The Yorke Peninsula Football League’s top 35 players of 2023 ranked
The YPFL season is in full swing and has featured some of SA country’s best footballers, so we’ve ranked the top players in the competition in 2023. See who made the cut.
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The Yorke Peninsula Football League has been one of South Australia’s strongest competition for a number of years and 2023 has again seen a number of stars perform for their clubs.
With the season in full swing, The Messenger has consulted YPFL players and officials to rank the top 35 players in the competition in 2023.
Reigning premier Moonta leads the way for representation with seven players, while Kadina sits just behind with six.
Here is our list of the league’s top players ranked from 35 to 1.
35. ANGUS GLAZBROOK
(CMS)
A reliable forward who has improved his efficiency in front of the big sticks this season, Glazbrook has been a standout for CMS up front.
The Crows forward provides a consistent target and has 21 goals and four best player appearances to his name in seven games.
34. JACK TRENORDEN
(Bute)
Bute’s captain, Trenorden has led by example throughout his time at the club and this season has been no different as his side challenges for finals.
A workhorse through the middle, Trenorden has four best player nods in his first six appearances this year and should continue to standout for his team.
33. NICK WESTHOFF
(Wallaroo)
Westhoff has been a standout for Wallaroo since arriving from Tailem Bend in the River Murray FL.
Has been playing as a forward and big midfielder while pinch-hitting in the ruck for his new club and has 11 goals in eight games to go with his three best player nods.
32. BRODIE PAIGE
(Paskeville)
A reliable onballer who does best work inside the contest, Paige remains one of Paskeville’s most damaging players.
The gun Magpie is a tireless midfielder who loves fighting for the contested ball and accumulates possessions with ease.
Has been named among his side’s best in all seven of his performances this year.
31. ADAM JOLLY
(CMS)
One of the Yorke Peninsula’s great goalkickers, Jolly has seemingly been back to his best this season and has hit the scoreboard with ease.
A crafty forward who knows his way around the big sticks, Jolly has 19 goals in six games and has been named among the Crows’ best three times.
30. RYAN PHILLIPS
(Bute)
A consistent performer for Edwardstown in division three of the Adelaide Footy League last season, Phillips has starred for Bute so far this year.
An athletic centre-half forward, Phillips often moves up the ground and takes strong contested grabs to spark his team.
Has nine goals and four best player performances in seven games.
29. LACHIE POINTON
(CMS)
Pointon has been on a tear to start this season for the Crows and should play an important part in any finals run the side puts together.
An evasive and nimble wingman who can also play up front, Pointon rarely wastes a kick with his reliable left foot.
Has five goals and six best player nods in seven games so far.
28. TYLER NIELD
(Paskeville)
A fast mid and forward who has a booming left boot, Nield looks set to play a key role for Paskeville yet again in 2023.
Nield has already been as impactful as anyone for his club this year, tallying four goals and two best player performances.
27. MATT BARLOW
(Southern Eagles)
Barlow is a rangy centre-half back who hits contests hard in the air or on the ground and can lock down opposition key forwards.
Coming off of a strong 2022 season, the Eagles gun has already had an impact this year with strong marking and rebound attacks.
26. JAYSON MANNERS
(Kadina)
Manners is both a solid midfielder and a valuable half-forward for Kadina and has been one of the club’s most effective leaders in recent years.
A workhorse who creates for his teammates in the middle and up front, Manners always performs in big games and will be valuable in this season’s finals campaign.
25. JAKE COOK
(CMS)
Explosive around the ball and a player who can provide run on the outside, Jake Cook has remained one of the Crows’ best players this year.
Cook does his best work on the wing and can either damage sides with his penetrating left boot or move up the ground to hit the scoreboard.
Has five goals and six best player mentions in seven games.
24. RYAN WEIDENHOFER
(Southern Eagles)
A medium size forward who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck for the Eagles, Weidenhofer has started brilliantly in 2023.
A strong player on the lead and a big focal point for his side up front, he has 23 goals and five best player appearances in his seven games this year.
