Top 35 Yorke Peninsula Football League players of 2024 ranked
The Yorke Peninsula Football League 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 2024. See who made the cut.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Yorke Peninsula Football League has been one of South Australia’s strongest competitions for a number of years and 2024 has again seen a number of stars perform for their clubs.
With the season in full swing, we have consulted YPFL players and officials to rank the top 35 players in the competition in 2024.
Here is our list of the league’s top players ranked from 35 to 1.
35. DYLAN ALDRIDGE
(Moonta)
Arriving back at Moonta in 2023 after a successful period with Proprietary/Risdon in the Spencer Gulf, Aldridge has been a standout for the Demons since.
A strong inside midfielder who also plays up front as a versatile forward, Aldridge can take big marks and boot goals or win a number of contested possessions for his side.
Also a Port Adelaide SANFL player, Aldridge has four goals in his one YPFL game so far this year and would rank higher with more than one appearance under his belt.
34. ABRAHAM HELFAND
(Paskeville)
Helfand has been a standout through the Magpies midfield this year with his ability to win the contested footy and rack up clearances for his side.
Has a best player performance in his three appearances so far and will be one to watch as the season progresses.
33. ANGUS GLAZBROOK
(CMS)
A reliable forward who has improved his great efficiency in front of the big sticks, Glazbrook has been a standout for CMS up front.
The Crows forward provides a consistent target and has 23 goals and two best player appearances to his name in seven games.
32. WILL SCHULTZ
(Kadina)
A smart and strong defender, Schultz has continued to impress for the Bloods in the YPFL.
Reads the play as well as anyone and creates strong contests in the air and at ground level.
Has three best player nods in seven games.
31. BILLY HARRIS
(Bute)
An emerging young gun for Bute, Harris has been an exciting player for the Roosters so far this season.
A versatile player who can provide valuable run and carry and deliver the ball efficiently to teammates, Harris has five best player nods and two goals in his eight games.
30. TYLER NIELD
(Paskeville)
A fast mid and forward who has a booming left boot, Nield has played a key role for Paskeville yet again in 2024.
Despite playing just four of eight games, Nield has been an impactful player for his club this year, tallying three goals and a best player performance.
29. 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 24 goals and two best player appearances in his seven games this year and kicked nine against Ardrossan in round eight.
28. TOM SCHOTT
(CMS)
A talented midfielder for CMS Crows, Schott is off to a strong start in 2024.
Schott is a hard-running and efficient player who is always a threat in front of goal.
Has two best player nods and eight majors in his six games this year.
27. OLIVER MULLINS
(Moonta)
Mullins has been a star defender for Moonta through recent seasons and is on track for another strong campaign.
An SA Country Championships representative last year, Mullins can lock down forwards and cut off a number of attacks with his ability to read the play.
Has three best player nods in seven games.
26. 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 three goals and two best player mentions in six games.
25. WESLEY GOLDSMITH
(Southern Eagles)
A talented player on the ball who always makes the right decisions and executes under pressure, Goldsmith has been one of the standouts for Southern Eagles so far this year as the club makes a charge for top spot.
Has five best player nods and two goals in seven games.
24. MATT BARLOW
(Southern Eagles)
Barlow is a rangy defensive utility who hits contests hard in the air or on the ground, can lock down opposition key forwards or move up front to kick goals.
Coming off of a strong 2023 season, the Eagles gun has already had an impact this year with strong marking and efficient ball-use.
Has 11 goals and four best player nods in seven games.
23. CHARLIE DOWLING
(Ardrossan)
A talented midfielder who joined the club from St Peter’s OC during the 2024 pre-season, Dowling has been a star for Ardrossan.
Dowling is a hard runner who competes fearlessly inside and wins plenty of the ball for the Kangaroos.
Has four best player mentions and four goals in seven games.
22. JAMIE WEGENER
(Southern Eagles)
Joining Southern Eagles from Gawler Central in the 2023 pre-season, Wegener has provided grit and determination on the ball for the Eagles.
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 three goals and five best player appearances in seven games so far.
21. FINN BETTERMAN
(CMS)
The former Glenelg midfielder and PHOS Camden captain joined the Crows after another standout season with the Phantoms last year and has been a force for his new club.
A tireless player through the middle who takes strong marks and is a ball magnet.
Has played just three games but been named among his side’s best in all three and has also kicked three goals.
20. JONTE HUNTER-PRICE
(Wallaroo)
A superstar ruck in the YPFL this season, Hunter-Price continues to impress for Wallaroo.
Hunter-Price often dominates ruck contests to give his midfielders first use and also does damage around the ground as a hardworking big man with reliable skills.
Has five best player mentions and a goal in six games.
19. JACKSON HOOPER
(Southern Eagles)
Hooper has made a major splash in the YPFL since arriving from the Hills last season.
The former Bridgewater-Callington star and 2021 HFL Mail Medallist is a running machine who wins and distributes the ball at an efficient rate.
