Named: The SFL’s best players since 2000

The Southern Football league has been home to some of Tasmania’s top local footballers throughout the 2st century. Now we’ve named the best to play in the competition since 2000.

The Southern Football League has endured a rich history of having great players.

Now we’ve gone through the history books to profile some of the best since 2000.

Michael McGregor

Kermandie’s Michael McGregor was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

In the first year of the new millennium, McGregor booted 104 goals for Kermandie, winning the leading goalkickers award, showcasing his skill by foot and power up forward. McGregor is also a SFL life member. McGregor was also Kermandie coach in 2000 as his side won the premiership over New Norfolk.

Damien Dillon

Cygnet’s Damien Dillon was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

One of Tasmania’s biggest football advocates, Dillon was arguably one of the best players to have played the game, winning the Hodgman Medal in 2001 lining up for Cygnet. Dillon played in the Cygnet 2002 and 2004 Cygnet premierships.

Matthew Jones

Jones was a tough nut who represented New Norfolk in the SFL. The quick hands, and smart ball movement were keys to his dominance in 2002, which saw him William Leitch Medal.

Brendon Bolton

North Hobart’s Brendon Bolton was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Not many could forget ‘Bolts’. The former Carlton coach once dominated the SFL as captain-coach of North Hobart, guiding them to the premiership in 2003 where he won the Horrie Gorringe Medal.

Brock Ackerley

New Norfolk’s Brock Ackerley was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Another New Norfolk dominance. Ackerley was one of the toughest players in the game, who had a breakout year with fellow New Norfolk player Roger Belcher, both together winning the William Leitch Medal as SFL best-and-fairest in 2004.

Roger Belcher

New Norfolk's Roger Belcher was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Belcher was part of a dominant New Norfolk side during the 2000s, helping them to the 2005 premiership but falling short on a number of occasions. In 2004, he was a joint winner of the William Leitch Medal with fellow New Norfolk star Brock Ackerley but in 2009 when his side won the premiership, Belcher was the stand-alone winner, winning his second William Leitch Medal.

Micheal Darcy

Cygnet’s Micheal Darcy was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Hard to go past Darcy’s efforts in the early 2000s. The power forward kicked 100 goals, four times in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007 for Cygnet. You could also include his 106 in 1998 as well.

Nathan Ross

New Norfolk’s Nathan Ross was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Ross burst onto the scene for New Norfolk during pretty dominant period with Roos winning two grand final best on grounds in 2013 and 2014 to go along with William Leitch Medals in 2011 and 2013.

David Newett

Glenorchy’s David Newett was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Glenorchy’s very own David Newett was a seriously good talent and one who didn’t hold back when putting his body on the line. His ball use by foot and hand were of the highest level as Newett went on to claim the William Leitch Medal in 2005.

Michael Cassidy

Lindisfarne’s Michael Cassidy was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

In 2017 and 2018, Cassidy was the leading competition goalkicker and helped Lindisfarne claim the 2018 flag also being awarded the Gorringe-Martyn Medallist for best on ground in the grand final.

Jesse Crouch

Glenorchy’s Jesse Crouch was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Another tough footballer to come out of Glenorchy, it was the year of 2006 the Magpies fell short of a premiership, but it drove the hunger in Crouch and his players to claim the flag just 12 months later. Crouch won the William Leitch Medal in 2006.

Troy Cunliffe

Lindisfarne’s Troy Cunliffe was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Cunliffe was part of a dominant era for Lindisfarne, the side which went undefeated in 2016, where Cunliffe won his first William Leitch Medal, but lost to Claremont in the grand final. The skilful midfielder wasn’t going to let it happen two years in a row, as he helped his side to the 2017 premiership, the same year he won his second William Leitch Medal.

Sam Hall

Another star who played vital roles in the premierships for New Norfolk during the 2009-2014 era, losing just the 2011 grand final. Hall was named the best player in the 2009 decider, winning the Gorringe-Martyn Medal.

Grant King

Kingborough’s Grant King was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

During the early 2010s New Norfolk were unbeatable, winning five out of six grand finals, with the only loss coming to King’s Kingborough Tigers in 2011 where he lead the side to a brilliant victory, while also claiming the Gorringe-Martyn Medal for best on ground in the grand final.

Sean Salter

Claremont’s Sean Salter was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

During Claremont’s dominant couple of years in the mid 2010s, a lot was thanks to the skillet of forward Salter who kicked 101 goals in the 2015 premiership season and backed it up with 80 in the following premiership year.

Brad Carver

New Norfolk’s Brad Carver was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Another star out of New Norfolk, Carver was one of the greats not just through the season but on grand final day he would stand up in big moments. Carver won the William Leitch Medal in 2007 but his most memorable game was in the 2012 grand final guiding his side to another premiership, while claiming the Gorringe-Martyn Medal.

James Lange

Huonville’s James Lange was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Lange was the first Huonville Lion to win the William Leitch Medal in 2010 after a strong year which had the likes of fellow dominance of Belcher, Hall, King from rivals. Lange’s attack on the footy was what separated him from the rest in 2010, his cleanliness and class was above.

Nathan Brown

Brown was one of the big reasons the Magpies won the 2015 and 2016 premiership with the big bodied midfielder not afraid to throw his weight around and get dirty when needed. Brown won the 2015 William Leitch Medal and returned to the Magpies in 2024 as senior coach.

Shane Piuselli

Glenorchy’s Shane Piuselli was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

In 2008, Glenorchy won its second premiership in as many years and looked to be on the right track to become one of the powerhouses of the competition and a lot to do with that was thanks to Piuselli. The crafty footballer was elite by hand and foot and made things look in slow motion at times. Piuselli won the 2008 William Leitch Medal.

Michael Thompson

New Norfolk’s Michael Thompson was one of the best players of the SFL over the past 25 years.

Thompson was another dominant player during a dominant era for New Norfolk, helping them win five flags in six years. Another strong on baller, Thompson was inducted to the SFL Life Members which goes along with his 2012 William Leitch Medal. Thompson was also named best on ground in the 2005 SFL Premier League grand final.

Todd Pepper

Pepper played for Kermandie in the 00s and was known to have one of the smartest footy brains in the competition.

Jamie Curran

A strongly built ruckman for Dodges Ferry. Good overall skills and can play at either end of the ground. Was given SFL life membership in 2025.

Jamie Ling

Another great from Dodges Ferry, Ling played more than 100 games for the Sharks during the 2000s before moving to Brighton as a player-coach.

Anthony Baker

Baker was the Tony Martyn Medallist in the Kermandie’s 2007 premiership, knocking off Huonville, being named best on ground.

Jaye Bowden

Bowden played more than 250 games for Glenorchy and was one of the best players in the 2010s.

David Kamaric

Another great from Glenorchy, Kamaric’s footy smarts were a class above.

Originally published as Named: The SFL’s best players since 2000