The Spencer Gulf’s top 35 footballers of 2022 ranked
The Spencer Gulf is home to some of SA country’s most gifted footballers so we’ve studied the region’s two leagues and ranked the top 35 players of 2022. See who made the cut.
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The Spencer Gulf has long been a region filled with SA country footy talent and season 2022 has seen countless star players hit the field.
Through consultation with the Spencer Gulf Football League and the Whyalla Football League, The Messenger has ranked the region’s top 35 players of 2022.
Those who had played less than eight games were ruled ineligible.
Here are our rankings from number 35 to 1.
35. LAWSON COLLINS
(Port)
A dominant player for Port in the Spencer Gulf Football League this season, Collins takes a deserved spot in the top 35.
A talented midfielder who always accumulates plenty of the footy and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has 12 goals and 10 best player appearances to his name in 18 games and also played interleague.
34. MATT WOOLFORD
(Central Whyalla)
Woolford’s poise and decision-making for the Roosters has made him one of the standouts of the season.
The talented mid also has the ability to push up the ground and kick goals, his tireless work paying dividends for the WFL’s top side this year.
Played interleague and has 13 goals and four best player appearances to his name.
33. ADAM NICOL
(Weeroona Bay)
With the ability to produce at a high level up front and also pinch-hit in the ruck, Nicol has been a sensational addition to the Tigers’ troops since joining in the offseason.
Strong and athletic in the contest, Nicol has 28 goals and six best-player nods in 10 games.
Also represented Whyalla FL in interleague.
32. NICK SANDERS
(North Whyalla)
Sanders’ experience at the back was one of the highlights of North Whyalla’s play in season 2022.
Always making a contest and distributing to teammates with class, Sanders accumulated nine best-player nominations in his 13 games.
31. CAMERON TIGGEMANN
(South Augusta)
Tiggemann has been a force through the middle and has also rotated forward for South Augusta this season.
Supremely skilled and always hard at it, the Bulldogs have benefited from his 19 goals this year.
Also has six best-player appearances to his name and played in the SA Country Championships.
30. KYLE COLSON
(Central Whyalla)
Colson’s ability to cover ground through the middle or on the wing and also kick goals has made him a standout this season.
Is always attacking the footy and creating for himself or teammates.
Has 10 goals and five best-player mentions in 13 games and represented WFL in interleague.
29. AARON ROGERS
(Weeroona Bay)
Rogers’ versatility has been a big factor in Weeroona’s success through 2022.
With the ability to impact the contest or move up front and kick goals, Rogers is one of the WFL’s toughest covers.
Has 18 goals and seven best-player nods in 16 games and also played interleague.
28. DYLAN BOUNDY
(Solomontown)
The top goalkicker in the Spencer Gulf Football League, Boundy remains one of the region’s best target forwards.
Almost impossible to stop one-on-one and on the lead with a safe pair of hands, Boundy has booted 56 goals this season.
27. CLIFFORD PICKHAVER-TUPE
(Central Whyalla)
Best on ground in last season’s WFL grand final, Pickhaver-Tupe has again been dominant in the centre this season.
A tireless worker who can also move up the ground and hit the scoreboard, he has accumulated 10 best-player nods and seven goals in his 15 games.
Also played interleague in 2022.
26. CALEB RITTER
(South Augusta)
Ritter provides security both on and behind the ball for South Augusta.
The Bulldogs gun is one of the best distributors in the SGFL and has no issue making big contests in the air and on the ground.
Has 10 best-player mentions and two goals in 18 games and also participated in SA Country Championships.
25. KYLE STOLDT
(Weeroona Bay)
Stoldt’s form has been a welcomed boost for the Tigers in the Whyalla FL this season.
Providing the perfect support for star mid Steve Jackson in the middle, Stoldt is a ball magnet who always finds time and space.
Has 11 goals and 13 best-player appearances in 17 games.
24. TRENT RITTER
(South Augusta)
One of the big guns among Spencer Gulf forwards, Trent Ritter’s season has been outstanding for the Bulldogs.
Also an interleague player this year, Ritter is skilful in the air or at ground level and can finish on either side of his body.
Has 41 goals and five best player nods in 17 games this season.
23. MICHAEL CURLEY
(West Augusta)
Curley has been a major standout for West Augusta during what has been a challenging campaign for the club.
The key defender consistently stands up for his side at the back with fantastic positional awareness and the ability to either spoil or take big intercept grabs.
