The top 30 River Murray Football League players of the 21st Century ranked
There has been no shortage of talent in the River Murray Football League so we’ve ranked the best of the best. See our top 30 players of the past 25 years.
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The River Murray Football League has been packed with top drawer local footy talent for decades.
With season 2025 fast approaching, we’ve ranked our top 30 players of the 21st Century.
Footballing ability, achievements, awards and impact were taken into account when selecting the order.
Here are our best of the past 25 years from 30 to 1.
30. SAM MAHONY
(Jervois)
They say looks can be deceiving – none more so than Mahony in the RMFL.
Not blessed with speed or height, the small forward’s cunning football intellect bamboozled many opponents and was an underrated reason Jervois won four flags in a row between 2004 and 2007.
29. JOHN BORAS
(Imperials)
A pure full forward, Boras loved nothing more than crashing packs and kicking snags during his time for the Blues.
Was the RMFL’s back-to-back leading goal-kicker in 2020 and 2021, proving a tough match up for opposition backmen with his clean hands and booming kick.
28. MARK MUELLER
(Mannum)
Severely underrated, Mueller was an inside bull of a midfielder and his tenacity was highly regarded within the four walls of the Roos.
In a Mannum side full of former SANFL stars, Mueller’s strong don’t-argue and deft field kicking was a major reason the green and gold won premierships in 2013 and 2015.
27. ZAC EWER
(Jervois)
A pocket dynamo of a midfielder, Ewer was one of many stars in Jervois’ four-peat of premierships during the 2000s.
Scored a Mail Medal in 2006 and kicked one of the century’s most memorable clutch goals in the dying seconds of the 2007 grand final to hand the Bluds a famous victory against Imperials.
26. JOEL KAY
(Ramblers)
A no-fuss backman, Kay’s ability to play on any opponent while setting up forward attacks with his silky ball-use made him a dangerous weapon for the Roosters.
Claimed BOG honours in Ramblers’ 2010 premiership and was one of the league’s most underrated players throughout his career in the RMFL.
25. CLINT GIRARDI
(Ramblers)
Girardi’s gazelle-like leap and clean set of hands makes him arguably the second best pure full-forward in the competition this century behind Brad Shiell.
Won back-to-back leading goal-kicker awards in 2010 and 2011 and starred in three premierships for the Roosters in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
24. JOSH SCOTT
(Jervois)
A juggernaut in the forward line for the Bluds, Scott is the competition’s most dangerous marksman currently and has taken out the RMFL’s leading goal-kicker twice in the past three seasons.
Already has bagged two flags for the Bluds and remains committed to coming back for more.
23. BRAD WAKEFIELD
(Mannum)
Coming from one of Mannum’s most well-known families, Wakefield became one of the green and gold’s best big men during his career.
As a youngster he was part of the Roos’ incredible 2003 upset flag win over Imperials, before going on to become one of the RMFL’s best ruckman, winning that award back-to-back in 2009 and 2010.
22. LUKE BUTTON
(Ramblers)
With the ability to play key position forward or back, few could match Button’s ability in the air and vice-like grip on the ball. Rivals Tyson Wait as the best interceptor the RMFL has seen this century and took out the league’s best backman award in 2008.
21. MICHAEL O’MALLEY
(Mannum)
A heart-and-soul clubman, O’Malley enjoyed a dynamic junior career for Sturt before returning to his hometown and becoming a mainstay for the best part of 15 years.
With the ability to play both tall and small, the versatile backman has been part of multiple premierships for the Roos and has taken out the RMFL’s best backman award a remarkable four times during his career so far.
20. DANIEL ZADOW
(Mannum, Ramblers)
Nicknamed the ‘Brick with Eyes’, few struck more fear into opponents than Zadow during his playing days.
The tough-as-nails centre-half-back won a Mail Medal for Mannum in 2003 before crossing to Ramblers and inspiring the Roosters to multiple flags, including a BOG grand final performance in 2010.
19. LUKE HARROWFIELD
(Imperials)
In terms of consistency and longevity, few rival Harrowfield this century.
A skilful medium forward with elite football smarts, the man nicknamed ‘Bulldog’ has four premierships with Imperials across a storied 15-year career in the league.
18. RYAN MORRIS
(Ramblers)
Athletically gifted with ball-handling skills to match, Morris started his career as a proficient key backman before transitioning into a star centre-half-forward for the Roosters.
Nailed a Mail Medal in 2007 as a young prodigy, also winning the RMFL’s best under 21 player that season.
Would have figured higher on the list if his work career hadn’t seen him relocate to the Upper Spencer Gulf.
17. TAITE SILVERLOCK
(Jervois)
The former West Adelaide utility has been a major part of the recent success Jervois has had in the RMFL this century.
Has a strong footy brain and can play in a number of roles for the Bluds, using his ability to find the ball and deliver efficiently to teammates.
Boasts an impressive trophy cabinet that includes a Mail Medal, a grand final BOG and three flags for the Bluds.
16. BRODIE MARTIN
(Meningie, Coorong Cats)
The former Adelaide Crows gun returned to his hometown club Meningie after retiring from the AFL to lead the Tigers through a golden period.
