Country footy: Central Murray, Golden Rivers, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central top 40
Central Victoria is home to some of the state’s best country footballers. Here’s 40 elite talents outside the region’s major competition.
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Central Victoria is home to some of the best hidden gems in country footy.
Outside of the Bendigo Football League, the region’s premier competition, the football talent continues to grow.
Here’s a look at the top 40 players from across the Central Murray, Golden Rivers, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central competitions in 2022.
Harry Allen (Mallee) – Central Murray
The 2019 Central Murray best and fairest may have featured in just 12 games this season but he’s still one of the best in the competition. The midfielder was in the best players nine times for the club, kicking four goals. If he stays at the club next year, he is likely to bring up his 200th game for the club.
Marcus Angove (Lockington Bamawm United, Heathcote District)
Previously a league representative, Angove continues to star for the premiers. As consistent as they come in the competition. Named in the team of the year.
Brent Arho (Nyah Nyah West) – Central Murray
Averaged more than four goals a season for the Nyah Nyah West this season. This included 11 goals against Tooleybuc Manangatang in round eight. He has now kicked more than 100 goals for the club in three years at Nyah Nyah West.
Ben Barton (Colbinabbin, Heathcote District)
In his second season at the club, Barton has been brilliant. He immediately caught the eye in the opening six games and went to be named in the best 13 times.
Mitchell Christensen (Huntly, Heathcote District)
Won huge praise in the Sunraysia league last season before crossing to the Hawks. Went from strength-to-strength and showed his best despite being limited to 14 games. Was named in the team of the year.
Josh Domaille (Woorinen) – Central Murray
The Woorinen player has played every game all season so far for the club, including the two finals for the Tigers. The midfielder has featured in the best players in 13 out of 18 games, including both finals. Domaille has played more than 100 games for the club since making his debut for the Tigers in 2015.
Chris Down (Mount Pleasant, Heathcote District)
One of the recruits of the season throughout the Central Victoria region. After crossing from Sandhurst, the dominant ruckman went onto be named in the best on 15 out of a possible 19 games.
Jason Eagle (Tyntynder) – Central Murray
The forward has had three games this season where he has kicked more than 10 goals in a game. Eagle has kicked 68 goals in 13 games, featuring in the best players in seven of them. Big hauls is not uncommon for Eagle who kicked 123 goals for Irymple in the 2015 season in the Sunraysia Football League.
Bayden Fallon (White Hills, Heathcote District)
Arrived at the club from Geelong Amateur and has proven to be a hit at the Demons. A nicely balanced player with 20 goals from 17 matches.
Mitch Farmer (Nullawil) – Golden Rivers
The former Richmond and Port Adelaide player has been the leading goalkicker in the Golden River Football League, kicking 83 goals in 14 games. He’s featured in the best players in 11 of them and kicked seven or more goals per game in six matches. Farmer finished inside the top six in the competition’s best and fairest.
Rhys Free (Cohuna, Central Murray)
The leading goalscorer in the Central Murray Football League with 78 goals in 18 matches. Has kicked seven goals or more in five games this season. This is Free’s second full season at Cohuna after joining from Rochester at the end of 2019.
Benjamin Fuller (Balranald) – Central Murray
The forward has kicked 69 goals in 13 games for the club this year. This includes nine games with five goals or more. Fuller is a stalwart of the club, kicking more than 300 goals in his time at the Kangaroos.
Corey Gregg (Marong, Loddon Valley)
Caught the eye in his second season with the club to finish equal in the league best and fairest alongside Brandyn Grenfell.
Brandyn Grenfell (Marong, Loddon Valley)
Set a new league record for goals in a season with 145 from just 17 matches. Will be dreaming of premiership success this weekend.
Brody Haddow (Donald, North Central)
The former South Bendigo player enjoyed a fine season for the grand finalists with 16 appearances in the best and 31 goals. A talented onballer who won back-to-back best and fairest at his former club.
Gedd Hommelhoff (Wycheproof Narraport, North Central)
In what was a difficult season for his side, Hommelhoff showed plenty of determination and fight. Arrived at the start of the season from Eaglehawk. Finished equal third in the league medal.
Jordan Humphreys (Nullawil) – Golden Rivers
The utility has averaged more than one goal a game for the minor premiers this year. Humphreys, in 17 matches this year, has been in the best players in all but one of them. He finished second in the best and fairest in the competition.
Elliot Jaeschke (Birchip Watchem, North Central)
Named in the best on 11 occasions this season, the second most of any Bulls player. Has enjoyed a fine first season and will be hoping to cap it with a premiership this weekend. Finished equal third in the league medal.
Martin Kelly (Kerang) – Central Murray
Kelly has been one of the standouts for the minor premiers this year. Has been among the best, featuring in the best players in 12 out of his 15 games this season. The midfielder has now played 100 games for the club.
