Top 40 Hills Football League players of 2024 ranked
Who are the best amateur footballers plying their trade in the Adelaide Hills? We’ve ranked division one’s 40 best players this season. See who made the cut.
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The Hills Football League has been one of SA’s top country footy competitions for a number of years and has no shortage of star players.
With the help of coaches and league insiders, we’ve ranked the top 40 players in the competition for 2024.
Undefeated powerhouse Hahndorf had the most names with eight players listed, while reigning premier Nairne Bremer and contender Mt Lofty had six players each.
Players who had not played at least five games were ruled ineligible.
Here is our list from no. 40 to 1.
Stay tuned for the top 35 Hills Football League Country Division players next Wednesday.
40. ZAC VENNING
(Blackwood)
Venning has emerged as one of his side’s most consistent players this season and has been a regular in the A Grade side.
Venning is a versatile player who creates strong contests in the air and at ground level and distributes efficiently around the ground for his club.
Has six best player nods through eight games so far.
39. MATTHEW JAENSCH
(Hahndorf)
Former Crow Jaensch has been a consistent player for Hahndorf this year so far.
A dominant player with the ability to play off of the backline or through the middle, Jaensch has been an important part of the Magpies’ undefeated season so far.
Is a brilliant user of the ball and consistently hurts opponents with his damaging disposal.
38. JAKE AISH
(Mt Lofty)
Formerly a young star with Sturt, Aish has been an important player for Mt Lofty up front and in the contest this season.
A strong player who wins plenty of his own ball, takes strong marks and is efficient by hand and foot.
Has nine goals and two best player nods in eight games and was one of the league’s best against the River Murray FL.
37. JOSH VANDERMEER
(Echunga)
A well-known goalkicking force in local SA footy, Vandermeer has been in strong form for Echunga this season.
A strong and athletic target with safe hands and a reliable set shot, Vandermeer has been the focal point of his club’s forwardline.
Has 24 goals and five best player appearances in his eight games.
36. JORDY AITCHISON
(Mt Barker)
A skilled player who can perform in a number of roles for the Roos, Aitchison has emerged as a key player for his side this year.
Has no issue winning the contested footy and is one of his side’s top distributors around the ground.
Aitchison has five best player nods in his seven games so far.
35. ZABIEN PARKER-BOERS
(Hahndorf)
Parker-Boers has impressed in a number of roles at the Magpies and is becoming one of the league’s most damaging players in the forward 50 and in the contest.
Skilful by hand and efficient by foot, Parker-Boers hits the scoreboard almost every week and sets up teammates at an even better rate.
Has nine goals and three best player nods in eight games.
34. RHYS SPORN
(Blackwood)
Blackwood star Sporn has been at his best this season as a skilled midfielder who can set up teammates with elite distribution.
The Woods gun is a tireless worker in the contest, winning plenty of ball inside and racking up many disposals through clean and efficient work by hand or foot.
Has two best player performances and four goals in five games so far.
33. NICK THOMSON
(Mt Lofty)
One of the most talented key defenders in the Hills FL, Thomson has continued on from an impressive 2023 campaign.
A strong one-on-one player who has no issue sitting on some of the biggest attacking threats in the competition and competes well in the air and at ground level.
Has been named among the Devils’ best in three of his eight games.
32. DAILAN HOW
(Nairne Bremer)
One of the big standouts for Nairne Bremer so far this year, former Sturt player How has had a big impact for the Rams.
A consistently dangerous halfback who can also perform in the contest, How damages sides with his disposal and cuts off a number of attacks with his ability to read the play.
Has four best player nods in eight games and also played interleague.
31. MITCH CARTER
(Lobethal)
In his fourth year at Lobethal, 25-year-old Carter has been an imposing force up front for the Tigers.
Boasting a strong mark and a booming kick, Carter can take over a game for his side and has no problem finishing opportunities from anywhere.
Has 24 majors and three best player nods in eight games.
30. DAMON HILL
(Nairne Bremer)
Former Gaza star Hill has been a huge contributor through the middle and up front for Nairne Bremer this season.
A classy left-footer with a big footy brain who can damage sides with his distribution around the ground and also hit the scoreboard.
Has nine goals and four best player nods in eight games.
29. PATRICK HALL
(Blackwood)
A member of West Adelaide’s U18 side last season, Hall has emerged as an up and coming star in the HFL.
Hall is a talented key position player who boasts strong overhead skills, a feel for goal and makes smart decisions under pressure.
Has 10 goals and five best player nods through his eight games.
28. DAMIAN HYNES
(Mt Barker)
A consistent performer for Mt Barker since arriving from RSMU in 2020, Hynes has had one of his best starts to a season yet in 2024.
Hynes can do damage on the ball and up front and has a great feel for the game, either setting up teammates or finishing for himself.