Bagged a Mail Medal in 2017 before enjoying premiership success with the amalgamated Coorong Cats in 2024.
15. TYRON HILL
(Jervois)
While Hill’s stay in the RMFL lasted less than a decade before moving to NSW, he had a significant impact in the time he was in the league.
Took out back-to-back RMFL best under 21 players in 2004 and 2005 before exploding in the 2006 grand final, booting five goals in the last half from the midfield to inspire the Bluds to a memorable flag.
14. SAM PFEIFFER
(Ramblers)
One of the best key position defenders the league has seen this century.
Took out the RMFL’s best backman award three times and made life difficult for forward opponents with strong closing speed and Dustin Fletcher-like reach and spoiling ability.
13. BEN GOGEL
(Ramblers, Mypolonga, Imperials)
Somewhat of a journeyman in the RMFL, Gogel boasts the unique feat of claiming premierships with three different clubs – booting 10 majors in Ramblers’ 2012 win and claiming BOG grand final honours for Imperials in 2022.
Gogel started off as a dynamic forward but has morphed into a versatile utility later in his career.
12. BRAD SHIELL
(Imperials)
A goal-kicking freak, Shiell ruled the RMFL from the goal-square during the early 2000s.
The burly full forward was nearly unbeatable one-on-one, kicking the most majors in the competition for five consecutive years between 2001 and 2005 – 531 in total during that period.
11. LIAM O’NEIL
(Ramblers)
A ball magnet with clean hands, O’Neil played in four premierships with the Roosters during his career, while also claiming a Mail Medal 2008. While small in stature, O’Neil’s strong leadership skills lead the Roosters through a golden era between 2008 and 2016.
10. BEN QUINN
(Mannum)
A crafty small forward, Quinn boasted a rare ability to manufacture a goal from anywhere.
With a skillset capable of impacting in the midfield, he bagged a Mail Medal in 2002 while also winning the league’s best under 21 player award in the same season.
Quinn will go down as one of best players in the history of the Mannum Football Club.
9. MARK MARCHETTI
(Mannum, Ramblers)
Starting off his career as a full-forward, Marchetti morphed into one of the classiest midfielders in the competition in the 2000s.
A silky player with a super kick, he won a Mail Medal for Mannum in 2001 before crossing to Ramblers and captaining the Roosters to their first flag in 30 years in 2008.
8. MATT SEYERS
(Imperials)
A powerful physical specimen, Seyers had the ability to win matches off his own boot with his explosive lead and strong hands proving a nightmare for opposition defenders. The gun centre-half-forward won the league’s leading goal-kicker trophy in 2006 and spearheaded the Blues to three premierships throughout a decorated career.
7. TREVOR RIGNEY
(Jervois)
An athletic freak, local SA footy icon Rigney will be remembered in the RMFL as the most exciting and entertaining player to compete in the competition this century.
Possessing a huge leap, Rigney was known for his exhilarating high flying marks and ability to find the goals from anywhere. Topped the league’s goal-kicking in 2008 with 108 majors, to go with a BOG performance in the 2007 grand final.
6. JAKE BOWEN
(Tailem Bend, Mannum)
With a Mail Medal, two premierships and a BOG grand final performance in his trophy cabinet, Bowen will go down as perhaps the best ruckman the league has seen this century.
Initially recruited by Tailem Bend before crossing to Mannum, Bowen took out the league’s best ruckman award five years in a row between 2001 and 2005.
5. GENE ROBINSON
(Mannum, Mypolonga)
One of the most pure set shots the competition has ever seen, Robinson started RMFL life as a gun forward before transitioning into a damaging midfielder.
During a stellar career for Mannum and Mypolonga, ‘Geno’ won the competition’s leading goal-kicking trophy three times. Was a headache for defenders with his speed and footy smarts.
4. JAMES MOSS
(Mypolonga)
A pure centre-half-forward, Moss will go down as one of the greatest players in Mypolonga history.
The boy from the Yorke Peninsula was almost impossible to beat in the air, winning the RMFL’s leading goal-kicker in 2015 and 2019, to go with a BOG performance in the Tigers’ 2019 premiership triumph.
3. BRIAN FENTON
(Meningie)
An aerobic beast, Fenton’s ability to run his opponents off their feet made him a weapon for Meningie during the 2010s.
The dynamic midfielder claimed dual Mail Medals in 2014 and 2016 and inspired the Bears to premiership glory in 2014.
2. TYSON WAIT
(Imperials)
An intercept king, Wait did his best work in defence - although his versatility allowed him to play almost any position on the ground.
A model of consistency, Wait’s supreme ability to read the play allowed him to thwart many opposition attacks throughout his career.
Collected three Mail Medals in 2009, 2011 and 2013, as well as best-on-ground honours in Imperials’ 2011 premiership triumph.
1. MERVYN KARTINYERI
(Tailem Bend, Ramblers)
The man nicknamed ‘the Wizard’ stands head and shoulders over the competition as the league’s best player this century.
With elite agility and ability to read the play, Kartinyeri proved a nightmare for opposition midfielders across a long and storied career for Tailem Bend and then later Ramblers.
Boasts three Mail Medals across his career, including two this century in 2004 and 2005, as well as premierships for both the Eagles and Roosters.
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