Queensland’s greatest ever Aussie rules players since 1946

From grassroots to greatness, meet the Aussie rules legends and Queensland's finest who shaped the game. See the full list of standout stars since 1946. 

Queensland’s greatest ever Aussie rules players since 1946

Australian Rules is booming in Queensland at the AFL level but the sport’s rich history with the Sunshine State is one spanning over 80 years.

Since Erwin Dornau in 1948, around 200 Queenslanders have played at the elite level with 40 currently on an AFL senior list.

In the QAFL, the best and fairest player each season is awarded the J.A Grogan Medal, more commonly known as the Grogan Medal.

Since having its name changed from the De Little Medal in 1946, close to 100 players have been awarded with the competition’s top honour.

Now, 78 years since the Grogan medal took shape, we’ve taken a look back at the best players the competition has seen.

J.A Grogan Medallists

1946 - Doug Pittard (Western Districts)

1947 - Doug Pittard (Western Districts) and Fred Willets (Yeronga)

1948 - Tom Calder (Coorparoo)

1949 - Dick Parton (Windsor)

1950 - Tom Calder (Coorparoo) and Edgar Stevens (Sandgate)

1951 - Bill Shorten (Yeronga)

1952 - Bevis Howell (Coorparoo)

1953 - Noel McGuinness (Morningside)

1954 - Noel McGuinness (Morningside)

1955 - Henry Maguire (Morningside)

1956 - Tom Pelly (Western Districts)

1957 - Keith Farnsworth (Morningside)

1958 - Andy Stewart (Western Districts)

1959 - John Golding (Coorparoo)

1960 - Merv Dihm (Kedron) and Jim Conlon (Grange)

1961 - Keith Leach (Grange)

1962 - Keith Leach (Grange)

1963 - Tom Gould (Kedron)

1964 - Ken Grimely (Coorparoo)

1965 - Tom Guold (Kedron)

1966 - Gary Wah Hing (Kedron)

1967 - Robin Hull (Zillmere)

1968 - Merv Appleyard (Grange)

1969 - Terry Johnson (Morningside), Ken Garcia (Grange) and Terry Weller (Zillmere)

1970 - Kelvin Mills (Kedron)

1971 - Owen Blackwell (Western Districts)

1972 - Barry Clarke (Wilston Grange)

1973 - Don Smith (Sandgate)

1974 - Jeff Ebert (Morningside)

1975 - Owen Blackwell (Western Districts)

1976 - Barry Clarke (Grange)

Barry Clarke for the Wilston-Grange Gorillas.

1977 - Peter Taylor (Western Districts)

1978 - Peter Ives (Mayne)

1979 - Don Smith (Sandgate)

1980 - Barry Karklis (Zillmere)

1981 - Greg Hollick (Mayne)

1982 - John Blair (Morningside)

1983 - Peter Guy (Southport) and Bill Peirce (Sherwood)

1984 - Brendan McMullen (Coorparoo)

1985 - Zane Taylor (Southport)

1986 - Brendan McMullen (Coorparoo) and Greg Packham (Kedron)

1987 - Terry Simmonds (Mayne)

1988 - Craig Brittain (Zillmere)

1989 - Daryl Bourke (Morningside)

1990 - Jason Cotter (Southport)

1991 - Cameron Buchanan (North Brisbane)

1992 - Rick Chapman (Morningside), David Crutchfield (Southport) and Chris O’Sullivan (Southport)

1993 - Daryl Bourke (Morningside), Jason Cotter (Southport) and Dean Warren (Grange)

1994 - Mitchell Howe (Morningside)

1995 - David Bain (Southport)

Southport Aussie rules captain David Bain and coach Jason Cotter celebrate after winning the 1999 grand final.

1996 - Corey Lambert (West Brisbane)

1997 - Jeff Brennan (Sandgate)

1998 - Dean Edwards (Morningside)

1999 - Brad Jones (Mt. Gravatt) and David Bain (Southport)

QSFL Best and Fairest winners Southport's David Bain and Mt Gravatt's Brad Jones.

2000 - Dan Dickfos (North Eagles)

2001 - Paul O’Brien (Redland)

2002 - David Round (Southport)

Morningside's Jacob Gough (left) and Southport's David Jansen in action.

2003 - Jacob Gough (Morningside)

2004 - Mick Stinear (Mt. Gravatt)

2005 - David Round (Broadbeach)

Broadbeach's David Round.

2006 - Matthew Payne (Zillmere)

2007 - Todd Featherstone (Labrador)

Labrador Todd Featherstone.

2008 - Nathan Kinch (Morningside)

2009 - Nathan Gilliland (Mt. Gravatt)

2010 - Danny Wise (Southport)

Morningside’s Nathan Kinch, Mt Gravatt’s Nathan Gilliland and Southport’s Danny Wise.

2011 - Matthew Payne (Southport) and Cameron Ilett (NT Thunder)

NT Thunders Captain Cameron Ilett holds his winning medal and the northeast AFL-Football Final trophy

2012 - Ryan Davey (Labrador), Fraser Pope (Southport) and Tom Salter (Redland)

2013 - Haydn Kiel (Southport)

2014 - Ryan Davey (Labrador)

Southport’s Haydn Kiel and Labrador’s Ryan Davey. Picture: Richard Gosling.

2015 - Callum Carseldine (Western Magpies)

2016 - Jesse Derrick (Palm Beach Currumbin)

Palm Beach Currumbin captain Jesse Derrick. Picture Glenn Hampson

2017 - Jason Burge (Palm Beach Currumbin) and Wayde Mills (Labrador)

2018 - Blake Erickson (Broadbeach)

Broadbeach Cats QAFL player Blake Erickson. Picture: Brooke Sleep Media.

2019 - Frazer Neate (Mt Gravatt)

2020 - Matthew Payne (Morningside)

2021 - Jordan Moncrieff (Broadbeach)

Morningside player Matthew Payne and Broadbeach Cats forward Jordan Moncrieff. Pictures: Highflyer Images Deion Menzies.

2022 - Ryan Banks-Smith (Aspley)

2023 - Kwaby Boakye (Broadbeach)

Aspley Hornets player Ryan Banks-Smith and Broadbeach player Kwaby Boakye. Pictures: Highflyer Images and Craig Slaney Sports Photography.

Former AFL star Tom Hickey in action for the Palm Beach Currumbin Lions. Picture: Highflyer Images.

2024 - Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin)

2025 - Levi Casboult (Palm Beach Currumbin)

Levi Casboult of the Palm Beach Currumbin Lions. Picture: Highflyer Images

Originally published as Queensland’s greatest ever Aussie rules players since 1946