Has 11 goals and four best player nods in eight games.
27. LACHLAN SCHULTZ
(Uraidla Districts)
20-year-old Schultz has been a standout for the Demons so far this season and will be one to keep an eye on for the remainder of the year.
Skilled on the ball and a reliable user, Schultz has produced strong displays against some of the competition’s top sides this year in Hahndorf, Onkaparinga Valley and Mt Lofty.
Has four best player nods and a goal in eight games.
26. JAMIE DREW
(Nairne Bremer)
The third highest goalkicker in the competition so far this year, Drew has been as important as ever after key forward Darcy Hourigan’s departure.
A powerful and agile player who moves as well as anyone up front and links up with teammates seamlessly while also finishing efficiently in front of goal.
The Rams star has three best player nods and 25 goals in his eight games so far.
25. SAM MCTAGGART
(Mt Lofty)
McTaggart has been a top performer for the Devils again this season after a strong 2023 campaign.
A running machine who produces his best against the top sides and has the ability to find plenty of the footy and consistently hit targets.
McTaggart has tallied three best player nods and a goal in seven games so far this year.
24. TROY PARKER-BOERS
(Hahndorf)
One of the first selected in Hahndorf’s team each week, Parker-Boers has been a key weapon for the Magpies this year.
Hard and relentless at the contest, Parker-Boers uses the ball efficiently and always seems to make the right decisions.
Has four best player mentions in his eight games so far.
23. TYSON CLARK
(Blackwood)
Clark has been a standout for Blackwood during what has been a challenging season so far for the club.
A versatile player who is poised under pressure and classy by foot.
Has six goals and four best player nods in eight games and represented the HFL against the River Murray FL.
22. SAM GREEN
(Onkaparinga Valley)
A promising youngster for Onkas, Green has solidified himself as one of the club’s top players in 2024 and a standout player in the HFL.
Producing some of his best performances against the league’s top sides, Green is strong on the ball, always creates space for himself and others and is a great decision-maker.
Has five best player mentions and two goals in eight games and also played interleague.
21. WILL SHERMAN
(Mt Lofty)
An emerging young star for Mt Lofty, Sherman has been a major boost for the Devils this season.
A composed and smart player in possession, Sherman provides security for his side and damages opponents with his ability to win the ball in the air and at ground level and dispose efficiently.
Has six best player appearances in eight games.
20. JAKE DOMINISH
(Lobethal)
A star signing from Langhorne Creek in the 2023 pre-season, Dominish has been one of Lobethal’s best through the past two seasons.
A ball magnet who racks up high amounts of disposals every week and finds his teammates with ease under pressure.
Has four best player nods and a goal eight games so far this year.
19. JOSH DODD
(Nairne Bremer)
The former Sturt and Kapunda player has put his class on display for the Rams yet again in season 2024 and has emerged as a major goalscoring threat.
A smooth-moving and smart player, Dodd always uses the ball to great effect and loves to get up the ground and hit the scoreboard.
Has four best player nods and 17 goals in his eight games so far.
18. ZAC KUIPER
(Onkaparinga Valley)
Kuiper has been at the top of his game after a strong 2023 season, becoming one of Onkaparinga Valley’s best players.
Skilful and athletic in the contest and behind the ball, Kuiper has elite marking ability and distributes at a high efficiency for the Bulldogs.
Has five best player nods in eight games so far.
17. SAM HAYDEN
(Hahndorf)
Hayden has been a force yet again for Hahndorf this season.
The former Sturt gun produces most of his good work in the middle but can also slot in behind the ball, with his efficient distribution and decision-making makes him a weapon against every team.
Has four best player nods in eight games this year.
16. RILEY GRUNDY
(Mt Lofty)
Former Port Adelaide and Sturt big man Grundy has starred for Mt Lofty since joining last season.
The younger brother of Sydney star Brodie Grundy, Riley can dominate games as a skilled utility who not only produces big performances in the ruck but can also boot goals up front when needed.
Has six majors and four best player performances in eight games.
15. JOEL PARKER-BOERS
(Hahndorf)
A star across halfback and in the middle, Parker-Boers has this year established himself as one of the HFL’s star players.
Calm and efficient with ball in hand, the Magpies gun always finds time and space in possession and damages teams with his carry and efficient disposal.
Has six best player appearances in eight games.
14. NICK AMATO
(Uraidla Districts)
The Demons leader has been as influential as anyone up front and in the contest so far in 2024.
A skilful player with the ability to win his own ball as well as deliver or finish on both sides of his body, Amato has tallied three best player appearances and 21 goals in eight games.
His production so far has Uraidla Districts looking like a strong finals contender.
13. JACOB COLLINS
(Lobethal)
A versatile player who has SANFL League experience with Norwood, Collins has been a star for Lobethal in the HFL.