Dylan Klemm (North Bendigo, Heathcote District)
Klemm built on an impressive first season with the competition powerhouse with 52 goals in 17 games in year two. Named in the best on eight occasions.
Corey Lowry (Wedderburn, North Central)
One of the stars of the Redbacks’ line-up, Lowry consistently appeared among the better players for his side.
Billy Micevski (Pyramid Hill, Loddon Valley)
Recently took out the Loddon Valley league best and fairest with 23 votes after a standout season. The midfielder’s side fell in the preliminary final at the weekend.
Billy McInnes (Sea Lake Nandaly, North Central)
One of the best forwards in the competition, McInnes again enjoyed a strong season with 62 goals in 17 games.
Heath Moloney (Moulamein) – Golden Rivers
The centre-half back has been one of the key pillars of the defence this year for Moulamein, helping the team to the grand final. He finished fifth in the best and fairest for the competition. Moloney joined the club in 2021 after playing in the Northern Territory.
Angus Monfries (Lake Boga) – Central Murray
The former Essendon and Port Adelaide AFL player has kicked 45 goals in 14 games despite hamstring issues hampering his season. Monfries had a day out earlier this year kicking 11 goals against Swan Hills in round four. He’s been at Lake Boga since 2021.
Jydon Neagle (Balranald) – Central Murray
The Balranald player averages almost two goals a game as a forward for the Kangaroos this season. He’s also been in the best players 13 out of 14 games for the club. Neagle is the co-coach at the side after playing for Wodonga Raiders in the Ovens and Murray and Central Districts in the SANFL.
Braden Padmore (Heathcote, Heathcote District)
Finished second in the Heathcote District league medal after an impressive first season with Mt Pleasant. Kicked 37 goals and was named in the best on nine occasions after crossing from Essendon District league club Moonee Valley. Named in the team of the year.
Emile Pavlich (Bridgewater, Loddon Valley)
Could cap off a remarkable year with a premiership this weekend if his side can overcome a powerful Marong outfit.
Tyler Phillips (Lockington Bamawm United, Heathcote District)
Made it back-to-back league best and fairest this year winning the count by a whopping 15 votes after collecting 34 of his own. Played a key part in LBU’s first premiership since 2014.
Brayden Pitcher (Tooleybuc Manangatang) – Central Murray
Pitcher has been one of the positives for Tooleybuc Managatang as the club finished bottom in the competition. The forward kicked 39 goals in 16 games and accounted for more than 25 per cent of the teams scoring total for the year.
Jacob Simpson (Lake Boga) – Central Murray
Another player who has been in the best players in each game he’s played this season. The ruckman has been among the best in all 16 games he’s played this year. Simpson joined the club this year after playing for Maroochydore in Queensland.
Lochlan Sirett (Birchip Watchem, North Central)
Sirett was a star recruit for the Bulls this season after crossing from Colbinabbin. Fifteen seemed to be his magic number after kicking that many goals and being named in the best in 15 out of 16 games.
Kane Timmins (Wandella) – Golden Rivers
Finished third in the best and fairest in the competition. The midfielder played 16 games and featured in the best players 10 times for his club. He also kicked 14 goals.
Ross Turner (Mitiamo, Loddon Valley)
The former Kangaroo Flat man enjoyed another bright season for his side to be one of the league’s most consistent players.
Matthew Wade (Swan Hill) – Central Murray
Wade is one of two players to be named among the best in every game he’s played this year. The Swan Hill player-coach is also leading the Central Murray MVP’s award, polling 51 votes for the year. The midfielder has been a leading player at the club since joining Swan Hill in 2015.
Aaron Walklate (Charlton, North Central)
An experienced head in a Charlton side who failed to win a game this season. Continues to impress.
Jobee Warde (Leitchville Gunbower, Heathcote District)
Despite his side winning just one game and finishing last, developing ruckman Warde made his presence felt after crossing from Goulburn Valley league powerhouse Echuca.
Ben Weightman (Mount Pleasant, Heathcote District)
Another superb season from the power forward with 69 goals which helped him earn a top-five finish in the league medal. Unfortunately fell short of premiership success with the Mounts going down in the grand final.
Ricky Wild (Quambatook) – Golden Rivers
This year’s Golden Rivers Football League best and fairest. He averaged one goal a game, in 18 matches, and was in the best players in more than half of the matches during the regular season. Wild has been a Quambatook player since 2019 and will need to find a new club next year after the Saints announced this year would be its last.
Ross Young (Donald, North Central)
Took out the league best and fairest last month after a brilliant season with Donald, nine clear of his nearest opposition. This year was his second at the club having previously played for Uni Blues in the VAFA. He won the WAFL’s Sandover Medal in 2009.
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