Country footy: Central Highlands, Maryborough Castlemaine District top players
They’re the golden nuggets from the AFL Goldfields region in the Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine District competitions. Here’s our top 30.
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The AFL Goldfields region is home to some of the best hidden gems in country footy.
Outside of the Ballarat Football Netball League, the region’s premier competition, the football talent continues to grow.
Here’s a look at the top 30 players from across the Central Highlands and Maryborough Castlemaine District competitions.
Cameron Anderson (Harcourt, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
One of the best young guns in the MCDFNL. Came to the Lions midway through last season and hasn’t looked out of place in a side right in the mix for a premiership.
Mitch Banner (Hepburn, Central Highlands)
The former Port Adelaide player has been one of the best players in the competition this year. He kicked 81 goals in 17 games to lead the goalkicking for the competition.
Harley Bongart (Ballan, Central Highlands)
Continues to rank among the competition’s better players after first arriving at Ballan ahead of the 2018 season.
Danny Brewster (Natte Bealiba, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
Brewster has been a major success story for his new club this season with 130 goals in 18 games. But the job isn’t done yet with a preliminary final for the Swans this weekend. Has a remarkable 782 goals in his career.
Marcus Darmody (Newlyn, Central Highlands)
Showed plenty of promise in 2022 after he was limited to just two games last year. Booted 51 goals from 13 games to establish himself as one of the competition’s best forwards.
Cody Driscoll (Navarre, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
Already a four-time premiership player with the Hoppers, Driscoll returned to the club from Stawell at the start of the season. He made an immediate impact with 87 goals from 14 games.
Todd Finco (Springbank, Central Highlands)
Capable of playing forward and in the midfield, Finco has averaged two goals a game to be a pivotal part of the team. Will play in the grand final this weekend and is a former VFL player.
Joel Fisher (Dunolly, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
After crossing from Kangaroo Flat, Fisher has been brilliant in his new colours kicking 41 goals and being named in the best 10 times.
Rhys Egan (Royal Park, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
While it might have been a difficult year for Royal Park, with just five wins, Egan showed plenty of promise with 13 appearances in the best. Also kicked 11 goals.
Damon Folkes (Learmonth, Central Highlands)
Been one of the standouts with the boot this season, kicking 71 goals in 18 games. Folkes has a habit of large goal totals, he kicked 70 goals in 11 games last year for Great Western in the Mininera and District Football League.
Daniel Fitzpatrick (Skipton, Central Highlands)
Polled the second most votes of any Skipton player in the league best and fairest with 17 votes after a strong season.
Khyle Forde (Dunnstown, Central Highlands)
The Dunnstown ruckman is a strong running player who covers the ground really well and is a contested marking powerhouse. Forde finished third in the best and fairest in the competition, getting 23 votes during the season.
Brayden Frost (Harcourt, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
Has been tremendous in the two seasons he’s been back with the Lions and won the league’s best and fairest on Monday night. Frost has consistently appeared among Harcourt’s better players. Will contest a preliminary final this weekend.
Jake Keogh (Trentham, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
One of the most dominant forwards in the competition of the last several years. Broke through for the 100-goal mark in the final game of the home-and-away season against Talbot.
James Lukich (Waubra, Central Highlands)
Lukich is a big game player who has dominated in the midfield this year. He featured in the best players for the club in all 16 games he played this season.
Darcy Matricardi (Trentham, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
Took home the competition’s Rookie of the Year award after a strong first season for the Saints. The former Bendigo Pioneer and Northern Territory representative played 13 games and kicked six goals.
Andrew McKay (Hepburn, Central Highlands)
Has formed a powerful combination with Mitch Banner this season, kicking 50 goals this season. Finished fourth in the CHFL best and fairest.
Lochlan Pett (Lexton, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
One of the rising stars of the competition. Pett played consistent footy all season for a Lexton side who finished sixth on the ladder and were eliminated from premiership contention last weekend.
Brenton Powell (Learmonth, Central Highlands)
It was no shock to see Powell among Learmonth’s best throughout the season after another impressive year. Has previously represented the CHFNL in interleague.
Kynan Raven (Carngham Linton, Central Highlands)
In his second season with the club, Raven showed plenty of promise despite his side remaining winless.
Zak Rinaldi (Carisbrook, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
After just four games in 2021, Rinaldi has shot back to life for the high flying Carisbrook. He’ll play an important role in his side’s preliminary final against Trentham on Sunday.
Anthony Robins (Newstead, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
A standout for a Newstead side which found itself around the top eight marks for large parts of the season but ultimately fell short.
Jarrod Rodgers (Buninyong, Central Highlands)
Rodgers was the standout player for the Bombers this year, finishing fifth in the CHFL best and fairest. Has now played more than 200 games for the club.
Jayden Templeton (Natte Bealiba, Maryborough Castlemaine District)
In his first full season with the Swans, Templeton has caused plenty of headaches for opposition sides. Will contest a preliminary final this weekend.
Steve Staunton (Springbank, Central Highlands)
The forward kicked 75 goals this season in 16 matches to be second in the goalkicking for the competition. He has helped his team to the grand final, which will be held this weekend.
Mathew Stokes (Gordon, Central Highlands)
Played just six games for the grand final contender this season but made a big difference when he did play. Could have played in the decider but made the selfless decision to sit out.
Sean Tighe (Hepburn, Central Highlands)
The ruckman has been one of the standouts this season. He’s been among the best for the club in 13 of his 18 games while averaging more than one goal a game as well. Tighe finished second in the Central Highlands Football League best and fairest.
Lachlan Thornton (Bungaree, Central Highlands)
Arrived at the club from East Point and proved to be a classy addition. Polled 17 votes in the league best and fairest.
Adam Toohey (Gordon, Central Highlands)
A dominant season for the forward and co-coach of the club. He kicked 65 goals in 17 matches and also finished seventh in the best and fairest in the competition.
Sam Willain (Skipton, Central Highlands)
The playing coach has been instrumental on and off the field. Willain kicked 15 goals from 18 games and was awarded for his season with the best and fairest in the competition. He polled 30 votes to win the medal by four votes over Sean Tighe.
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