In 16 games Curley has been named among West Augusta’s best on nine occasions.
22. ANTHONY JENKINSON
(Weeroona Bay)
Anthony Jenkinson’s performance across the forwardline this season has been a catalyst for Wooreena Bay’s finals run.
Fast on the lead and creative with the ball, Jenkinson either earns opportunities for himself in front of goal or opens up avenues for his teammates.
Has 40 goals and five best-player mentions in 15 games this year.
21. RIAN SMOKER
(North Whyalla)
Smoker returned to play this season after a brief hiatus and was back close to his best through midfield.
One of the most talented players in the Whyalla Football League, Smoker is a supreme athlete with the reliable ability to hit any teammate by foot or hand and also hit the scoreboard.
Has seven goals and eight best-player appearances in 10 league games and also played interleague.
20. DARCY KILDEA
(South Augusta)
A two-time Mail Medalist and a constant threat in the middle for South Augusta, Kildea remains among the Spencer Gulf’s best in 2022.
A powerful player in the contest and damaging with ball in hand, the Bulldogs captain is one of the toughest to matchup on in the SGFL.
Has four goals and four best-player appearances in 17 games and also played interleague.
19. MITCH SCHWERDT
(Central Whyalla)
One of Central Whyalla’s most consistent players, Schwerdt has been a standout again in 2022 despite only playing nine games so far.
Schwerdt hit the ground running for the Roosters after missing the first month of the season, performing brilliantly through the middle and along the wing to tally four best player appearances in his first four games.
Has 10 goals and six best-player nods in nine appearances and played SA Country Championships.
18. JONATHON HAYES
(Solomontown)
Solomontown’s captain has produced another standout season after winning the Madigan/Mail Medal last year.
The strong and talented onballer is hard at it and classy with ball in hand, always making the correct decisions and executing efficiently.
Has 10 goals and 10 best-player nods in 18 games and also played SA Country Championships.
17. ANDREW WRIGHT
(Proprietary/Risdon)
Wright’s versatility has been on show this season, the Lions gun playing a role across half-back and up front.
Wright has a big tank and is a calculated user of the footy.
He has kicked eight goals this year and been named among PropRisdon’s best six times, while also playing SA Country Championships.
16. SAM ELLIS
(Central Whyalla)
Ellis remains one of the most prolific defenders in the WFL and has been integral to Central Whyalla’s success at the top of the ladder.
A strong and assured presence at the back, Ellis leads by voice and by example in the contest, locking down some of the region’s best forwards regularly.
Also an SA Country Championships player this year, Ellis has seven best player appearances in 16 games.
15. JOEL PALMER
(Proprietary/Risdon)
Captain of Northern’s SA Country Championships side this year and sixth in the SGFL best and fairest count.
Palmer’s ability as a utility is second to none, the Lions champion able to have an impact in the ruck or ahead of the ball with reliable hand and foot skills.
Has six goals and nine best player appearances in 13 games.
14. CLAYTON MESECKE
(Roopena)
Mesecke’s performance on the ball has been at a consistently high level for Roopena this season.
A strong body and a smart user, the Roos star has tallied 12 goals and an impressive 11 best-player mentions in his 16 WFL games this year.
Was also a member of the Whyalla FL’s interleague side.
13. LAWSON MUNZBERG
(Solomontown)
A fantastic key position player, Munzberg’s ability to play a role in the backline or forward of the ball has been integral to Solomontown’s success this year.
Munzberg possesses elite aerial ability and can either take big intercept marks in centre half-back or contested grabs up front and finish off in front of goal.
Has 31 goals and five best-player appearances in 15 games.
12. LUKE PATTERSON
(Proprietary/Risdon)
Finishing equal fifth in the SGFL Mail Medal count this season, Patterson has been outstanding for the Lions along the wing.
Fast and explosive with ball in hand and can put his damaging disposal to use by either foot or hand.
Has also hit the scoreboard well this year with 14 goals and 11 best-player nods in 17 games.
Was a representative in the SA Country Championships.
11. CODY PETTIFORD
(South Whyalla)
South Whyalla’s best and fairest in 2021, Pettiford has again been the standout player for his club this season.
A pacy player with excellent foot skills, Pettiford is able to damage opposition across the flanks or in midfield.
Has 12 best-player nods and eight goals in 15 games.
10. KRISTON THOMPSON
(South Augusta)
Dominating as a centre for South Augusta and in the SA Country Championships, Thompson remains a top 10 player in the Spencer Gulf.
