We name the greatest 20 players of the DVFL/NFL since 2000
How do you measure greatness at local footy level? Flags, best-and-fairests, longevity? There have been some truly great players in the DVFL/NFL in the past 20 years and we’ve tried to pick the top 20. See if you agree.
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It’s not often Brent Harvey gets overlooked when it comes to Aussie Rules debates.
However, when it comes to the greatest players from the past 20 years in the Diamond Valley/Northern Football League, he is left in the shadows.
Brother Shane Harvey and cousin Blair Harvey are towering figures in the competition’s history and along with Bundoora greats Matthew Dennis and Gary Moorcroft are battling for the top spot.
BEST OF: TOP 20 PLAYERS OF THE EFL SINCE 2000
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BEST OF: TOP 20 PLAYERS OF THE WRFL SINCE 2000
After leaving the AFL ranks Shane has been an unstoppable force in North Heidelberg’s forward line, while Blair led Heidelberg to a historic four-peat.
A measure of the strength of the competition is who you leave out and the likes of Matthew Vasilevski, Gavan Connelly, Jason Kennedy, Rob Maiorana and Patrick Flynn can count themselves unlucky.
Leader reporter Ben Higgins – with some invaluable advice from league stalwarts Blair Harvey, Mario Bandera, Fabian Carelli and NFL media manager Samuel Zito – names the best of best.
VOTE FOR WHO YOU THINK SHOULD BE No.1 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COUNTDOWN
20. AHMED SAAD (West Preston-Lakeside)
Premierships: 2018, 2019
NFL leading goalkicker: 2017, 2019
Club leading goalkicker: 2017, 2018, 2019
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2017, 2018, 2019
Despite only being in the league for the past three years, Saad has made a lasting impact. The goalkicking wizard has been a key foundation in the Roosters back-to-back premierships. In those three seasons he’s kicked 231 majors, claiming two league goalkicking crowns and been named in the Team of the Year every season. Could be much higher next time we do a countdown.
BEST OF: TOP 20 PLAYERS OF THE MPNFL SINCE 2000
RETURN: RULES TO ALLOW LOCAL FOOTY TRAINING
BEST OF: BEST FIVE YARRA VALLEY TEAMS SINCE 2000
19. CAMERON CLOKE (Bundoora/ Hurstbridge)
Premierships: 2011, 2013
Rosbrook Medal: 2013
Div 1 leading goalkicker: 2013
Club B&F: 2011, 2013
Club leading goalkicker: 2013
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013
Might have only been in the league for four years at the peak of his powers but what a four years they were. Two premierships and Bundoora club champion awards in each. Cloke’s 2013 was one for the record books as he claimed a premiership medal and Rosbrook Medal double. Joined Hurstbridge last season and was appointed playing assistant coach for 2020.
18. DARCY BARDEN (Lower Plenty)
Premierships: 2011 (D2), 2017 (D2)
Div 2 league B&F: 2011
Club B&F: 2013, 2014
Grand final BOG: 2011
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2013, 2014. Div 2: 2011, 2017, 2018
The commanding centre half-forward had a chip on his shoulder in 2011 after missing out at the AFL Draft and the Bears were the beneficiaries as Barden led the club to its first senior premiership since 1999 and won the Division 2 league medal. After a one-year stint in the WAFL, Barden returned to his home club in 2013 leading it through relegation in 2016 to a bounce back Division 2 flag in 2017.
17. LIONEL PROCTOR (Northcote Park/ Fitzroy Stars)
Div 2 league B&F: 2008, 2012
Club B&Fs: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Div 2 Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
The smooth moving midfielder played 20 games for Richmond before joining Northcote Park. However, it was at Fitzroy Stars he became a NFL great and one of the best players in the competition for nearly a decade. Despite playing the majority of his career in Division 2, “Jacko” was in both Fabian Carelli and Mario Bandera’s top 20s.