Hooper has six goals and three best player nods in his seven games so far this season.
18. 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 and has three goals so far in 2023.
17. CIARAN HOLLINGWORTH-HUGHES
(Central Yorke)
Joining Central Yorke from West Whyalla last season, Hollingworth-Hughes has been one of the top performers in the competition so far in 2024.
The former Port Adelaide player is a workhorse through the middle with reliable skills who sets his teammates up with efficient disposal.
Has five best player nods and three goals in seven games for the Cougars.
16. ALISTAIR PRICE
(Paskeville)
A versatile star of the YPFL, Price has been a standout for Paskeville so far this season.
Price is a key back with strong marking ability who can also move up front and have an impact on the scoreboard.
Has four best player mentions and four goals in six games, including a three-goal performance against Wallaroo.
15. BEN NASH
(Bute)
Former SMOSH West Lakes man has Nash has improved on his 2023 output for Bute, dominating inside and out for the Roosters.
A hardworking player on the ball who wins high numbers of contested possessions and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has six goals and five best player nods in eight games.
14. MALCOLM KARPANY
(Moonta)
One of the top players in the YPFL through a number of years and the best player on the park during Moonta’s winning 2022 grand final.
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 a goal and a best player performance in his three appearances so far this season.
13. SAM PFEIFFER
(Ardrossan)
A former key defender at state country level, Pfeiffer has become a versatile and reliable player for Ardrossan.
The club’s playing-coach this season, 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 four goals and four best player performances in seven games.
12. MURPHY SHORT
(CMS)
Short has only played two games this YPFL season so far but the Port Adelaide SANFL League player still remains among the league’s best.
A skilled midfielder who can dominate in the contest and can also hit the scoreboard on occasion, Short possesses elite skills by hand and foot and has been named his side’s best in one of his two games so far.
Would be ranked significantly higher with more appearances under his belt.
11. DYLAN MANSELL
(Moonta)
A consistent star for Moonta through a number of seasons, Mansell has been a standout for the Demons to start his 2024 campaign.
Mansell is a smart defender who reads the play as well as anyone, takes a high number of intercept marks and distributes efficiently to his teammates.
Has six best player mentions and a goal in seven games.
10. 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 time 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 seven games so far in 2024.
9. JOSH HOYLE
(CMS)
Hoyle has started his 2024 campaign in great form after a strong 2023 season for CMS Crows.
Has no issue getting his hands dirty in the contest to win the footy and distribute to teammates and also applies strong tackle pressure through four quarters.
Has four best player performances in seven games for the league’s top side.
8. JOSH KOSTER
(Bute)
Arriving from South Mildura ahead of the 2024 season, Koster has provided a major boost in the Roosters midfield.
The former Glenelg man is a tough player in the contest who wins plenty of the footy and can also boot goals when up front.
Has eight majors and five best player nods in eight games.
7. JAKE WESTBROOK
(Kadina)
Westbrook has been dominant so far in season 2024 after only playing nine games for the Bloods in 2023.
The former Woodville-West Torrens and Port Adelaide player has fit Kadina’s line-up like a glove and has often taken control of games as a tough inside player.
Has seven best player nods and three goals in seven games.
6. 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 four goals in seven games so far.
5. TYLER ANDREWS
(Moonta)
Andrews has again solidified himself as one of the league’s top names during the 2024 season. A strong player who is a tireless worker both in the middle and up front and can dominate the contest in either position.
Has four best player nods and 16 goals in seven games.
4. 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 decisions.
Has six best player nods in his seven 2024 games.
3. NATHAN ALLEN
(Southern Eagles)
Southern Eagles’ captain has been at his best through 2024 so far.
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.
Can also have an impact in front of the big sticks, with five goals to go along with seven best player nods in seven games.
2. RYLEY MAITLAND
(Moonta)
A superstar for Moonta last season, Maitland is putting together another terrific campaign for the Demons.
The fierce onballer always attacks the contest 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 and also has four goals.
1. LUKE TRENORDEN
(Central Yorke)
The reigning YPFL Mail Medallist, Trenorden has been at the top of his game to start the 2024 season.
A star ruck/forward utility who can have a big impact in either position, the Cougars playing-coach is a strong and athletic player who takes big grabs and can boot bags of goals.
Has four best player performances and 16 goals in seven games and has been a major part of Central Yorke’s strong start to the season.
Rostrevor rocks the Hawks: 10 things we learned in local SA footy
A revitalised Adelaide Footy League power has topped off a strong season with an upset premiership win. See the 10 things we learned in local SA footy’s country and suburban finals action over the weekend.
Read more
REPLAYS: Queensland crowned First Nations netball champions
Sienna Wilson hit a perfect 32 from 32 but it wasn’t enough as the Maroons kept their nerve under pressure to take the title honmours in the inaugural tournament. Check out the REPLAYS.
Read more