The best young guns in the Gippsland league revealed

There’s plenty of exciting young talent within the ranks of Gippsland league clubs. Here’s a look at the best.

In every competition there are always the next generation of stars who show glimpses of their potential, or take the game on and dominate.

The Gippsland football league is no different with multiple players taking centre stage this season to be among the best in the competition.

We’ve compiled a list of the best who have impressed this year in the Gippsland league.

VFL players are listed but they must had played more than six games for their local club in 2023.

So here are the best young guns this season.

Cooper Alger was the rookie of the year in the Gippsland league. Picture: Warragul Football Netball Club.

Cooper Alger, Warragul

Alger has comeback well after suffering a serious eye injury last year. He played 15 games and been in the best in almost half. He won the competition’s rookie of the year award.

Noah Anderson’s had a great year as young gun. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Noah Anderson, Wonthaggi

A lively forward for the Power. Anderson, who made the list last year, kicked 35 goals in 19 games to help the team make the grand final.

Riley Baldi, Moe

A hard working midfielder and forward who has impressed for Moe. He played 14 games, kicked 10 goals and was among the best in 12 games. Baldi also played seven games for Casey this season.

Hugo Birks had a great season for Drouin. Picture: Drouin Football Netball Club.

Hugo Birks, Drouin

A tall forward who is a rising star. Birks kicked 44 goals in 14 games for the bottom-placed Drouin. Last year he played for the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League.

Jesse Burns, Leongatha

The zippy young gun who’s been key to helping Leongatha make the grand final. He’s played 16 games and kicked 13 goals. His performances were rewarded with selection as one of the rookies of the year.

Blake Couling, Morwell

The midfielder played every game for the Tigers this year. Couling was also selected in the Gippsland League All Stars match.

Sam Davidson, Maffra

Has averaged 1.5 goals a game since making the move to Maffra during the season from South Mildura. Davidson used to play for St Kevin’s in the VAFA.

Luis D’Angelo, Traralgon

Another young midfielder doing great things at Traralgon. He played 19 games this season and was among the best in 12. D’Arrigo last year played for Box Hill in the VFL.

Harry Dawson, Wonthaggi

Has worked hard over the past few weeks to come back to the side after missing a few games in the middle of the year. The small forward has played 11 games for the Power, kicking eight goals as a small forward. Dawson is a former Gippsland Power player.

Thomas Evans, Drouin

The winger had a great season for the Hawks after playing in the VFL last year for Williamstown. He played 18 games, kicked 13 goals and been in the best in five.

Jenson Garnham was the leading goalscorer for Leongatha this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jenson Garnham, Leongatha

The leading goalscorer for the Parrots this season in his first year at the club. Garnham’s kicked 51 in 21 games, helping the team to make the grand final. Last year he played for Inverloch-Kongwak.

Joshua Hamilton's had a great season at Traralgon, averaging almost a goal a game. Picture: Traralgon Football Netball League.

Joshua Hamilton, Traralgon

Capable of playing in the midfield and in the forward line. He played 16 games this season and kicked 14 goals. Hamilton also made five appearances for the Gippsland Power.

Tom Hamilton, Traralgon

The ruckman has found his feet in his first year of senior footy. He played 17 games and was among the best in more than half.

Traralgon’s Tye Hourigan breaks away from Leongatha’s Jenson Garnham earlier this year. Picture: Daniel Heathcote.

Tye Hourigan, Traralgon

One of the leading players at Traralgon. Hourigan played 20 games in the midfield and was among the best in 13.

Thomas Hudson, Bairnsdale

Has averaged a goal a game in the forward line. Last year Hudson won the thirds goalkicking title, kicking 46 goals.

Jack Hutchinson has been a leading forward for the Power this year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jack Hutchinson, Wonthaggi

Hutchinson has been one of the leading forwards to help the Power make the grand final. He’s kicked 33 goals in 13 games, including four in the qualifying final against Leongatha.

Jack Hume used to play for Box Hill in the VFL. This year, he’s been a great young gun for the Parrots. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jack Hume, Leongatha

The Parrot’s player was involved in 17 games and kicked 21 goals in the forward line, helping the team to make the grand final. Last year, he played for Box Hill in the VFL.

Wonthaggi’s Brodie Mabilia tackles Leongatha’s Thomas Marriott. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Brodie Mabilia, Wonthaggi

Been impressive for the Power after coming back from an ACL injury. Mabilia can do it all, play in the midfield, up forward or off half-back. He’s played 19 games, kicked 12 goals and been in the best in 10.

Cody Macdonald, Morwell

Injury has hurt Macdonald this season but when he’s played, he’s been one of the best.

Morwell’s Brandon Mcauliffe gets his shirt ripped off in a tackle against Sale last year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Brandon Mcauliffe, Morwell

The forward-midfielder played 18 games this year and was in the best in half.

Wonthaggi’s Cooper McInnes is a leading forward in the competition. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Cooper McInnes, Wonthaggi

Has impressed for Wonthaggi after making the move from Tarwin in the off-season. He’s kicked 53 goals in 16 games to be one of the best forwards in the competition.

Harvey Neocleous is a classy midfielder doing great things at not on Traralgon but Casey in the VFL. Picture: Traralgon Football Netball Club.

Harvey Neocleous, Traralgon

A classy midfielder who played 10 games for Casey in the VFL this season. Neocleous also played 11 games for Traralgon and kicked 14 goals. He was among the best in four matches.

Moe’s Harrison Pepper lines up for goal in the Lions' first round win against Morwell this year. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

Harrison Pepper, Moe

The former Box Hill player was one of the best for Moe this season. Pepper kicked 42 goals in 18 games, including four goals in two finals.

Kade Ruyters (middle) is a young gun at Traralgon. Picture: Traralgon Football Netball Club.

Kade Ruyters, Traralgon

Kicked a goal a game in his first full season senior footy at Traralgon.

Wonthaggi's Ryan Sparkes. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

Ryan Sparkes, Wonthaggi

The winger has helped the Power make the grand final after another impressive season. He’s played 17 games, kicked 10 goals and was among the best in 11.

Tom Thatcher, Maffra

Averaged almost a goal a game for Maffra He played 12 games for the club this year and made the list of the young guns last year.

Leongatha’s Jake van der Pligt tries to handball the ball away from a tackle. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Jake van der Pligt, Leongatha

The talented midfielder has had another great season for the Parrots. He’s played 12 games and been in the best in five.

Tristan Waack playing for Palmerston in the Northern Territory competition last year. Picture Glenn Campbell

Tristan Waack, Morwell

The versatile player is one of the best young guns in the competition. Waack played 13 games for Morwell, kicking 10 goals. He also played for Box Hill in the VFL making six appearances including two in the finals.

Sam Walsh, Morwell

He played 18 games this season and was among the best in eight. Playing off halfback, Walsh has been one of the best for the Tigers.

Cooper Whitehill, Sale

The midfielder played every game this season for the Magpies, helping the team to make the finals. He kicked four goals and was in the best players in four games out of 19.