23. JOEL AMBJERG-PEDERSEN
(Central Yorke)
A superstar for Southern Flinders last year, Ambjerg-Pedersen has been a top player for Central Yorke since joining the YPFL in 2023.
A versatile player who can either produce through the middle or move up front and bag goals or create for teammates.
Has eight goals and four best player performances in seven games.
22. JAMIE WEGENER
(Southern Eagles)
Joining Southern Eagles from Gawler Central in the pre-season, Wegener has provided grit and determination on the ball for his new club.
The former Central District junior is one of the most courageous mids in the league and can win tight games off of his own back.
Has six goals and five best player appearances in seven games so far.
21. JACKSON HOOPER
(Southern Eagles)
Another key midfield recruit next to Wegner for the Eagles, Hooper has made a major splash in the YPFL since arriving from the Hills.
The former Bridgewater-Callington star and 2021 Mail Medallist is a running machine who wins and distributes the ball at an efficient rate.
Hooper has four goals and six best player nods in his seven YPFL games.
20. CHARLIE HAY
(Central Yorke)
Hay can be damaging on the inside and outside of the contest and has put together his best start to a Central Yorke season so far.
The smooth-moving midfielder has the ability to push forward and hit the scoreboard and is also an unselfish player who can cover the ground as well as any.
Has seven goals and four best player mentions in his seven games this season.
19. AIDAN TURNER
(Moonta)
A nimble midfielder who is among the YPFL’s best at winning contested footy, Turner has been a weapon for the Demons so far this year.
While his prowess in the middle has been well-known across the league, Turner has also showed the ability to boot goals, kicking six this season to go along with three best player nods so far.
Has also represented Port Adelaide at SANFL level this season.
18. HENRY BRUCE
(Kadina)
Joining Kadina after a standout 2022 Hills FL season with Mount Barker, Bruce has provided a major boost in the middle of the park.
A strong inside player for the Bloods who is strong on his feet and tough to tackle, Bruce has hit the scoreboard for six goals in his seven games so far this season and has also been named among his side’s best three times.
17. PATRICK NEAL-BULLEN
(Southern Eagles)
Brother of Melbourne AFL premiership player Alex Neal-Bullen, Patrick has been a consistent halfback and midfielder at southern Eagles after joining from Sacred Heart OC.
An efficient user who can open teams up with his damaging boot, Neal-Bullen has two goals and two best player performances so far this year.
16. MATT APPLETON
(Moonta)
Appleton has one of the YPFL’s best footy brains, having played with both North Adelaide and Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
A skilled onballer who always seems to find himself in space and with plenty of time with ball in hand, Appleton barely wastes a possession for his side.
Has been among his side’s best in three of his six appearances so far in 2023.
15. SAM PFEIFFER
(Ardrossan)
A former key defender at state country level, Pfeiffer has become a versatile and reliable player for Ardrossan.
Pfeiffer can produce at a high level as a centre-half back or centre-half forward, competing well in the air and creating for teammates with ball in hand.
Has two goals and six best player mentions in six games.
14. KIERAN YAKAS
(Moonta)
Yakas is considered one of the best ruckmen in the competition and has been top drawer for Moonta yet again this year.
The big man is a strong athlete and a tireless competitor and often proves a tough matchup for the opposition due to his unorthodox style of play.
Has five goals and two best player nods in his six games this year.
13. JACK ELSWORTHY
(Kadina)
Elsworthy has experience with both South Adelaide and Port Adelaide at SANFL level and has been a consistent producer for Kadina in the YPFL.
A small and clever halfback who can also play midfield, Elsworthy is one of the best distributors in the competition and always makes the right decision.
Has five best player nods in his seven 2023 games.
12. DYLAN ALDRIDGE
(Moonta)
Arriving back at Moonta after a successful period with Proprietary/Risdon in the Spencer Gulf, Aldridge has been a force so far in 2023.
A strong inside midfielder who also plays up front as a versatile forward, Aldridge started this season on fire, booting 11 goals in the Demons’ round one matchup with CMS.
