The River Murray Football League’s 35 best players ranked for season 2022
There is a stack of talent in the River Murray Football League and we’ve named the best players in the country competition for season 2022. See who made the cut.
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The River Murray Football League is one of the strongest country football competitions in the state, with its close proximity to Adelaide allowing it to attract a huge amount of talent.
Based on this season’s form and with the input of coaches, we’ve named the top 35 players in the league in 2022.
Top two clubs Imperials and Jervois led the way with eight and seven players respectively, while fellow top three side Tailem Bend has six players featured.
Players who had played less than six games were ruled ineligible.
1. Josh Scott (Jervois)
The gun Jervois spearhead is an elite centre half-forward with strong hands, running power and a reliable set shot.
Formerly a prolific goal-kicker with Glenelg in the SANFL, Scott narrowly missed out being drafted to the AFL several years ago.
Has taken the mantle of the competition’s most in-form player in 2022 - booting 48 majors in just nine games.
2. Louis De Michele (Imperials)
The league’s best ruckman, De Michele is extremely mobile for his size.
A strong two-way runner, the aerobic beast has the ability to read the play and position himself to take intercept marks at will.
Currently sitting top of the RMFL’s player of the year award on 14 votes.
3. Blake Tabe (Mannum)
An extremely versatile player who can line up anywhere, Tabe has excellent skills and an explosive take off.
The utility took out the Mail Medal as the league’s best player in 2021 and is enjoying another productive season for the Roos.
4. Ben Hansen (Jervois)
The man known as ‘Shredder’ can do just that to his opposition, with his lethal kick capable of cutting through zone defences.
The player-coach of the RMFL’s association team this season, the former Sturt gun compliments his elite skills with the ability to read the play from behind the ball and set up plays from half-back.
5. Harley Montgomery (Imperials)
The smooth mover is the competition’s best pure midfielder, possessing the ability to consistently win the ball and break lines.
Montgomery is one of the keys to the Blues’ excellent form in 2022, featuring in his team’s best players nine times from 11 games.
He is currently sitting second in the RMFL’s player of the year award.
6. Alex Pfeiffer (Ramblers)
A flexible key position player, Pfeiffer has a strong set of hands and the ability to shut down the opposition’s best forward.
Was named the RMFL’s best player in this year’s interleague match versus the Hill Football League.
7. Johnny Boras (Imperials)
The former North Adelaide marksman is an elite set shot and one of the state’s most prolific full forwards.
Boras took out the Tony Modra Medal last season for most goals in country SA, booting 104 for the season.
Currently sitting second behind Scott with 44 majors so far in 2022.
8. Taite Silverlock (Jervois)
The silky former West Adelaide utility has a high football IQ coupled with the ability to play in the midfield and down back.
After taking out the RMFL’s Mail Medial in 2018, Silverlock has been one of the keys to the Bluds’ back-to-back premierships in 2020 and 2021.
9. Sam De Michele (Imperials)
The competition’s best small forward, De Michele boasts explosive power and the ability to kick goals from anywhere inside the forward 50.
Named the RMFL’s best player in the competition’s 2021 interleague match, De Michele also starred in the SA Country Championships two weeks ago and was selected in the Team of the Championships.
10. Sam Sanders (Meningie)
A strong and tough midfielder, Sanders has the ability to win the ball on the inside while showcasing elite running skills on the outside.
Can also play as a lead-up forward with his strong set of hands.
11. Dylan Barry (Jervois)
A prolific midfielder-forward from the Northern Territory, Barry can use his deadly left foot to devastating effect from the centre, while also possessing the ability to play forward and slot multiple goals.
Underused this year due to other commitments, Barry has featured in the best players in five of his seven games for the Bluds in 2022, while also nailing 18 majors.
12. Michael O’Malley (Mannum)
One of the league’s most reliable defenders, O’Malley provides a sure head off half-back with his poise and experience.
A star junior, O’Malley won the inaugural Dean Bailey Award as the Adelaide Crows SANFL team’s best development-listed player in 2014, before returning to Mannum and captaining the Roos to a flag the next season.
13. Clint Diment (Imperials)
The former Mypolonga midfielder tied with Silverlock for the RMFL’s Mail Medal in 2018, before crossing to Imperials this season.
The silky midfielder is an extremely clean and consistent performer, having featured in the Blues’ best players five times from just seven games in 2022.
14. Brodie Martin (Meningie)
The former Adelaide Crows star has been used mostly as a forward in 2022, displaying his elite skills and ability to consistently hit the scoreboard.
A veteran with 38 AFL games under his belt, the 33-year-old provides valuable top-level experience to the Bears’ line up.
15. Nick Westhoff (Tailem Bend)
An impactful ruckman who can drift forward and provide a focal point, Westhoff boasts VFL and SANFL experience and is arguably the Eagles’ most important player.
