The top 20 players to watch during The Advertiser’s live stream of the 2021 SANFL Country Football Championships
The best of the best will do battle this weekend at the SA Country Footy Championships, so we’ve named the top 20 players to watch during our exclusive live stream of the carnival.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It is one of the highlights of the South Australian football calendar and – after a year off – the Country Football Championships are back for 2021 with plenty of talent set to take the field.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE SA COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS LIVE STREAM
Ahead of the carnival being live streamed by The Advertiser and The Messenger this Saturday and Sunday, sports reporter Patrick Keam has identified the players to watch.
With about 250 footballers set to descend on Victor Harbor and Encounter Bay the competition was tough to whittle the list down to 20.
Each of the six regional zones – Central, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Murray South East, Northern and Southern Districts – at the championships have been represented.
Whose selection is warranted? Who have we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
TOBIN COX
(Murray South East/Padthaway)
One of the more high-profile names at the carnival will be Padthaway’s Tobin Cox.
This time last year the 21-year-old was on an AFL list with Port Adelaide and now he will be suiting up for Murray South East.
Cox, who was picked up from Glenelg in the 2018 rookie draft, should provide plenty of excitement for spectators this weekend with his craft and nose for goal.
The Padthaway product returned home after he was delisted at the end of last season.
Cox did not make his AFL debut while with the Power but booted 30 goals in 15 SANFL games with the Magpies in 2019.
LEIGH RYSWYK
(Central/Barossa District)
Former North Adelaide forward Leigh Ryswyk was one of three players to tie for the player of the championships award in 2019.
Now plying his trade for Barossa District, the ex-Rooster is 36 years old but do not let that fool you.
With 225 league games and 223 goals under his belt, Ryswyk’s footy smarts and leadership are unmatched here and will be a terrific asset for Central in its quest for back-to-back titles.
SAM THARALDSEN
(Southern Districts/Flagstaff Hill)
Sam Tharaldsen is a key member of the Flagstaff Hill side which has dominated the Southern Football League on its way to winning the past five flags.
The Adelaide Crows development squad member, playing at his third country championships, should give Southern Districts plenty of excitement and drive off half-back.
Tharaldsen, 28, was one of the SFL’s best in its interleague win over Great Southern last month.
REBECCA DEER
(Northern/North Broken Hill)
Reigning Jan Corey Medallist – league best and fairest in the Broken Hill Football League – Rebecca Deer is a name to watch for Northern.
She was named in the team of the championships in the 2019 carnival and has made a name for herself as a ball-winning inside midfielder.
TROY PARKER-BOERS
(Eastern/Hahndorf)
An inside midfield bull from the Hahndorf Football Club, Troy Parker-Boers has already put his name in lights at the championships before.
The young gun was recognised as the best under-21 player at the 2019 carnival.
Parker-Boers has featured in the past two Hills Football League premiership teams for Hahndorf, which has won five of the past six flags.
TODD MILES
(Southern Districts/Goolwa-Port Elliot)
There are few players with as much SA Country Championships experience as Todd Miles.
The veteran defender – a Barrie Robran Medallist at North Adelaide – has previously been named best under-21 player (2005) and MVP (2008) at the tournament.
This year Miles will represent Southern Districts after leaving Barossa District to become Goolwa-Port Elliot playing coach ahead of the 2020 season.
Was best on ground for the GSFL against the SFL in their interleague clash.
TEGAN NOTTLE
(Central/Gawler Central)
A star of Gawler Central in the Barossa, Light and Gawler Football Association, Tegan Nottle is no stranger to high honours in representative football.
She was named player of the championships in Port Pirie in 2019 and will no doubt be influential once again.
Nottle has been in fine form for Gawler Central already this year and has been named in the best players in six out of nine matches.
BRAD CRABB
(Murray South East/Penola)
Ex-South Adelaide captain Brad Crabb needs little introduction.
The 215-game former Panther is now a key part of the set up at Penola in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League.
Expect him to set up Murray South East from defence at the championships.
SAM HANNA
(Eastern/Gumeracha)
A versatile option for Eastern, former Central District utility Sam Hanna should play a key role for his side in the tournament alongside his brother Ben.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form for Gumeracha this season, kicking 29 goals in 10 matches as well as being named in the best players on six occasions.
Hanna was also a key contributor in the interleague game last month when the Hills Football League division two representative side beat the Riverland and Mallee combined team.
SID MASTERS
(Eyre Peninsula/Ports)
Sid Masters is likely to fill a key position role for Eyre Peninsula but the question will be – at which end?
