Top 25 Adelaide Plains Football League players of the 21st Century ranked
The Adelaide Plains Football League has been stacked with top talent throughout this century so we’ve ranked the best of the best. See our top 25 players of the past 25 years.
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The Adelaide Plains Football League has been stacked with top SA country footy talent for decades.
With the help of league insiders, we’ve ranked our top 25 players of the past 25 years with season 2025 just around the corner.
Footballing ability, achievements, awards and impact were taken into account when making selections.
Players with just one season in the competition were ruled ineligible.
Here is our list from 25 to 1.
25. JOEL WILSON
(Hummocks Watchman Eagles)
A gun for HWE through the 2000s.
Wilson was a dominant midfielder who could fill a number of roles and produce in the biggest games.
Won the Mail Medal in 1999 and had a number of big years through the early 21st Century.
24. CRAIG TAYLOR
(Hamley Bridge, Balaklava)
Taylor produced some strong years for both the Bombers and Peckers during his time in the APFL.
A hardworking player through the contest with a big tank and clean skills, Taylor could help his team in a number of ways.
Won the 2013 league medal with Hamley Bridge.
23. BRAD VALENTINE
(Hummocks Watchman Eagles)
A multiple time premiership star with HWE.
Valentine was a dominant utility who could win important possessions, take strong marks and distribute well.
Won multiple flags with the Eagles through the 2000s.
22. TYRELL HOCKING
(Two Wells)
Hocking was a standout during his time with the Roosters.
A skilled and versatile player who could dominate games through the middle with his ability to find the ball and distribute efficiently.
Won the league medal in 2019 and is a premiership player with the club.
21. TODD MILES
(Hamley Bridge)
Miles will go down as a club legend at Hamley Bridge.
First starting his career as a wing/half-back, Miles can play any role needed as a valuable utility with great overhead and ground skills and reliable distribution.
Won the 2004 premiership with the Bombers and has been dominant in the competition since returning in recent years.
20. BRIAN MONTGOMERY
(Mallala)
A talented utility for Mallala, Montgomery has starred through a number of years for the Magpies.
Has the ability to take over a game up front with his overhead prowess and goalkicking and can also create for others.
Has won multiple flags with the Magpies and kicked over 500 goals.
19. JASON EARL
(Mallala)
A Mallala legend, Earl sits comfortably among the best this century.
A hard and tough player who attacked the footy courageously and always made smart decisions, Earl boasted top drawer hand and foot skills.
Led the club to a number of successes as a multiple best and fairest.
18. GARY WEHR
(Balaklava)
A Balaklava champion, Wehr ranks among the APFL’s best of the past 25 years.
A reliable player on or behind the ball, Wehr was a smart distributor for the Peckers and won plenty of the footy.
Won the Mail Medal in 2003 and was a premiership player with the club.
17. JARRED ALLMOND
(United)
The former Woodville-West Torrens premiership player and North Adelaide player has been one of the competition’s top players since joining United as playing-coach.
One of the most skilled players in the APFL, Allmond finds plenty of the footy, deals to teammates with creative disposal and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has made two teams of the year in two seasons and has been unlucky not to claim a Mail Medal.
16. WILL PAYNTER
(Mallala)
Former Sturt, Adelaide, Meningie and Adelaide Uni gun Will Paynter has been a star for Mallala in the APFL.
A supremely skilled and athletic player in the contest who can do it all, Paynter has been one of the top players of the competition in recent years.
Has been among the best players in the competition and a best and fairest through the past five seasons.
15. JAKOB THOMSON
(Two Wells)
A machine in the ruck and up front for Two Wells, Thomson has been unstoppable in his two seasons with the Roosters.
Thomson has the ability to give his midfielders first look with great tap work, can move around the ground and take big marks and can also impact the game up front as a dominant key forward.
Has won two consecutive flags with the Roosters and won the 2024 Mail Medal.
14. NATHAN SCHUBERT
(United)
A star for United throughout the 2000s.
Schubert’s work in the contest with the ability to win big possessions for the Tigers and deliver efficiently made him one of the best in the competition.
Won the 2002 Mail Medal and led the Tigers to a premiership in the same season.
13. LUKE SLATTERY
(Hamley Bridge)
A 100-gamer with Port Adelaide in the SANFL, Slattery was dominant for Hamley Bridge during the 2000s.
