The 35 players set to take the Central Highlands Football League finals by storm
The Central Highlands Football League finals are set to start this weekend. We reveal the players who are set to dominate.
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For the first time in three years the players of the Central Highlands are playing finals this weekend with eight teams battling to become the first premier since 2019.
So who are the players to look out for as clubs eagerly chase premiership glory?
Here is the list in no particular order.
James Lukich – Waubra
Lukich is a big game player who has dominated in the midfield this year.
He’s also added 27 goals in a valuable contribution to the forward line.
Khyle Forde – Dunnstown
The Dunnstown ruckman is a strong running player who covers the ground really well and is a contested marking powerhouse.
Ford is in contention to be named as the best and fairest in the CHFL this season.
Damon Folkes — Learmonth
Been one of the standouts with the boot this season, kicking 64 goals in 16 games.
He finished third in the goalkicking for the competition and kicked more than 10 goals in a game twice during the year.
Folkes played last year for Great Western in the Mininera and District Football League, kicking 70 goals in 11 games before the season ended due to Covid.
Jarrod Rodgers – Buninyong
A stalwart of the club, bringing up his 200th game recently, Rodgers has been one of the leaders for the club this year.
He’s played 14 games and has been named in the best players for Buninyong in 10 of those matches.
Steve Staunton – Springbank
Staunton knows where the goals are, averaging more than four a game since he’s been with the club.
The forward kicked 66 goals this season in 12 matches to be second in the goalkicking for the competition.
In five of those matches, he kicked more than six goals.
Mathew Stokes – Gordon
The former two-time AFL premiership player with Geelong has only played five games for Gordon, but qualifies to play a part in finals.
A player of his quality, in the midfield and up forward, playing as a small, will have rival coaches worried.
Andrew McKay – Hepburn
Has formed a powerful combination with Mitch Banner with the duo kicking more than 100 goals between them for Hepburn.
McKay has kicked 46 to finish seventh on the goalkicking list for the competition.
Has a chance to kick his 600th goal for the club this weekend.
Sam Willain – Skipton
The player/coach will be pivotal on and off the field to the success of the team this season.
Willain has kicked 14 goals from 16 games but his leadership will be pivotal in helping the team win its first premiership ever in the CHFL.
Brandon Green – Waubra
In his first season at Waubra, he has impressed the club with his contested marking and competitiveness at ground level.
He’s kicked 31 goals so far for the 2019 premiers.
Flynn Stevenson – Dunnstown
Stevenson is a big-bodied midfielder who has excelled this season with his speed and penetrating kicks into the forward line.
Acorss 16 games, he’s been named in the best players in half of them.
Will Green – Learmonth
After moving from Waubra to Learmonth in the off-season, the talented junior has continued to impress in the competition.
He’s kicked 10 goals in 16 games and has been among the best in 11 games this season.
Jack Robertson – Buninyong
One of the key pillars in defence for the Bombers who has now played more than 150 games for the club.
Only missed one game this season for the team.
Todd Finco – Springbank
Capable of playing forward and in the midfield, Finco has averaged two goals a game to be a pivotal part of the team.
Finco has played almost 40 games for the club now and was a former Footscray player in the VFL.
Mitchell Banner – Hepburn
The former Port Adelaide player has been one of the best players in the competition this year.
Banner has kicked 73 goals in 15 games and took out the goalkicking award for the competition.
Hepburn’s success in the upcoming finals will largely depend on how well Banner can play and how many goals he kicks.
Adam Toohey – Gordon
Toohey is the leading goalkicker for the minor premiers, kicking 60 goals in 15 games so far.
In six of his games this season he has kicked more than five goals.
This year is the second year Toohey has kicked more than 60 goals for the club, since making his debut in seniors for Gordon in 2012.
Bailey McKimmie – Skipton
Has averaged two goals a game so far but has found form at just the right time heading into finals.
