Top 40 SA country footy clubs of 2024 ranked
We’ve looked back at the 2024 season to rank the 40 best country clubs from across the state. See who made the list.
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SA country footy has played host to some of the state’s best local talent and clubs over the years and season 2024 was no exception.
A number of sides achieved historic successes or continued reigns over their competitions, but which club really is the best in the bush?
It may be an impossible question to answer given the great variance in quality of football played across the leagues.
No-one would seriously consider that a small club in a minor rural league would beat a powerhouse in the Hills Football League if they were to come head to head in battle.
But, when comparing clubs as the best performed we have to take into account how they fared relative to the skill level around them.
At the risk of being ridiculed, we have tried to answer that seemingly unanswerable question as we rank the top 40 performing clubs of the country footy season.
For our ranking system, we’ve graded teams based on their records in their own comps rather than trying to compare them across other leagues.
So a club that dominated a small league like the Riverland FL may rank higher than a club from the Great Southern Football League, even though the GSFL team would surely win should the two ever play against each other.
These rankings are based on the entire season, not just the clubs who prevailed on the biggest days.
Some teams did outrank others due to their performances in a stronger competition, despite not coming away with the premiership.
Southern Football League clubs have also been included, since the competition’s players compete in the SA Country Championships.
40. ROXBY DISTRICTS
(Far North Football League)
While the Miners are only part of a four-club competition, a strong upset win over an undefeated Hornridge side has earned them a spot on the list.
The side won eight minor round games to finish second and bounced back from an 88-24 loss to the Magpies in the opening round of finals to defeat them by 31 in the big dance.
39. WESTERN DISTRICTS
(Kangaroo Island Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Arrivals of Tom and Sam Jonas catapulted Western Districts back to the top of the KIFL in 2024.
The Saints went undefeated through the entire season and won the grand final by 136 points over Wisanger.
38. MURRAYVILLE
(Murray Valley Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Murrayville finished second on the ladder this MVFL season but managed to cause an upset in the finals to claim the premiership.
The side won nine games in the minor round before going on to defeat top spot Blanchetown-Swan Reach and then Browns-Well to win the flag.
37. CENTRAL EYRE UNITED
(Eastern Eyre Football League)
Finish: Premiers
CEU produced one of its best EEFL seasons to claim a famous premiership win over Ranges.
The Saints went 8-4 to finish on top of the ladder by percentage and eventually topped the second spot Ranges by five points in the grand final.
36. ROOPENA
(Whyalla Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Roopena claimed yet another Whyalla Football League flag with an impressive undefeated season.
The Roos won 15 minor round games before defeating West Whyalla in the opening round of finals and Central Whyalla 55-19 in the big dance.
35. SOLOMONTOWN
(Spencer Gulf Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Solomontown upset a previously undefeated Prop/Risdon in the first round of finals but would eventually go down to the Lions in the big dance.
The Cats won 14 games to finish second on the ladder behind the play of Corey Davey but did not have the firepower to overcome a strong Lions outfit on grand final day.
34. BARMERA MONASH
(Riverland Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Barmera Monash came agonisingly close to winning back-to-back flags but fell at the final hurdle this year.
Finished as minor premier after winning 13 minor round games but fell to Renmark by 17 points in the grand final.
33. BROUGHTON-MUNDOORA
(Northern Areas Football Association)
Finish: Premiers
Broughton-Mundoora claimed its second premiership in three years in the NAFA this year.
The Eagles were one of the top teams of the competition throughout the year, finishing second on the ladder, one win below Orroroo, before defeating the top side in the grand final 72-48.
32. MT LOFTY
(Hills Football League)
Finish: Third
Mt Lofty was typically strong during the 2024 Hills Football League season.
The Devils, led by Mail Medallist Tyson Hone, finished third with 12 wins and made it to the preliminary final, eventually losing to Nairne Bremer by 29 points.
31. ENCOUNTER BAY
(Great Southern Football League)
Finished: Third
Encounter Bay had a much-improved 2024 season in the GSFL and has emerged as a contender into the near future.
The Eagles lost just four games and won 14 to finish third on the ladder before falling to eventual premier Myponga-Sellicks in the first semi final.
30. MARBLE RANGE
(Port Lincoln Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Marble Range had another fantastic Port Lincoln FL season but wound up heartbroken for the second straight year.
The side went undefeated to finish with a 15-0 record on top of the ladder but would lose to Lincoln South twice in the finals, including in the grand final, to finish the year empty handed.