16. PATRICK FITZGERALD (Montmorency)
Div 1 leading goalkicker: 2014
Club B&F: 2010, 2017
Club leading goalkicker: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
A dominant presence in the Magpies’ forward line, Fitzpatrick has well over 500 goals on his resume. NFL records are fuzzy on the competition’s greatest goalkickers but there is little doubt the big man would be high on the list after arriving on the scene in 2008. Has been in the league’s top five forwards for eight straight years.
15.FABIAN CARELLI (West Preston-Lakeside/ Montmorency)
Premierships: 2003
Frank Smith Medal: 2003
Club B&F: 2005
Had already had a distinguished career in the VFL when he arrived at Moore Park but would go on to become a great of the Diamond Valley league. Carelli captained the Roosters to the merged club’s first flag in 2003 and took out the league best-and-fairest in the same season. Former Collingwood teammate and fellow Smith Medallist Mario Bandera said few players could match his footy IQ and ball-winning ability in tight.
14. BRAYDEN SHAW (Bundoora/ Hurstbridge)
Premierships: 2011, 2013, 2016 (D2)
Grand Finals BOG: 2013, 2016
It sounds silly to describe Shaw as under-rated given he’s a three-time premiership captain and one of the key planks in Bundoora’s dominance in the 2010s but that is probably the way he liked it. He joined Hurstbridge in 2015 and helped lift the club back to the NFL’s top flight with another grand final masterclass before a devastating concussion brought a sudden end to his playing career.
13. DANIEL KING (Epping/Montmorency)
Frank Smith Medal: 2004, 2005
Club B&F: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009
King was the dominant ruckman of his era and his two DVFL Frank Smith Medals are testament to his prowess. The star big man arrived at Epping after stints at VFL clubs Williamstown and North Ballarat in 2003 and joined Montmorency in 2008 after the Pingers were relegated, playing in the Pies’ 2008 grand final defeat. Epping Team of the Century member.
12. BRONIK DAVIES (Northcote Park)
Premierships: 2012
Rosbrook Medal: 2012, 2014
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
The Alphington junior was always coming back to Bill Lawry Oval after stints with Preston (VFL) and West Adelaide (SANFL). He made an instant impact, winning the league medal in his second season before captaining his club to its first premiership since 2002. Davies would win another Rosbrook Medal in 2014 but unbelievably hasn’t won a club best-and-fairest, finishing second four times.
11. LUCAS HOBBS (Heidelberg/ Whittlesea/ Macleod)
Premierships: 2010 (Div 2), 2013 (Div 2), 2015
Rosbrook Medal: 2018
Club B&F: 2010, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018
Grand final BOG: 2010
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. Div 2: 2013
Had been a star of the competition for close to a decade and confirmed it with a maiden Rosbrook Medal win in 2018 when he tied with Heidelberg skipper Michael Brunelli. Twice helped Whittlesea win promotion before crossing to the Roos in 2015 and playing a key role in the club’s drought-breaking Division 1 flag.
10. KANE SHAW (Macleod)
Premierships: 2009 (D2), 2015
Club B&F: 2005, 2008, 2011
Div 1 Coaches’ MVP: 2011
Grand Final BOG: 2009
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2012. Div 2: 2008, 2009
Arguably the main driver that took Macleod from mid-table Division 2 to Division 1 powerhouse. Named captain at just 19 in 2005, the Roos lost three Division 2 deciders in a row before breaking through in 2009 as Shaw claimed best on ground honours. The defender would then lead the club to its first top flight flag since 1971 in 2015 and three more grand finals.
9. DANIEL KEENAN (Hurstbridge/ Montmorency)
Rosbrook Medal: 2008, 2009
Club B&F: 2002, 2003, 2011
NFL games record holder: 402
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014
There have been few players like him at community level in Australia, let alone in the DVFL/NFL. Keenan debuted in 1998, making him the only player on this list to play the entire 2000s era. Fellow league best-and-fairest winner Fabian Carelli aptly said “consistently good for 10-plus years like no other”. Might have been higher if not for four grand final defeats.
