Top 25 Hills Football League players of the 21st Century ranked
The Hills Football League has been stacked with top talent throughout this century so we’ve ranked the best of the best. See our top 25 Division One players of the past 25 years.
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The Hills Football League has been stacked with top 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. ADAM KLUN
(Onkaparinga Valley)
Onkaparinga Valley’s only Mail Medallist this century, Klun remains a club legend and a big name in the HFL.
A workhorse around the ground who competed hard in the contest, took strong marks, laid big tackles and could kick goals.
Is a multiple-time club best and fairest and has recently become a highly regarded coach.
24. MATTHEW COOPER
(Hahndorf)
Also a SANFL player for Sturt, Cooper had a Mail Medal year in 1998 but would follow up the feat in 2000 for Hahndorf.
A dominant player who could produce in various roles, Cooper boasted clean hand and foot skills and a high footy IQ.
Returned to Hahndorf from the SANFL in the later 2000s and produced further impressive seasons.
23. TOM HUGHES
(Mt Barker)
A Mail Medal winner in 2013 and a premiership player in 2012, Hughes has been one of Mt Barker’s top players this century.
Hughes has been a courageous midfielder for the Roos who loves the contest, winning hard ball and can damage opposition with his ability to find teammates in any position.
22. TYSON HONE
(Mt Lofty)
Hone has only played just over two seasons for the Devils but has already produced some of the top individual seasons the HFL has seen in recent years.
A tireless worker around the ground who can pick opponents apart on the ball, Hone has no issue doing the dirty work for his side while also remaining a goal threat.
Won the 2024 Mail Medal after a spectacular season.
21. PETER BAMPTON
(Lobethal)
The former Norwood gun has starred for Lobethal since joining in 2022.
A dominant midfielder who can also move up front to hit the scoreboard, Bampton applies strong tackle pressure, covers ground well and wins his own footy before distributing with efficiency.
Was one of his side’s best in its 2022 premiership win over Hahndorf and remains a force in the competition.
20. TROY PARKER-BOERS
(Hahndorf)
One of Hahndorf’s most consistent players throughout the club’s period of dominance.
Parker-Boers is hard and relentless at the contest, uses the ball efficiently and always seems to make the right decisions.
Is an SA Country representative and has been part of four Magpies premierships.
19. TROY EDWARDS
(Blackwood)
One of Blackwood’s top players this century.
Edwards is a multiple best and fairest for the club who racked up high disposal counts each week in the contest through his tough approach and cut up opposition with his disposal.
Won the 2014 Mail Medal and helped Blackwood to a flag in 2017.
18. AIDAN RILEY
(Lobethal)
Former Crow Aidan Riley only played three seasons with Lobethal but managed to lead the Tigers to a historic premiership as playing-coach during that period.
A versatile weapon who could play any role his team needed, Riley could take over a game with his ball-winning ability, tough tackle pressure and elite disposal.
Led the Tigers to a dramatic premiership win over Hahndorf in 2022 to break a 20-year drought.
17. DANIEL ROBERTS
(Hahndorf)
Also among the top Adelaide Footy League players of the century, Roberts has been a force for Hahndorf in the HFL.
A top ruck utility in the competition, Roberts is a skilled and athletic player who often gives midfielders silver service, covers ground well, takes strong marks and kicks goals.
Has played a key part in five premiership wins for the Magpies and been a standout performer in each victory.
16. MATT TUCK
(Blackwood)
A champion footballer for Blackwood, Tuck has consistently been a standout in the HFL through the past decade.
One of the competition’s top players through the middle, Tuck racks up disposals for fun, damages opposition with his use and can also kick important goals.
Won the 2020 Mail Medal with Blackwood and was also a key part of the club’s 2017 premiership.
15. DEAN TERLICH
(Uraidla Districts)
Former Melbourne and Norwood gun Terlich played three seasons with Uraidla Districts as playing-coach and was comfortably one of the competition’s best and most talented throughout that stretch.
A powerful and versatile player who could dominate for the Demons in the midfield as a ball-winner and distributor, move up front to take big marks and kick goals or behind the ball for extra security.
Led the Demons to deep finals runs as playing-coach and was consistently among the top vote getters in the medal.
14. SAM HAYDEN
(Hahndorf)
The former Sturt man has been a machine around the ground since returning to Hahndorf and has been a key part of the club’s rein over the HFL.
Hayden is a big-bodied player who can slot in through the middle or behind the ball with his ability to win the ball in the air or at ground level and damage with his disposal.
Has been a best and fairest for Hahndorf and has played in four flags for the Magpies.
13. SIMON MCCORMICK
(Blackwood)
One of the competition’s standout players in the 2000s and 2010s, McCormick has arguably been Blackwood’s best this century.
A tough midfielder who covered ground as well as anyone in the HFL, won plenty of his own footy and damaged opposition with his distribution.
Won the Mail Medal in 2010 and also claimed four consecutive club best and fairests.