29. WESTERN UNITED
(Western Eyre Football League)
Finish: Premiers
The Tigers produced an undefeated WEFL season to claim their second consecutive premiership.
The club was untouchable throughout 2024, winning 15 minor round games and both finals games against Thevenard.
28. KEITH
(Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League)
Finish: Third
Keith brought in Aaron Young and Cam Craig for season 2024 and experienced instant improvement in the KNTFL.
Despite losing to Mundulla in the preliminary final, the Crows impressed with 13 minor round wins and a big win over the Tigers in the first round of finals.
27. ROBE
(Mid South Eastern Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Robe was one of the strongest outfits of the MSEFL this year.
The Roosters won 12 minor round games to finish second on the ladder and gave Hatherleigh a run for its money through most of the grand final before losing by 24 points.
26. WEST GAMBIER
(Limestone Coast Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Despite an inconsistent season, West Gambier managed to string an unforgettable finals run together to upset Millicent in the LCFL grand final and claim its first premiership since 2011.
The Roos finished in fourth spot on the ladder but would go on to defeat North Gambier, South Gambier and the Saints to win the flag.
25. CENTRAL YORKE
(Yorke Peninsula Football League)
Finish: Minor premiers
The Cougars were impressive again in 2024 and produced another strong season despite falling in the preliminary final.
The club finished on top with a minor round record of 13-3 before losing to Moonta and CMS Crows in finals.
24. UNITED YEELANNA
(Great Flinders Football League)
Finish: Premiers
United Yeelanna was unstoppable again in season 2024, claiming its sixth consecutive GFFL premiership.
Lock emerged as a strong contender throughout the season but were unable to stop the league’s biggest power, with the Eagles winning out by 37 points on grand final day.
23. CMS CROWS
(Yorke Peninsula Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
The Crows finished third on the YPFL ladder and went on an impressive finals run to upset Central Yorke in the prelim and book a spot in the big dance.
While the club went down big to Moonta in the big dance, it produced a big effort to get to the final game of the year in a strong competition.
22. RENMARK
(Riverland Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Renmark got revenge on Barmera Monash in this year’s RFL grand final, winning 52-35 to prevent its opponent from claiming back-to-back flags.
The Rovers were impressive throughout the year, finishing second on the ladder before dominating in finals.
21. MYPOLONGA
(River Murray Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Mypolonga produced another strong year under Steve Sumner and got all the way to the big dance before falling to an undefeated Coorong side.
New recruit Rory Taggert was impressive up front for the Tigers, while Jordan Hein also produced a top year.
20. TANUNDA
(Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association)
Finish: Minor premiers
Sam Colquhoun’s Magpies were impressive this year after a tough 2023 but could not quite maintain their level of dominance in finals without key recruit Shay Linke.
The team put together a strong season however, finishing as the minor premiers with 14 minor round wins and just two losses.
19. MCLAREN
(Great Southern Football League)
Finish: Second
One of the powers of SA country footy in recent years, McLaren put together another strong season in 2024.
The Eagles were fresh off of back-to-back flags and finished second on the ladder with just three losses before losing to Myponga-Sellicks in the preliminary final.
18. ANGASTON
(Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association)
Angaston went on an impressive finals run in the BLGFA to make the grand final ahead of minor premier Tanunda.
The Panthers lost just four minor round games and then defeated South Gawler and Tanunda to make the big dance.
17. FLAGSTAFF HILL
(Southern Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Flagstaff Hill came close to winning back-to-back flags after losing Sam Jacobs at the end of last season, ultimately going down to Reynella by 10 points.
The Falcons were typically dominant throughout the SFL season, finishing second with just three losses and only losing for a fourth time in this year’s big dance.
16. PROPRIETARY/RISDON
(Spencer Gulf Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Prop/Risdon produced another fantastic SGFL season in 2024.
The Lions went undefeated in the minor round to finish as minor premier before bouncing back from an upset loss to Solomontown in finals to win the grand final by 30 points and claim back-to-back flags.
15. LINCOLN SOUTH
(Port Lincoln Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Playing-coach Johann Wagner has now led Lincoln South to two consecutive PLFL premierships in his two years at the helm, the Eagles defeating top spot Marble Range in the grand final again in the 2024 season.
The club had not won a premiership for 20 years before breaking its drought in the 2023 season and pulled off a 14-point upset this year to back it up.
14. TWO WELLS
(Adelaide Plains Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Two Wells claimed its fourth straight APFL premiership in 2024 with another dominant season.