8. JUSTIN WHITE (Macleod)
Premierships: 2009 (D2), 2015
Club B&F: 2013, 2019
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. Div 2: 2009
In the conversation for the unluckiest player in DVFL/NFL history. A runner-up in the Rosbrook Medal three times and three straight grand final defeats with Macleod. However, that shouldn’t detract from one of the most distinguished careers of the past 20 years. His brilliance underlined by nine straight Team of the Year awards.
7. NICK RIDDLE (Greensborough)
Premierships: 2014
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Club B&F: 2011, 2018
NFL inter-league best player: 2017, 2019
Arguably the best defender in the DVFL/NFL since the turn of the millennium. The Greensborough star served as Collingwood VFL co-captain for a season in 2013 before returning to War Memorial Park full-time, earning selection in the Division 1 Team of the Year every season since 2015. Two community championships inter-league medals add further shine to his resume.
6. DANNY NOLAN (Heidelberg)
Premierships: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Club B&F: 2004, 2007, 2012, 2013
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2007, 2012
From 2004 to 2013 there weren’t many better players in the competition than Nolan. A key member in the Tigers’ dominant era as they won five premierships – including four straight – and played in nine consecutive grand finals. Twice named club champion in premiership years and retired on a high with a fourth – and second straight – Heidelberg B&F in 2013.
5. DALE NOLAN (Heidelberg)
Premierships: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2018 (D2)
Grand Final BOG: 2006
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Claims family bragging rights over brother Danny thanks to a sixth premiership when he helped Lower Plenty claim the 208 Division 2 crown. Regarded as the era’s best swingman, Nolan could turn matches at either end of the ground. Named NFL full-back of the year from 2007-09 before moving forward and kicking a bag of 12 against North Heidelberg in 2011 and 49 in 12 games in 2012.
4. GARY MOORCROFT (Bundoora)
Premierships: 2011, 2013, 2017
NFL leading goalkicker: 2012, 2016
Club leading goalkicker: 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Stiff to be No.4 in his countdown because he’s been such a wonderful servant of Bundoora and the Northern Football League. Arrived in 2011 and helped the Bulls break its grand final hoodoo after seven defeats dating back to 1997. Moorcroft then played key roles on the 2013 and 2017 flags, kicking the winner against Macleod in the latter. Retired in 2019 at 43 with close to 600 goals.
3. BLAIR HARVEY (Heidelberg/ North Heidelberg)
Premierships: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017 (D2)
Club B&F: 2001, 2006
Grand final BOG: 2008
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2007, 2008, 2013
One of the great leaders of the past 20 years. Harvey played in 12 grand finals and nine straight between 2004 and 2012. After a decorated career with Heidelberg, he would cross the road to team up with cousins Brent and Shane to guide North Heidelberg back to the top flight. Now a coaching success as well after guiding Whittlesea to a Division 2 flag in his first season in charge last year.
2. SHANE HARVEY (North Heidelberg)
Premierships: 2014 (D2), 2017 (D2)
Rosbrook Medal: 2008
Div 1 leading goalkicker: 2008, 2009, 2018. Div 2: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017
Club B&F: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015
Club leading goalkicker: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Grand Finals BOG: 2014
Div 2 Coaches’ MVP: 2013, 2014
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2019. Div 2: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Harvey was nigh unstoppable for a decade and can still win games for North Heidelberg off his own boot. Achieved a rare feat by winning the Rosbrook Medal in his first season in the competition when he kicked 108 goals. Jointly holds the club record with 17 majors in a single game and after 65 goals last season is just 10 away from 1000. Has been named in the competition team of the year every single season he’s been at Shelley Reserve. An astounding achievement.
1. MATTHEW DENNIS (Bundoora)
Premierships: 2011, 2013, 2017
Rosbrook Medal: 2012, 2016, 2017
Club B&F: 2012, 2016, 2017
Grand Final BOG: 2017
Div 1 Team of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
Has there been a more dominant big man in the competition in the past 20 years? It would be hard to argue otherwise. The second man to win three league best-and-fairests and has featured in the Division 1 Team of the Year seven times in his nine years with Bundoora. Collected just about every bit of silverware available in 2017 in what must be one of the great individual seasons.