A tireless worker through the middle who finds plenty of the footy and can hit teammates by hand or foot at a high efficiency.
Has nine best player mentions and four goals in 13 games.
12. JORDAN HOULAHAN
(Mt Barker)
The former Essendon and Sturt player has had another standout year for Mt Barker so far in the Hills FL.
A crafty forward with strong marking ability and impressive goalkicking abilities, Houlahan has a major impact around the ground with his clean skills and smart decision-making.
Has 30 goals and four best player nods in eight games.
11. LACHLAN MAY
(Nairne Bremer)
A dominant key position player for Nairne Bremer, May has been a major key to his side’s success over the past two seasons.
May provides a strong and athletic presence at the back, locking down forwards with exceptional aerial contests and clean skills and has also played up front after the departure of Darcy Hourigan.
Has tallied two best player mentions and kicked eight goals in seven games and was an important part of the HFL interleague side.
10. KAI TUCKER
(Mt Lofty)
One of Mt Lofty’s many standout players in the Hills FL this season, Tucker has performed at the top of his game for both the Demons and the HFL association side.
An emerging young gun for his side, Tucker is a hard runner who possesses clean skills and damages sides with his creative disposal.
Has four best player performances and two goals in eight games.
9. ADAM TRENORDEN
(Hahndorf)
The former Sturt League and Reserves midfielder has been a force since returning to Hahndorf, dictating the contest and hitting the scoreboard consistently.
An excellent user of the footy with one of the best tanks in the competition, Trenorden runs all day and can impact the game in a number of ways.
Has five best player nods and eight goals in eight games.
8. FRANK TIMPANO
(Uraidla Districts)
Timpano joined Uraidla Districts this year after a brilliant tenure with Pooraka in the Adelaide Footy League and has not disappointed for the Demons.
The tough onballer has no issue doing the tough inside work for his side, winning contested footy and dealing to teammates efficiently, and his hard running also allows for a number of goalkicking opportunities.
Has nine goals and five best player nods in eight appearances.
7. ED SMART
(Onkaparinga Valley)
Former Norwood gun Smart joined Onkaparinga Valley for 2024 after a number of seasons in the VAFA and has been a star for the Bulldogs.
Smart has the ability to play in almost any role and has no issue winning a hard ball for his side and dealing to teammates accurately under pressure.
Has five best player performances and a goal in seven games.
6. DYLAN WHIMPRESS
(Nairne Bremer)
Best on ground in last year’s winning grand final for Nairne Bremer, Whimpress has been impressive for the Rams again this year while balancing his local footy performances with a SANFL career with the Crows.
A silky left-footer who breaks lines with his explosive run and carry, Whimpress is his side’s best user of the footy and one of the most damaging players in the competition.
Has five goals and two best player performances in five games and was the Hills’ best against the River Murray.
5. RILEY CLAMP
(Hahndorf)
Joining Hahndorf after another strong season with Strathalbyn in the Great Southern FL and with Adelaide in the SANFL, Clamp has been the injection the Magpies needed up front after their grand final loss in 2023.
An athletic and strong player across the forwardline who can also have an impact around the ground with his marking ability and efficient disposal.
Clamp has booted 37 goals to lead the competition and made five best player appearances in eight games.
4. SAM CALLINS
(Mt Barker)
A standout in SA country footy in recent years, Callins has helped to guide a young Mt Barker side to finals contention in 2024.
A contested beast who does the dirty work for his side and can also explode from congestion and set up teammates with his reliable disposal, Callins is consistently dangerous for the Roos.
Has three goals and three best player nods in his seven games so far.
3. PETER BAMPTON
(Lobethal)
The former Norwood star has picked up from where he left off last season, proving to be one of Lobethal’s top players yet again.
Bampton is a workhorse through the midfield and does his best work inside, applying tackle pressure without the ball and disposing brilliantly with it while also moving up the ground to hit the scoreboard.
Has six best player mentions and eight goals in seven games so far.
2. SAM WILLIAMS
(Hahndorf)
Hahndorf’s star leader remains one of the dominant forces of the Hills FL in season 2024, inspiring his club to a remarkable 8-0 start so far.
Providing a strong presence in the contest and around the ground, Williams’ all-round skillset makes him one of the most important Magpies players.
Has seven best player nods and a goal in his eight games.
1. BRETT TURNER
(Echunga)
The biggest signing in the Hills FL this season, Turner has dominated for Echunga since joining the club after a starring SANFL career with Glenelg and the Crows.
A big-bodied midfielder who can damage the opposition around the ground, Turner is a contested footy machine who racks up clearances with ease and can also hit the scoreboard.
Has seven best player nods and eight goals in his eight games and has been a positive for Echunga during a challenging season results-wise for the club so far.
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