Local footy: Best 20 players in EFL Division 4 ranked
The pecking order in the EFL’s Division 4 has seen a significant shift since the end of 2019, but who are the best of the best among the current crop and who was stiff to miss out? Find out here.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The EFL Division 4 pecking order has seen a fair shake-up across the past 12 months.
Fairpark broke a 24-year premiership drought and was promoted, with fellow grand finalist East Burwood following suit and moved up the league’s ranks to Division 3 after its request was granted last October.
With the top two grand final sides promoted and more of the division’s top talent either moving on and in some cases retiring, just nine of the 22 selected in the 2019 Division 4 Team of the Year remain, so assembling a list such as this was always going to be challenging. But it signals a changing of the guard throughout the division from 2021 onwards.
Seven clubs feature, along with four new names to the division which are set to figure among the comp’s best - however priority has been given to those who played in Division 4 last season.
1. DARCY CARRIGAN (COLDSTREAM)
The star midfielder has become his club’s most important player in recent seasons, amassing possessions each week and cutting sides to ribbons with his pace, ball-use, awareness and goal-sense. Won the league’s Division 4 comp best and fairest award in 2018 and finished runner-up by a mere three votes last season as he took out his club’s champion award. Co-captain of the Cougars alongside Lauchlan Craig, Carrigan burst onto the scene in 2016 when he took out the Leader Young Gun Award, and has been a consistent standout since.
2. TRENT GEORGIOU (SILVAN)
The former Mooroolbark Mustang made his name as a star defender across 13 years at Heights Reserve before moving onto Silvan in 2019 where he earned selection at centre half-back in the Team of the Year – his fifth overall nod in his career. Can do damage at either end of the ground however, proving a headache for opposition sides.
3. CHRIS SMITH (SURREY PARK)
The Panthers’ spearhead has booted 80 and 82 goals respectively across the past two seasons and was key to the club’s push for its first finals series in 13 years last season. Vice-like grip of the footy in marking contests and a deadeye kick for goal, earning a second consecutive selection in the Team of the Year last season. One to watch in Division 4 should he go around again in 2021.
4. LEIGH KIMPTON (SILVAN)
Topped the Division 4 goalkicking during the home and away season in 2019 with 79 majors to his name, after making the move from Croydon in the comp’s second tier. Quick on the lead with a great leap and set of hands to match, creative at ground level and reliable in front of the big sticks. Named at centre half-forward in the Team of the Year.
5. LAUCHLAN CRAIG (COLDSTREAM)
The Cougars’ co-captain is as hardworking as there is in Division 4, providing his side with inside grunt and a tough edge at the contest in close. Fierce competitor and as courageous as they come. Received another Team of the Year honour in 2019 where he was named captain - that’s how highly he’s rated.
6. DAMIEN FRISINA (COLDSTREAM)
Joined the Cougars for this year via Surrey Park where he won the club’s best and fairest award in 2019 with his relentless attack on the footy through the midfield, playing a vital role in the Panthers’ finals push. Brings a tough, defensive edge which Coldstream is set to benefit from in the middle.
7. JORDAN WINTER (NUNAWADING)
The ever-reliable Lions’ skipper has been a consistent standout through the middle during his three years at the club, with his weekly impact and commitment to the cause culminating in selection in the Team of the Year last season despite his side finishing seventh of the division’s nine teams. Never takes a backwards step.
8. DANIEL GORDON (COLDSTREAM)
The solid, no-nonsense defender helped Doncaster East to a flag in 2018 before making the move back to Coldstream where he’s slotted in seamlessly. Held down the centre half-back position for the Cougars in 2019 while pinch-hitting in the ruck and was rewarded with selection in the Team of the Year. Tough to beat one-on-one.
9. TRENT MARTIN (SILVAN)
The Cats’ playing coach says he’s keen to go around again in 2021, and why wouldn’t he be. Age hasn’t impacted his ability to find the footy at the contest with his big-bodied presence, setting the standard for the young Cats each week. Received Team of the Year honours in 2019.
10. TODD CLAYTON (COLDSTREAM)
The ruckman brings presence, physicality and mobility to the Cougars’ engine room which has been integral in the club’s climb in recent seasons and has more than earnt his keep at the club since arriving in 2017. The vice-captain continued to produce some of his best in 2019, finishing top 10 in the comp best and fairest count.