The former Port Adelaide Magpie, who tied with Leigh Ryswyk and Xavier Watson for the 2019 championships MVP – is adept at playing both ends and should come into the championships full of confidence.
Masters is an SA state country representative and sits second in the Eastern Eyre Football League leading goal kickers this season with 29 majors from seven games.
It included a huge 14-goal haul against Cowell last month.
EMILY BROCKHURST
(Southern Districts/Flagstaff Hill)
One to watch for Southern Districts will be South Adelaide and Flagstaff Hill player Emily Brockhurst.
The youngster is the daughter of former Panther Andrew Brockhurst, who played 131 games for South in the SANFL.
She played four SANFLW games for the Panthers this year but it is in the SFL where she has really made her mark.
Brockhurst leads the league with 35 goals from her nine matches with the Falcons.
TOM EDWARDS
(Murray South East/Padthaway)
Padthaway’s Tom Edwards has been a dominant force on his return to the Lions this season.
After two seasons with Adelaide Footy League powerhouse Goodwood Saints – including playing a strong role in the 2020 division one premiership side – Edwards came back to the KNTFL club where he played for several seasons.
He has been named in the Lions best players in seven of a possible 10 games this campaign.
Edwards will be a welcome addition to an already strong Murray South East line up.
TIM WOOLFORD
(Eastern/Renmark Rovers)
Vice-captain for Eastern this year, Tim Woolford is a hard-nosed midfielder who has starred for Renmark in recent years.
Woolford was best on ground for the Rovers in their 2019 Riverland Football League grand final triumph and has been named in his side’s best in seven of nine games so far this year.
Should provide plenty of leadership and competitiveness for Eastern.
IAN MILERA
(Northern/West Augusta)
Opposition defences will need to put plenty of work into stopping Northern’s Ian Milera.
The former Glenelg goalsneak is dangerous around goals and has plenty of tricks which will give opposing backmen headaches.
Milera, who last played SANFL in 2018, is now at West Augusta after stints with Port Noarlunga and Portland.
BRIANNA BURT
(Eastern/Mount Barker)
Mount Barker onballer Brianna Burt was captain for Eastern in 2019 and will give her side a strong boost in both leadership and ability.
Capable of playing both inside and outside midfield, the 28-year-old has SANFLW experience with both Sturt and Central District, where she played this season.
SAM PFEIFFER
(Central/Ardrossan)
Sam Pfeiffer has made a name for himself at the championships before but now he will be doing it in a different guernsey.
A long-time servant for Murray South East, Pfeiffer moved to Yorke Peninsula club Ardrossan this season and will play for Central this time round.
The defender will likely fill one of the key slots down back for the reigning premiers.
NICK PEARCE
(Northern/Southern Flinders)
A strong and well-travelled regional ruckman, Nick Pearce should have a strong influence at the carnival for Northern, which will be hoping to go one better than 2019’s grand final loss.
The Southern Flinders playing coach is a veteran of country footy and his big, bustling style could give Northern’s midfielders first use of the ball.
XAVIER WATSON
(Eyre Peninsula/Wayback)
The third player on this list who tied for the 2019 men’s player of the championships, Xavier Watson is back to wreck havoc for Eyre Peninsula.
A gun for Wayback in the Port Lincoln Football League, Watson also tied for the carnival MVP with Jack Kenny in 2015.
He will skipper Eyre Peninsula and will no doubt be hoping to win an outright individual medal this time around.
BRETT ELLIS
(Southern Districts/McLaren)
Being the home team should give Southern Districts a strong advantage and one player who knows the host venues well is long-time McLaren servant Brett Ellis.
The reigning Great Southern Football League Mail Medallist is one of the Eagles’ stars and will likely play a key role through the midfield.
Ellis has been in strong form for McLaren, which is fourth on the GSFL ladder, and has been named in the best players in eight of 11 matches this season.
M’HIRET OTTO
(Eyre Peninsula)
Port Lincoln product M’Hiret Otto is a multi-sport talent who will be key for Eyre Peninsula in its chances in the women’s competition.
With an inexperienced side Otto’s performances will be crucial as captain alongside deputy Zalia Paige.
Eyre Peninsula will be coached by Brett Howell.
Join the conversation
Big names make their mark at Country Cricket Champs
Regional Australia’s best cricketers are facing off in a huge competition in South Australia. Keep up to date with all the latest results and top performers.
Read more
‘Couldn’t say no’: Former SANFL champion returns to hometown club
A former SANFL captain will play for his hometown local SA footy club in season 2025 after retiring from the League level as a 250-gamer.
Read more