The Roosters lost two games in the minor round to take top spot but had to regroup after losing in round one of the finals to Angle Vale, eventually exacting revenge on the Owls in the grand final.
13. GUMERACHA
(Hills Country Division)
Finish: Premiers
The Magpies have become an unstoppable force in the Hills Football League Country Division and lost just one game this season on their way to a third straight premiership.
New recruit Dylan Weaver was at his best all season while Sam Hanna was also strong yet again as Gumeracha stormed through the competition.
12. BSR TIGERS
(North Eastern Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Brinkworth Spalding Redhill continued its dominant reign over the NEFL in 2024.
With Alex Morgan returning to play finals, the Tigers lost by two points to Southern Saints, won the preliminary final and exacted revenge in the grand final to defeat the Saints by 28 points and claim their fifth consecutive premiership.
11. NAIRNE BREMER
(Hills Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
The Rams put together a strong run in the second half of the season and fell just short of claiming back-to-back flags, losing to an undefeated Hahndorf 32-27 in the grand final.
Despite the agonising loss, Nairne Bremer has become one of the top powers in Hills footy.
10. HATHERLEIGH
(Mid South Eastern Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Hatherleigh produced one of its greatest ever seasons in 2024, losing just one game on its way to an MSEFL premiership.
The Eagles topped Robe 75-51 in the grand final, with playing-coach Tom Hutchesson dominating through the midfield.
9. KYBYBOLITE
(Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Kybybolite experienced a dramatic turnaround in 2024 after acquiring both Jack Trengove and Andrew Bradley ahead of the season.
The two stars combined brilliantly under coach Jack Kelly to help the Tigers to a 15-1 minor round record a year after finishing bottom but the side fell just short to Mundulla in the grand final.
8. VICTOR HARBOR
(Great Southern Football League)
Finish: Runners-up
Victor Harbor recruited both Ben Heaslip and Bryce Gibbs in the pre-season and produced a dominant 2024 despite falling agonisingly short of a premiership by a kick against Myponga-Sellicks.
Led by dual Mail Medallist Jesse McKinnon, Gibbs and Heaslip, the Roos lost just two games before the grand final.
7. MOONTA
(Yorke Peninsula Football League)
Finish: Premiers
The Demons were back and better than ever in the 2024 Yorke Peninsula FL season, finishing second and producing a typically strong finals run to beat CMS Crows by 101 points in the grand final.
Mail Medallist Ryley Maitland was a standout throughout the season while Dylan Mansell booted five in the big dance.
6. MUNDULLA
(Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Mundulla fell short of silverware in 2023 after claiming top spot but would go all the way this season, defeating top side Kybybolite in a tug-of-war grand final by two goals.
The Tigers finished second on the ladder before bouncing back from an early finals thrashing at the hands of Keith to beat Border Districts, exact revenge on the Crows and top Kyby in the big dance.
5. REYNELLA
(Southern Football League)
Finish: Premiers
The Wineflies bounced back in style this year after failing to win an SFL flag in 2023, defeating Flagstaff Hill in a tightly fought grand final by 10 points.
The club finished minor premier with just two losses before bouncing back from a second semi-final loss to Flagstaff Hill to claim the premiership.
4. WILLASTON
(Barossa Light and Gawler Football Association)
Finish: Premiers
Willaston produced one of its best seasons in the BLGFA this year to claim a tough three-point grand final win over Angaston.
The Donnybrooks lost just four games for the season on their way to a famous flag.
3. MYPONGA-SELLICKS
(Great Southern Football League)
Finish: Premiers
The Mudlarks had a historic season under new playing-coach Darren Shillabeer, going on an impressive finals run to claim their first GSFL flag in 40 years.
Led by Shillabeer, star Ben Kennedy and a number of other contributors, Myponga-Sellicks defeated hot favourite Victor Harbor by a kick in the grand final.
2. COORONG
(River Murray Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Daniel Menzel led amalgamated club Cooring to its first RMFL premiership this season after taking over as playing-coach.
The Cats were untouchable all season, going 16-0 in the minor round and winning every final including a 123-33 grand final result over Mypolonga.
1. HAHNDORF
(Hills Football League)
Finish: Premiers
Hahndorf followed up a strong 2023 with an even better 2024 HFL season, putting together an undefeated campaign and claiming the premiership with a five-point win over Nairne Bremer.
The Magpies were coached excellently by Matt Golding and saw standout performances across the board throughout the season.
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