The Southern Football League’s top 35 players of 2025 ranked
There is plenty of star power in the Southern Football League this season so we’ve ranked the 35 best players in the competition for 2025. See who made the cut.
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The Southern Football League has been one of the strongest leagues in SA footy for years and is filled with top drawer local talent.
Based on this season’s form, we’ve ranked the top 35 players in the competition for 2025.
Here are our rankings from no. 35 to 1.
35. MICHAEL GALLEY
(Cove)
A star veteran for Cove, Galley has been a standout in 2025.
Wins plenty of the footy in the contest and always makes great decisions while under pressure.
Has four best player nods in seven games.
34. JOSHUA JOHNS
(Port Noarlunga)
Johns has come into his own for the Cockledivers.
A rangy player who can perform behind the footy and provide strong run and carry in the middle, Johns is a smart player who makes good decisions under pressure.
33. JACK PLENTY
(Cove)
Joining Cove after a solid 2024 season with Brighton Bombers, Plenty has been consistent for the Cobras.
Wins plenty of the footy in the contest, covers ground well and distributes efficiently.
Has five best player mentions in 10 games.
32. DARNELL TUCKER
(Happy Valley)
Returning to Happy Valley after time with South Adelaide, Tucker has been a big boost for the Vikings.
A highly skilled player through the middle who wins contested footy and distributes well.
Has two best player nods and nine goals in 10 games.
31. AIDAN COAKLEY
(Christies Beach)
Coakley has been a star since returning to the Saints.
One of the best runners in the competition, Coakley is a ball magnet who always uses well to release teammates.
Has five best player nods and six goals in 11 games.
30. ALEC BRYARS
(Ironbank Cherry Gardens)
Bryars has been one of the competition’s standouts this year.
A hard worker around the ground who uses the footy well and wins important possessions.
Has been among his side’s best in eight of 11 appearances.
29. ANGUS STANGEWITZ
(Aldinga)
A veteran of the SFL, Stangewitz’s level of production remains among the competition’s best.
The Aldinga centre-half back covers ground as well as anyone in the league and also has the ability to clunk big marks and distribute efficiently to teammates.
Has nine best player mentions in 11 games.
28. DYLAN STRICKLAND
(Happy Valley)
One of Happy Valley’s top players in recent years.
Strickland reads the play well, wins plenty of the footy and distributes to teammates efficiently while under pressure.
Has four best player nods in 10 games.
27. SHANNON ARCHBOLD
(Christies Beach)
A versatile asset for the Saints, Archbold has been a consistent standout.
Provides great security behind the footy and is also a threat in the contest with his ability to find the ball and distribute.
Has four best player nods in nine games.
26. LINCOLN HOLDER
(Cove)
A consistent threat up front and around the ground for the Cobras.
Holder finds plenty of the footy with his movement and awareness up front and boots big goals.
Has 24 majors and five best player nods in 11 games.
25. ZACH SPROULE
(Port Noarlunga)
The former GWS and South Adelaide man has been a standout for the Cockledivers again this year.
An athletic and tireless player who takes impressive marks and kicks big goals, Sproule can take over a game.
Has 25 goals and three best player nods in 11 games.
24. JACK FLETT
(Happy Valley)
A standout for Happy Valley around the ground this year, Flett has been one of the major keys to his club’s season so far.
An athletic player who works tirelessly through the middle and can also have an impact at either end of the ground, Flett wins plenty of his own footy and delivers to teammates with ease under pressure.
23. BRAD KIRK
(Flagstaff Hill)
One of the SFL’s top players across a number of seasons, Kirk has been a standout again this year.
A star defender for the Falcons who can also move up front or in the contest if needed, Kirk boasts reliable skills and a number of big performances in big games.
Has two best player performances in seven games.
22. GARY KARPANY
(Port Noarlunga)
A versatile player who can do damage up front and around the ground.
Karpany is one of the most skilled players in the competition and is a composed threat with his ability to boot goals and also set his teammates up.
Has 32 majors and four best player mentions in nine games.
21. BLAKE FLORANCE
(Aldinga)
A former South Adelaide U18s and Kingscote player, Florance has been dominant for Aldinga this season.
Has had a significant impact as an inside midfielder for the Sharks with his ability to win the contested ball and deal quickly and accurately to teammates.
Has six best player nods in eight games.
20. RYAN NEED
(Cove)
Need has been a star for an improved Cove side this year.
A talented utility who can perform in the contest or produce up front, Need always makes good decisions in possession.
Has 15 goals and three best player nods in six games.
19. JAKE AGNEW
(Reynella)
A dominant player for Reynella this season.
Agnew has been at his best as a smart and strong forward who creates space and boots bags or sets up his teammates.
Has 39 goals and five best player mentions in 11 games.
18. BRAD INGLIS
(Noarlunga)
One of the top forwards in the competition.
Inglis creates space with ease up front, takes strong marks and kicks and creates plenty of goals for the Shoes.
Has nine best player nods and 40 goals in 11 games.
17. TALON COPLEY
(Reynella)
Copley has been a standout in the SFL since returning to Reynella full-time.
A great runner who covers ground with ease, always finds the ball and makes the right decisions in possession.
Has eight best player nods in 11 games.
16. CALLUM BENNETT
(Christies Beach)
One of the top young players in the competition.