12. SAM CALLINS
(Mt Barker)
One of the top players in SA country footy in recent seasons, Mt Barker star Callins has been one of the HFL’s best this century.
A strong runner who finds plenty of the footy, distributes well, creates for his forwards and lays a number of big tackles each week.
Callins won the 2022 Mail Medal and is a multiple-time club best and fairest and SA Country representative.
11. ADAM TRZESINSKI
(Mt Lofty)
A Mt Lofty legend, Trzesinski has undoubtedly been one of the HFL’s best of the 21st Century.
A skilled player with the ability to win the footy, deal to teammates with precision or break the lines with explosive movement and speed.
Split the 2006 Mail Medal With Adam Klun, won multiple club best and fairests and was one of his side’s top players during two Devils premiership wins in 2007 and 2008.
10. DAMIEN KING
(Lobethal)
A star half-forward/midfield utility, King put together a number of starring seasons for Lobethal through the 2000s.
The former Norwood man was a tough and skilled player who could take big marks, deliver with ease around the ground and boot important goals.
Won six club best and fairests between 2000 and 2007 and was a key part of the Tigers’ premiership run in 2002.
9. SAM WILLIAMS
(Hahndorf)
Hahndorf’s captain through the club’s period of dominance over the competition over the past decade.
A strong and powerful player who can tear a game apart on the ball and also have an impact in a number of other roles through his marking ability, tackle pressure and distribution.
Has led the Magpies to seven premierships between 2015-2024 and has been a key performer in grand finals as well as a club best and fairest.
8. NICK AMATO
(Uraidla Districts)
Dominating the competition as soon as he arrived after time with Glenelg and North Adelaide in 2017, Amato has been one of the major standouts in the HFL this century.
A dangerous utility who can do major damage up front with his supreme sills and goal sense or dominate on the ball by winning his own footy and finding teammates while under pressure.
Won the 2017 Mail Medal for the Demons and has been among the very best in the league every year since.
7. SAM MILES
(Mt Lofty, Bridgewater-Callington)
One of Mt Lofty’s greatest players, Devils star Miles has been one of the top HFL names this century.
An athletic and powerful player on the ball, Miles can take over a game with his ability to find the footy and create for teammates efficiently while under pressure.
Claimed the Mail Medal in 2018 and has won a number of club best and fairests.
6. MATTHEW JAENSCH
(Hahndorf, Bridgewater-Callington)
A superstar who has represented both Hahndorf and Bridgewater-Callington in the Hills FL since his time with the Crows, Jaensch has been dominant in recent seasons.
A skilled halfback who can also be injected into the middle or along the wing, Jaensch provides valuable run and carry and has been one of the best kicks in the competition through his career.
Has been an important part of six premierships for the Magpies.
5. SIMON EBERT
(Uraidla Districts)
One of Uraidla Districts’ greatest players, Ebert dominated in the Hills Football League for a number of seasons for the Demons.
A tireless worker around the ground who accumulated the footy for fun, Ebert could tear opposition apart with his quick decisions, efficient delivery and ability to hit the scoreboard.
Won the 2007 Mail Medal, was a multiple time club best and fairest and won five premierships with the Demons in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.
4. SIMON NUNAN
(Mt Barker)
A dual Mail Medallist with Mt Barker, Nunan had a major impact for the Roos throughout the 2000s.
Eventually tallying over 400 senior games for his club, Nunan was almost impossible to stop at his best, taking over games with his contested footy ability, powerful run and precise disposal and goalkicking.
Won the league medal in 2005 and 2008 and was part of four Roos flags in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2012.
3. DAVID MURPHY
(Mt Barker)
A legend of the Mt Barker Football Club, Murphy comfortably sits among the HFL’s top players this century.
One of the most skilled players in the competition in his day, Murphy could win his fair share of the footy, find teammates with efficient disposal by hand or foot and also create goals.
Won two Mail Medals with the Roos in 2001 and 2003 and multiple flags through the 2000s.
2. DARCY HOURIGAN
(Hahndorf, Nairne Bremer)
One of local SA footy’s great goalkickers, Hourigan has dominated the HFL throughout the 21st Century.
A strong, explosive and skilled key forward who covers ground well, takes strong marks, creates for teammates and boots bags of goals.
Eclipsed 100 goals in three separate seasons for Hahndorf and Nairne Bremer, won three premierships with the Magpies and led the Rams to their first top division flag with a 115-goal season in 2023.
1. SCOTT PURLING
(Hahndorf)
Nicknamed ‘the GOAT’ for good reason at Hahndorf, Purling has put together one of the great Hills Football League careers.
A superstar centre-half back for the Magpies through nearly 300 A Grade games, Purling has been one of the competition’s smartest players with the ability to read the play better than anyone, lock down top forwards, take strong marks and distribute efficiently.
Has won six A Grade flags with Hahndorf and has been either best on ground or among the best in every grand final he has played.
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