player mentions in his five games and has kicked two goals so far.
12. JORDAN CONNELL
(Kingscote)
A gun midfielder who gets up the ground and boots goals, Connell has been at his best for Kingscote this year.
One of the Hounds’ best in the contest, Connell often finds space with the ball and always makes the right decision, either finding teammates up front or finishing for goal himself.
Has seven majors in seven games to go with three best player nods.
11. BAILEY GASKIN
(Parndana)
A standout utility for Parndana, Gaskin has been his side’s star player so far this season.
Clean with his hands in close and able to hurt people with his pace and skill on the footy, Gaskin has been among the Roosters’ best every week.
Has six best player nods in six games so far.
10. DYLAN LOCKETT
(Western Districts)
A forward/midfield utility for Western Districts, Lockett has been a KIFL standout again in 2023.
Lockett is always providing an option on the ball or in the forward 50, taking strong marks and often making the best decisions with ball in hand.
Has three best player nods and nine goals in his eight games so far this year.
9. ZAK EDWARDS
(Kingscote)
Edwards’ work through the middle this season has been a big factor in the Hounds’ finals push and should ensure the club is a major chance for a grand final appearance in 2023.
A tireless runner who finds plenty of the ball and applies relentless pressure to the opposition, Edwards impacts the contest at a high level and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has four best player nods in six games and also has three goals.
8. NATHAN STOCK
(Western Districts)
A gun defender who can also move up front to play as a target and boot goals, Stock remains one of the Saints’ star players.
Stock booted 31 goals in 15 games for his side last season but has done more defending in 2023, competing well in the air and at ground level to provide security for his side.
Has a great feel for the game and has also kicked six goals playing up front to go with four best player mentions in six games.
7. ROLAND AH CHEE
(Kingscote)
Arriving from Uraidla Districts in the pre-season, the former Norwood and Gold Coast player should provide a major boost for Kingscote during this year’s finals series.
A versatile player who can have an impact through the middle or a number of positions around the ground, Ah Chee has elite skills off the deck and is also one of the most athletic players in the competition.
Has two best player nods in his five games so far.
6. BRADLEY CRABB
(Western Districts)
Despite only playing four of a possible nine games so far this season, Crabb is still one of the standout players in the competition and has produced brilliant displays in 2023.
A dominant defender who can lock down almost any forward and distribute accurately out of the back, Crabb remains one of the most important players in the Western Districts line-up.
The former South Adelaiee gun was dominant last weekend in a thrilling draw with Kingscote.
5. LACHLAN SUMMERS
(Kingscote)
The standout ruckman of the Kangaroo Island FL, Summers has produced a strong season for Kingscote since arriving from Blyth-Snowtown in the North East.
Summers can dominate with consistent tap-work, giving his mids first use of the footy, or provide a strong marking target up the ground to help his side start attacking moves.
Has six best player appearances and a goal in seven games.
4. LLEYTON HEDGES
(Western Districts)
Currently the leading goalkicker in the KIFL, Hedges has picked up where he left off last year to put together a fantastic 2023 so far.
Hedges booted 43 goals in nine games last season and has kicked 33 in eight appearances this year, often providing a strong target up front with safe hands and a reliable kick for goal.
Looms as a game changer, booting a huge nine majors in last season’s winning grand final to take out best on ground honours.
3. LIAM SAMPSON
(Wisanger)
Last season’s Mail Medallist, Sampson has been dominant yet again for Wisanger.
The Panthers gun is a skilled onballer who can do it all from winning his own footy and dealing to teammates with precision to taking big grabs or setting his teammates up in front of goal.
Has four best player mentions and two goals in seven games.
2. DUSTY CROSS
(Wisanger)
Wisanger’s star midfielder this season, Cross has been among his side’s best in nearly every game so far in 2023.
A big-bodied midfielder who boasts exceptional skills by hand and foot, Cross battles hard in the contest and can also do damage up front.
Has six best player nods and six goals in his seven games so far this year.
1. TATE BARRETT
(Western Districts)
Runner-up in last season’s Mail Medal count, Barrett has taken his game to another level so far in season 2023.
A star midfielder who attacks the footy relentlessly and uses it as well as anyone in the competition, Barrett has been a weapon for the Saints in recent years.
Has also proved to be a goal threat, booting five majors in eight games to go along with his six best player mentions.
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