An athletic and highly skilled option for the Saints around the ground, Bennett is a ball magnet who always disposes accurately and is a threat in front of the big sticks.
Has 14 goals and six best player nods in 11 games.
15. MICHAEL SHEARER
(Flagstaff Hill)
A champion of the SFL, Shearer has produced another strong season for the Falcons.
One of the toughest and most versatile players in the competition, Shearer wins important possessions for his side, distributes well and creates goalkicking opportunities.
Has 16 goals and three best player performances in 10 games.
14. TODD MCKAY
(Port Noarlunga)
Former McLaren gun Todd McKay has been a standout in the SFL since joining Port Noarlunga.
The star mid uses his nifty skills to work the ball through congestion and find teammates and can also hit the scoreboard on occasion.
Has five goals and six best player nods in 10 games.
13. NATHAN BEENHAM
(Flagstaff Hill)
As good as anyone on his day up front, Beenham’s selection comes as no surprise.
Previously a solid contributor at South Adelaide, the Flagstaff Hill star continues to produce in front of goal and up the ground with his clean hand and foot skills and ability to finish in front of the big sticks.
Has 37 goals and five best player nods in nine games.
12. DYLAN BROWN
(Happy Valley)
A star for Happy Valley this season after time with South Adelaide, Brown has been one of the competition’s most consistent players.
Brown is a workhorse around the game who finds plenty of the footy, distributes efficiently and also hits the scoreboard.
Has 11 goals and four best player mentions in eight games.
11. MICHAEL MAZEY
(Christies Beach)
A skilled and versatile player who can take over a game for Christies Beach, Mazey has been a star since arriving back to the club after a Mail Medal year in 2023 for Lincoln South.
Mazey can have an impact on the ball as well as up front, dominating in the air and also hitting the contest hard as a big-bodied mid.
Has 10 goals and two best player nods in five games.
10. JAXON BENNETT
(Flagstaff Hill)
Also representing Adelaide in the SANFL this year, Bennett has been dominant for the Falcons and would rank higher with more games under his belt.
An athletic and highly skilled player who wins plenty of the footy around the ground and boasts great distribution by hand and foot.
Has four best player nods and four goals in five games.
9. BAILEY MARSHMAN
(Reynella)
A dominant forward/ruck utility for the Wineflies, Marshman has continued to impress for his side.
Can take over a game with his aerial prowess and also has the ability to kick goals from anywhere.
Has 58 goals to lead the competition as well as seven best player nods in 11 games.
8. COOPER ROGERS
(Happy Valley)
One of the reasons behind Happy Valley’s fast start has been the form of Rogers around the ground.
Rogers is a versatile player who can do damage up front with his ability to win the footy and finish efficiently and also dominates on the ball with his decision-making and distribution.
Has 20 majors and seven best player mentions in 11 games.
7. JAK GOUDMAN-GLASSON
(Ironbank Cherry Gardens)
Joining the Thunderers after a number of standout years with Hectorville in the AdFL, Goudman-Glasson has been a star forward in the SFL.
A versatile and mobile player who can dominate in the air with his height and athleticism, kick big goals and also create for others with his distribution.
Has 34 goals and four best player performances in 11 games.
6. D’ARCY MITCHELL
(Flagstaff Hill)
A major signing last year from Glenunga in division one of the Adelaide Footy League, Mitchell has been dominant for the Falcons.
A tall player with the ability to play key positions at either end of the ground and also stand out as a ruck, Mitchell is capable of taking big marks and can also finish in front of goal when needed.
Has eight goals and five best player nods in 10 games.
5. TYLER DAVIES
(Reynella)
Davies has hit the ground running this season after a spectacular 2024 campaign for the Wineflies.
The former South Adelaide player has been a reliable option through the middle of the park who disposes efficiently and creates for teammates.
Has seven best player nods in 11 games.
4. NICK MOTT
(Noarlunga)
A versatile tall who can damage sides in a number of ways, Noarlunga champion Nick Mott has been at his best in the SFL so far this season.
Mott can dominate in the ruck to give his mids first look at the footy and can also have a positive impact up front with his ability to take big marks and create for others.
Has eight best player appearances in 11 games.
3. NATHANIEL PAREDES
(Port Noarlunga)
Paredes has been a major standout yet again for Port Noarlunga this season.
A strong and skilled player who can fill a number of roles around the ground, Paredes is hard at the footy and can distribute or finish in front of goal efficiently off of either side of his body.
Has 20 goals and eight best player mentions in 11 games.
2. REECE MILSOM
(Flagstaff Hill)
Milsom has been impressive for the Falcons yet again this year after arriving from South Adelaide before the 2023 season.
A talented midfielder who distributes well by hand or foot, Milsom racks up contested possessions and sets his teammates up with ease while also hitting the scoreboard.
Has 12 majors and eight best player nods in nine games.
1. NICHOLAS KRAEMER
(Happy Valley)
Joining Happy Valley after a dominant Spencer Gulf FL season with Prop/Risdon, Kraemer has been a force in the SFL.
A skilled and versatile player who can dominate up front with his ability to find space, take strong marks and finish for goal and can also control a game through the middle with strong contested ball work and top drawer distribution.
Has 45 goals and 11 best player nods in 11 games.
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