The forward has kicked 13 goals in his past four matches, including five goals in each of his past two matches.
Caleb McGrath – Waubra
Playing off half back, the Waubra player has been able to provide dash from the defence while also locking down his opponent.
The club says he’s rarely been beaten in one-on-one contests this season.
Anthony Caligiuri – Dunnstown
The key defender has been one of the best for the club this season.
His great poise and excellent kick, according to the club, have helped the team transition from defence to attack.
He’s played 14 games and been in the best players for seven of them.
Brenton Powell – Learmonth
The club stalwart continues to be one of the best in the competition.
The midfielder has made more than 200 appearances for the club, reaching the milestone recently, and featured in the best players in 10 games this season.
Anthony Ebery – Buninyong
Has only played two games this season with injury derailing his season so far.
But his experience will count in the finals.
Ebery played for Buninyong in their 2018 grand final loss to Beaufort and has played more than 150 games for the club.
James Thompson – Springbank
Another Springbank player who can play in the midfield and the forward line, Thompson has averaged more than one goal a game this season in his 14 appearances.
He’s also been in the best players for the club in more than half of his matches so far this season.
Sean Tighe – Hepburn
The ruckman has been one of the standouts this season.
He’s been among the best for the club in 12 of his 16 games while averaging more than one goal a game as well.
In five games this season he has kicked more than two goals.
Sam Griffiths – Gordon
The half-back flanker has played all but one game after joining from Bacchus Marsh last year.
Griffiths has been among the best in nine out of 15 games and proved vital in helping the club to the minor premiership.
Rhys Monument – Skipton
The leading goalscorer for Skipton with 30 goals from 16 games this season.
Monument has been a handful inside 50 for opposition teams and it is set to continue in the finals.
Tommy Ford – Waubra
The 17-year-old has been one of those in the midfield who has stepped up for the club to get them into the finals.
The club says Ford has maturity beyond his years and is prominent across the ground.
A talented player on the rise.
Mitch Henderson – Dunnstown
A small hard running forward who can play in duel positions on the wing, or in the forward 50.
The club says he provides great defensive pressure for a forward.
Henderson has played all games this season.
James Laidlaw – Learmonth
The former Ararat Eagle has settled in well with the Lakies and the CHFL.
The midfielder has been one of the standouts for the team, playing all but one game so far this season.
Keelan Fejo – Buninyong
Has been one of the leading goalkickers for the club, returning to play for the first time in a few years.
He plays for the Wanderers in the Northern Territory Football League and will return back to the club at the end of the season.
Joel Maher – Springbank
One part of the Maher brothers combination who helps run the midfield for the Tigers.
A one-club player, Maher will bring up game 250 this weekend and has been a stalwart for the side over the past decade.
Rhys Jenkins – Hepburn
Since Jenkins arrived from Castlemaine, Hepburn has been in the top three teams in the competition.
The midfielder has been a pivotal part of the team this season, playing every match bar one and being among the best in more than half of his matches.
Hayden Hughes – Waubra
Hughes has been able to provide support to both the forwards and the ruck, doing both jobs well for the club.
He has kicked 24 goals from 10 games and has helped support fellow Waubra player Green in attack.
Will Henderson – Dunnstown
A utility who can play in multiple roles either as a key position or on the ball.
He has been in the best players 11 times this season, the second most at the club.
Matt Harbour – Learmonth
Harbour has excelled, according to the club, since rising from the junior ranks at the club to play seniors.
This year is his second full season in seniors after playing more than 100 games in juniors.
He’s played all but one game this season.
Caius Barrenger – Buninyong
The forward has found his form in the later stages of the season after injury hurt the early part of the year for him.
He’s kicked nine goals in the past three games, including four against Creswick and Carngham Linton, to be one of the keys for the Bombers heading into finals.
Kieran Maher – Springbank
Maher has played more than 100 games for the club and been a vital part of the midfield like his brother Joel.
Has played all but two games this season for the club.
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