A workhorse around the ground with top drawer hand and foot skills, Slattery could take over games for the Bombers and win them single handedly.
Won the 2004 league medal and helped the club to a premiership in the same season.
12. TODD THORNE
(Mallala)
One of the competition’s top players in the 90s, Thorne was also a standout through the 2000s.
A star leader for the Magpies who won plenty of important possessions for his side and damaged with his creative disposal.
Won two league medals int he 90s before winning another in 2004 while helping the club to multiple flags.
11. MATTHEW YOUNG
(Virginia)
One of Virginia’s top players this century.
A skilled and classy player around the ground for the Rams, Young had no trouble taking over games for his side and leading it to major successes.
Won the 2008 Mail Medal and was a key force in Virginia’s 2015 premiership.
10. CALEB EDMEAD
(Two Wells)
The star playing-coach of the Roosters, Edmead has been a force in the competition.
A crafty and athletic plater who is strong overhead and a reliable set shot, Edmead has the ability to win endless contests up front and boot bags of majors for Two Wells.
Has won four premierships with the club and led it to three in a row as playing-coach from 2022-2024.
9. HEATH PYM
(United)
A longtime star for the Tigers, Pym comfortably sits among the competition’s best of the 21st Century.
Pym is a strong player who covers ground well, wins the contested footy, deals to teammates with precision and makes game-winning plays.
Won the Mail Medal in 2013 and has been in multiple teams of the year.
8. BRENDAN NIKLAUS
(Virginia)
An unstoppable goalkicker for the Rams at his best, Niklaus ranks as one of the best forwards in APFL history.
Quick off the mark, powerful on the lead with a strong set of hands, Niklaus dominated countless games for Virginia and led the club to major success.
Booted nearly 1,000 goals and kicked a huge 136 in 18 games during season 2015 while also helping the Rams to a flag in the same year.
7. LUKE BARNETT
(Two Wells)
A dominant and versatile player for Two Wells, Barnett has been one of the standouts of the competition this century.
Barnett has dominated on the ball and up front with his ability to win the contested footy or overwhelm defenders with his physicality and athleticism and hit the scoreboard.
Won the 2021 league medal and has been part of five flags with the Roosters, including four straight from 2021-2024.
6. LACHLAN MICHAEL
(Balaklava)
Michael has been a force for Balaklava for over a decade.
A big-bodied midfielder who can do a job around the ground, Michael’s ability to find the ball, take strong marks, distribute efficiently and create goals for his teammates makes him a dominant player.
Won the 2022 Mail Medal and also helped the Peckers to a flag in 2011.
5. JOEL MONTGOMERIE
(Mallala)
One of the competition’s toughest players, Montgomerie will go down as one of Mallala’s greatest players.
A strong and skilled player through the midfield, Montgomerie boasted a big tank and often took over games with his ability to win the footy and damage with his distribution.
Won the league medal in 2012 and multiple flags with the Magpies.
4. HAYDEN WALKER
(Balaklava)
A dual Mail Medallist for Balaklava, Walker has been one of the major stars of the APFL.
Walker was a tireless worker in the contest for the Peckers, doing the dirty work for his side to win important possessions and deal to teammates with crafty disposal.
Won the 2006 and 2010 medals and was dominant for Balaklava during the club’s 2011 premiership run.
3. JORDAN CLEMENTS
(Mallala)
Clements has been a star for the Magpies and ranks among the top APFL players this century.
A workhorse around the ground who finds the footy for fun and disposes efficiently by hand and foot, Clements can take over a game for his side.
Won two league medals in 2017 and 2o18 and helped the Magpies to two flags in 2013 and 2016.
2. NED SECCAFIEN
(Two Wells)
Seccafien has been dominant through a long period of time for the Roosters.
A versatile player who can dominate on the ball and in a number of other roles around the ground when needed, Seccafien is a strong and skilled asset for Two Wells who can do damage in multiple ways.
Wont he 2015 Mail Medal and has won a total of seven premierships in the APFL.
1. LIAM WHITWELL
(Mallala)
A force for Mallala throughout his time in the competition, Whitwell boasts one of the most impressive APFL resumes.
Whitwell was a dominant player on the ball who won plenty of the contested footy, dealt to teammates with precision, laid big tackles and helped to create important goals.
Won two league medals, five premierships including three as captain and a number of club best and fairests.
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