Aldridge has 16 goals in his five games so far.
11. ZAC BATES
(Central Yorke)
The former Geelong and West Adelaide gun has been one of the Cougars’ most damaging players with his lethal leg speed and reliable left foot.
Bates plays both midfield and halfback and has been one of the YPFL’s most potent players with ball in hand.
Has six best player nods and five goals in seven games so far.
10. LUKE TRENORDEN
(Central Yorke)
A star ruck who can also play up front, Trenorden has arguably been Central Yorke’s best player so far this season.
Trenorden provides a big presence in the contest or in the forwardline and has the ability to take a number of strong contested marks in each outing.
Has six goals and four best player mentions in his seven games.
9. GILES ELLIS
(Kadina)
Ellis is one of the Bloods’ most versatile players, performing consistently as a midfielder who can also have an impact off of halfback.
The multiple state country representative has impressive leg speed and has remained one of the best distributors in the YPFL.
Ellis has five goals and four best player mentions in his six games so far in 2023.
8. MALCOLM KARPANY
(Moonta)
One of the top players in the YPFL last season and the best player on the park during Moonta’s winning 2022 grand final, Karpany has picked up from where he left off this year.
The former West Coast and South Adelaide player has been dominant as a halfback and midfielder, winning contested ball and setting up his teammates with elite distribution.
Karpany has five goals and four best player performances in his five appearances so far this season.
7. JARRAD REDDEN
(Southern Eagles)
A star triple premiership player with Woodville-West Torrens, Redden’s arrival at Southern Eagles has made the club a legit contender in 2023.
Redden is a mobile big who consistently dominates in the ruck and can also play up front and provide a strong target in front of goal.
Has 11 goals and four best player nods in seven games so far.
6. NATHAN ALLEN
(Southern Eagles)
Southern Eagles’ captain has been at his best through 2023 after a terrific 2022 campaign.
A strong, big bodied midfielder known for his courage in the contest, Allen is an excellent distributer by hand and leads by example each week.
Has four goals and five best player mentions in his seven games so far.
5. ANGUS POOLE
(Kadina)
Poole has been a contested possession machine since joining Kadina with former Woodville-West Torrens Eagles teammate Jake Von Bertouch at the start of last season.
The dual SANFL premiership player remains one of the best runners in the YPFL and dominates as an inside mid.
Poole can also hit the scoreboard, kicking eight goals to go along with five best player mentions in his six games.
4. JAKE VON BERTOUCH
(Kadina)
Arguably the best centre half-forward in SA country footy, Von Bertouch has starred during his second season for Kadina.
A hard working forward with a strong set of hands and an elite kick for goal, the Woodville-West Torrens 130-gamer has been a nightmare matchup for Yorke Peninsula defenders.
Von Bertouch has booted 31 goals in his seven games this year and tallied four best player mentions.
3. TYLER ANDREWS
(Moonta)
Currently leading the YPFL in goalkicking with 33 majors to his name through seven games, Andrews has again solidified himself as one of the league’s top names.
Andrews plays both in the middle and up front and can dominate the contest in either position.
Almost unstoppable one-on-one, Andrews recently booted nine goals against Wallaroo and also had a seven-goal performance against Paskeville.
2. RYLEY MAITLAND
(Moonta)
The Eastern Eyre FL medallist in 2021, Maitland has been a sensational pick-up for the Demons through 2022 and in 2023 so far.
The fierce onballer always attacks the ball with courage and is one of the best in the competition at getting his arms free to distribute the footy.
Maitland has been named among Moonta’s best in all seven of his appearances this season.
1. MURPHY SHORT
(CMS)
The winner of the last two Yorke Peninsula FL Mail Medals, Short has started the 2023 season in sensational form for CMS Crows.
A skilled midfielder who can dominate in the contest and can also hit the scoreboard on occasion, Short has been named his side’s best in all four of his appearances so far and has kicked two goals.
Has also represented Port Adelaide at SANFL League level this season, playing four games for the Magpies so far.
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