Weekly Times’ Top 50 players in country footy in 2023

With another country footy season wrapped up, new top-talent players have challenged the old guard for the right to be named the year’s top players.

David Johnston

4 min read

September 26, 2023 - 5:00AM

The Weekly Times

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Recruiting a player fresh from the AFL is what every country club dreams about.

An added bonus is they prove to be a star player.

Such was the case with Will Hayes, who returned to his original club Euroa after 11 AFL senior matches with Western Bulldogs and Carlton, and blitzed the Goulburn Valley league.

He was the complete package.

High possession counts, hit the scoreboard in most matches and logged impressive tackle numbers.

Unfortunately for Euroa, Hayes suffered an ankle injury in the second week of finals and the team fell just short of making the grand final.

He might not have won the league’s Morrison Medal, but he is The Weekly Times’ No.1 player in country footy in 2023.

1 WILL HAYES, Euroa, Goulburn Valley

Former Carlton and Western Bulldogs player Will Hayes starred for Euroa in the Goulburn Valley league. Picture: Matthew Mills

Hayes lit up the Goulburn Valley in his first season back in the league following stints with Western Bulldogs and Carlton.

He was a dominant midfielder who also worked hard defensively and kicked goals in most games.

2 BRETT BEWLEY, Darley, Ballarat

Former Fremantle player Brett Bewley won back-to-back Henderson Medals. Picture: Andy Brownbill

In his second year back at Darley, Bewley completed back-to-back wins in the Henderson Medal.

He averaged 38 possessions in games and booted 33 goals and became a Darley premiership player in a season to remember.

3 DECLAN KEILTY, Moe, Gippsland

Former Melbourne player Declan Keilty coached Moe to a top-three finish this season. Picture: Michael Klein

Keilty was the best key defender in country footy this season, regularly producing goal-saving acts of brilliance in leading a team that finished top three.

4 HAMISH HOSKING, Sandhurst, Bendigo

Sandhurst ruckman Hamish Hosking. Picture: SAA Imaging

Hosking backed up a strong first season with Sandhurst last year with an even better 2023.

The man-mountain ruckman was pivotal in a team that finished minor premiers and lost the grand final narrowly to Golden Square.

5 SAM REID, Echuca, Goulburn Valley

Echuca co-coach Sam Reid has starred for Goulburn Valley club Echuca. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Restricted to only eight games last year, injury-free Reid delivered in spades for the best team in the GV. Tough, skilful, kicked goals and starred in Echuca’s latest grand final victory.

6 CALLUM MOORE, Wangaratta, Ovens & Murray

Wangaratta’s Callum Moore produced another brilliant season in the Ovens & Murray. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Moore was the player opposition O&M clubs feared most. The matchwinning key forward booted 81 goals and could also pinch hit in the ruck.

7 TOM WILLIAMSON, Ararat, Wimmera

Ararat’s Tom Williamson played a key role in the club’s premiership in the Wimmera league. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Fresh out of AFL ranks, Williamson provided a touch of class in various roles to the eventual premiers. He also lifted in the grand final when his team needed him most.

8 RYAN SPARKES, Wonthaggi, Gippsland

Wonthaggi's Ryan Sparkes took his game to another level in 2023. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

Sparkes was the young gun of the Gippsland league. A highly rated smooth mover, he could hurt opposition with his pinpoint disposal.

9 FRASER FORT, South Barwon, Geelong

South Barwon’s Fraser Fort made a big impression in his return from the SANFL. Picture: Mark Wilson

SANFL recruit Fort played a big role in the resurgence of South Barwon this season.

He tied with teammate Matt Caldow in the Geelong league’s Mathieson Medal.

10 JYDON NEAGLE, Balranald, Central Murray

Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Neagle had another brilliant season with the added responsibilities of coaching.

An inspirational onfield leader, he can play just about anywhere on the ground.

Premiership success narrowly eluded him with Balranald going down in a thriller to Kerang.

RANKINGS 11-50

11 HAMISH SINNOTT, Camperdown, Hampden

A rising star of the Hampden league, Sinnott took out the Maskell Medal following two seasons on Carlton’s VFL list.

12 JACK O’SULLIVAN, Seymour, Goulburn Valley

Talented onballer O’Sullivan claimed a second Morrison Medal in three years and also captained GV against Ovens & Murray in 2023.

13 NOAH WHEELER, Eaglehawk, Bendigo

Eaglehawk’s midfield dynamo Wheeler had a stellar season, which sadly ended with a serious knee injury in the finals series.

14 MATTHEW WADE, Swan Hill, Central Murray

Tenacious onballer Wade added a third Jack Betts Medal to his collection with a fantastic season for Swan Hill.

15 ELLIOTT POWELL, Albury, Ovens & Murray

An explosive midfielder, Powell is in his second stint with Albury and won the Morris Medal this year.

16 DAN NICHOLSON, South Warrnambool, Hampden

Lured back to the Hampden league from two seasons with district club Russells Creek, Nicholson played a starring role at South Warrnambool which won the flag.

17 TOM TOMA, Golden Square, Bendigo

Top-line midfielder Toma returned to Golden Square from Cohuna Kangas, and provided the spark the club was chasing in its successful pursuit of a premiership.

18 SHANNEN LANGE, Sale, Gippsland

Lange was an undisputed star of the Gippsland league with a second Trood Award and Rodda Medal, helping lift Sale into finals after a sluggish start.