With the ability to give his midfielders first use of the ball, the big man possesses impressive running power and strong hands for a player of his size.
16. McKenzie Hansen (Jervois)
The brother of Jervois coach Ben, McKenzie is a classy intercept defender who, like his sibling, can use his raking kick to break lines and set up devastating counter-attacks.
17. Luke Harrowfield (Imperials)
The Blues stalwart has one of the best footy brains in the competition and is still performing at an exceptional level after playing in the RMFL for the better part of 15 years.
An extremely experienced forward with the ability to pinch-hit in the middle, Harrowfield boasts 385 career goals in 223 games and has been responsible for setting up countless others.
18. Zane Barry (Jervois)
An explosive midfielder-forward in the same mold as brother Dylan, Zane boasts a lethal left foot that can break lines and kick goals.
One of seven Jervois players to make the list, an indication of the vast depth currently on show at the Bluds.
19. Aaron Pratt (Ramblers)
Making up for his short stature with impressive heart and strength, Pratt is a powerful in-and-under rover who thrives on the contest.
Has featured in the Roosters’ best players seven times in 2022 from 11 matches.
20. Daniel Perks (Tailem Bend)
The best swing man in the competition, the Eagles captain is arguably his side’s best player behind Westhoff.
Part of the RMFL contingent that represented the Eastern Zone in the State Country Championships, Perks is a strong intercept mark who can also create headaches for the opposition up forward.
21. Riley Vanson (Ramblers)
A contested possession bull, Vanson is a tackling machine who can also win his own ball out of the middle.
The staunch midfielder is one of four Roosters to make the list.
22. Dwayne Wilson (Imperials)
A star junior who narrowly missed out on being drafted to the AFL, Wilson has developed into a classy ball user who can use either side of the body to hit targets around the ground.
Boasting speed and the ability to hurt the opposition on the outside, the fleet-footed Blue is one of the most talented players in the RMFL.
23. Harrison Hawkins (Mannum)
A smooth-moving midfielder, Hawkins has the ability to win the ball at the stoppage and generate multiple inside 50s for the Roos.
The instrumental ball magnet is currently sitting third in the RMFL’s player of the year award.
24. James Clarke (Imperials)
A strong one-on-one backman, Clarke is one of the RMFL’s premier defenders and take’s the best opposition forward each week.
Tough and big-bodied, the Blues’ fullback rarely loses a contest.
25. Jack Holliday (Meningie)
Holliday is mobile centre half-forward with strong running power to get up and down the ground with ease.
Part of the RMFL contingent which represented the Eastern Zone in the State Country Championships, the Meningie forward possesses a long reach and is a strong contested mark.
26. Josef Rack (Tailem Bend)
The star defender has been responsible for shutting down some of the RMFL’s best goalkickers this season, with his effective spoiling and swift closing speed making him a difficult match up for key forwards.
Along with Clarke, Rack is regarded as the best fullback in the league.
27. Robbie Young (Tailem Bend)
The former St Kilda and North Adelaide gun has been a handful up forward for the Eagles this season.
With silky skills and explosive leg speed, Young also has the flexibility to swap in the midfield for more drive out the centre.
28. Dylan Ribbons (Mannum)
A hard-working midfielder, Ribbons boasts reliable skills and the ability to push forward and generate scores.
The consistent performer rarely plays a bad game for the Roos.
29. Josiah Farrer (Jervois)
A superstar in the Northern Territory Football League, Farrer has been playing slightly underdone in his first season in the RMFL but is poised to explode for the Bluds come finals time.
The big-bodied and explosive midfielder can also push forward and hit the scoreboard.
30. Stephen Mills (Mypolonga)
A tall, mobile ruck-forward with a strong set of hands.
The Rockhampton product previously represented the Gold Coast Suns reserves side in the NEAFL and is the sole Tiger to make the list.
31. Clint Walker (Meningie)
Contrary to his last name, Walker is one of the fastest players in the league and boasts lightning speed.
An elite ball user with an explosive first step, the damaging wingman can also push forward to create scoreboard pressure.
32. Dale Finnie (Tailem Bend)
A powerhouse onballer, Finnie accumulates a stack of the footy at a high efficiency rate.
Has been one of the Eagles’ best mids in 2022.
33. Keynan Harradine (Ramblers)
A strong midfielder who is hard at the contest, Harradine is known for his fearless attack on the football.
The youngster racks up multiple tackles each game and is never afraid to get his hands dirty.
34. Connor Smelt (Tailem Bend)
A strong focal point up forward for the Eagles, Smelt is one of the competition’s best set shots at goal.
Currently sitting third on the RMFL goalkicking ladder with 34 majors.
35. Bailey Boughen (Mannum)
A slick winger, Boughen’s silky left foot and pace make him a damaging outside player.
Boasting a sizable tank, the Roos running machine uses his aerobic capacity and ability to regularly find the ball to consistently hurt his opposition.
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