The Bulldogs champion is well-known for his skills at ground level and his ability to burst from the pack and deliver to his forwards.
Has six goals this year and has accumulated an impressive 15 best-player appearances in his 15 SGFL games.
9. MASON MUNZBERG
(Solomontown)
Munzberg is the premier ruckman in the Spencer Gulf, dominating with tap-work and also covering ground well for a big.
The Cats star has no trouble giving his midfielders top quality service in the ruck and can also have an impact in front of goal and in the air with elite marking ability.
Has 13 goals and six best-player nods in 12 games and also finished equal sixth in the Mail Medal count.
8. MARKO TANSELL
(Central Whyalla)
Tansell is known for giving defences many headaches and that has not changed this season.
Strong on the ball and capable of picking opposition sides apart with damaging disposal or as a threat in front of goal, Tansell has tallied 18 goals and eight best-player nominations in 12 games for Central Whyalla.
Was also a member of Northern’s SA Country Championships team this year.
7. TYLER ECKERT
(Proprietary/Risdon)
Eckert is an explosive and damaging half-back and remains one of Proprietary/Risdon’s most important players.
Finishing third in this year’s Mail Medal count, Eckert has had a fantastic year – using his elite intercept marking and kicking abilities to hurt opponents on the rebound.
The Lions captain can also cover ground as well as anyone along the flanks, kicking 20 goals and tallying 10 best-player mentions in his 18 games.
6. ELLIOTT MCNAMARA
(West Whyalla)
West Whyalla’s most dangerous forward, McNamara continues to impress in the Whyalla Football League.
The 2022 SA Country Championships player is a great athlete and possesses brilliant skills in the air and on the ground.
With the ability to finish from anywhere, he has booted 39 goals in 17 games and has been among West Whyalla’s best on 12 occasions.
Kicked a goal after the siren to defeat Central Whyalla by a point in round 12.
5. MYLES MCNAMARA
(West Whyalla)
Only just edging Elliott out, McNamara’s performance in the middle for the Dragons has made him a top-five player in the Spencer Gulf this year.
An extremely skilful and speedy player who makes quick decisions under pressure and can distribute in any way, McNamara has been a weapon in the WFL.
He can also move up front and finish with class in front of goal, booting 17 majors in 17 games to go with his 11 best-player appearances.
Was also a key player in Northern’s SA Country Championships team.
4. JACK MUIRHEAD
(Central Augusta)
A former Madigan Medalist and the runner-up this season, Muirhead’s production remains at a high level for Central Augusta.
The club captain has been elite through the middle for his side, leading by example with strong contested work and brilliant disposal.
One of the best decision-makers in the Spencer Gulf, Muirhead can also move up the ground and kick a goal, slotting him 13 in 17 games to go along with his 14 best-player nods.
Also part of Northern’s SA Country Championships side.
3. STEVEN JACKSON
(Weeroona Bay)
Last season’s Jim Hewitson Medalist in the Whyalla Football League, Jackson has put together another outstanding year at Weeroona Bay.
A star on the ball, Jackson’s ability to win disposal and explode from the contest is second to none, and he can hit any target with either foot.
Has tallied nine goals and nine best player mentions in his 15 games for the Tigers this year and also took part in the SA Country Championships.
2. COREY DAVEY
(Solomontown)
This season’s SGFL Madigan Medalist has been a weapon for Solomontown.
A former key position player for Adelaide in the SANFL, Davey has excelled in the middle for the Cats and also has the ability to have an impact in the forwardline.
Davey is a tall player with elite athletic ability and consistent skills on either side of his body, tallying 13 best player appearances in 18 games while also kicking 47 goals.
Was a key part of Northern’s SA Country Championships side.
1. DYLAN ALDRIDGE
(Proprietary/Risdon)
Aldridge has put together a fantastic season for the Lions while also playing two SANFL league games for Port Adelaide.
Arriving from PINT in the NT during the offseason, Aldridge has been a force through the middle and up front in the Spencer Gulf Football League.
Predominantly an onballer, Aldridge boasts supreme strength in the contest and elite foot skills, consistently winning contested ball and dealing to teammates.
With a big tank and handy explosiveness to boot, Aldridge has also managed to hit the scoreboard consistently, kicking 54 majors in 16 games to go along with nine best-player mentions.
Also took part in the SA Country Championships this year.
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