11. MAT DOMPIETRO (SURREY PARK)
Runner-up in the Panthers’ best and fairest in his first year at the club last season, having made the move from Emerald where he was captain. The midfielder was named vice-captain of Surrey Park, and he repaid the club’s faith handsomely featuring in his side’s best on 12 of 16 occasions.
12. MICHAEL CASEY (FOREST HILL)
Put together a breakout year last season where he stepped up to become one of his side’s most damaging midfielders on his way to a top-10 finish in the league’s medal count, despite missing a few games - which tells you all you need to know of his impact. Previously played in higher divisions at Rowville and Scoresby before heading to Division 4.
13. TOBIAS GRIFFIN (COLDSTREAM)
Has taken strides in the past couple of seasons to establish himself in the senior side at the Cougars, and took a further step last year on the wing. Has no trouble winning the ball on the inside or the outside and was a key part of his club’s return to the finals. Runner-up in Coldstream’s best and fairest last season and made the initial 30-man Team of the Year squad.
14. COOPER WINTER (NUNAWADING)
Crossed from Park Orchards at the end of 2017 where he featured in the club’s first senior EFL premiership in Division 3, and has since become an integral part of the Lions, linking with brother Jordan. Played all 16 matches last season and featured in the best in 11 of those.
15. MATHEW JACKSON (KILSYTH)
The ex-Mustang produced another leading season for his club in 2019 despite limited team success. Works tirelessly through the middle but can play a variety of roles across the ground, never shirks an issue and has been a consistent performer during his six years at Pinks Reserve. Captain of the club in 2019.
16. BRAD BATTEN-LEITCH (COLDSTREAM)
Has played at a higher level having come from Montrose when it competed in the EFL’s top division, and has handled the switch to Division 4 with aplomb since joining Coldstream in 2019. Can play as a midfielder or forward, but it was inside 50 where he did the most damage last season where he topped the Cougars’ goalkicking - all after missing 2018 through injury.
17. ROB PETRACCA (SILVAN)
The decorated midfielder was a boom recruit for the Cats at the end of 2019, joining from North Ringwood, and is tipped by coach Trent Martin to ‘dominate’ in Division 4. Was runner-up for the EFL’s top individual honour in 2010 - the Chandler Medal - when he was at Blackburn, where he’s a member of the top-flight club’s Team of the Decade. Also featured in Mitcham’s 2015 Division 3 premiership side. A huge boost for Silvan.
18. BEN SLATTERY (CHIRNSIDE PARK)
The relentless ball-winner continued to produce his best throughout 2019 in the Chirnside Park midfield, taking out the club best and fairest and earning selection in the Division 3 Team of the Year. And considering Division 3 last season featured one of the most dominant sides in recent memory while the Panthers toiled through a contrastingly lean year, the TOTY nod speaks volumes of Slattery’s consistency and impact each week and how highly he’s rated. Look out for this star Panther in 2021.
19. JAYDEN HOEGEL (SILVAN)
The prolific forward has headed up the mountain and adds further firepower to the Cats’ attack. Has played in the competition’s top division with Scoresby, Balwyn and North Ringwood, and played in Mitcham’s Division 3 flag in 2015 with his experience in higher grades set to be invaluable for his new side. Could form a potent goalkicking partnership with Silvan’s leading man in attack, Leigh Kimpton. Opposition defences, beware.
20. GRATTAN STEPHENS (CHIRNSIDE PARK)
Anyone who has followed the EFL for a fair while would remember ‘Sticks’ as a premiership player at Vermont and South Croydon many years ago, before a stint with Mooroolbark in recent times. And in 2019, the big man continued to exert his dominance in his first season at Chirnside Park, heading up the ruck division where he didn’t miss a beat, playing all 18 matches. Stephens’ longevity is something to behold where he continues to stand up to the rigours of senior football, and he’s set to go around again at Kimberley Reserve in 2021.
MORE LOCAL FOOTY
EFL PREMIER DIVISION’S TOP 20 PLAYERS RANKED
EFL DIVISION 1’s TOP 20 PLAYERS REVEALED
BEST 20 PLAYERS IN EDFL PREMIER DIVISION RANKED