Abe Ankers and Gabrielle King top CAFL 2023 best players lists
From best and fairest winners to elite goal kicking threats we reveal the best players of the 2023 Central Australian Football League season at the halfway point. Vote for your favourite.
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The 2023 Central Australian Football League has reached its halfway point and players from both the men’s and women’s leagues have left their footprints on the competition.
Senior Men’s ladder leaders Federal remains unbeaten with six wins from as many starts, while women’s frontrunners Alkamilya have also won all eight of their matches.
There’s still plenty of action to come with six more minor round games scheduled before the finals series with the grand final at Traeger Park on September 9.
This publication analysed the players who represent the engine room in their club’s push for finals and ultimately the CAFL’s holy grail.
Have your say on who the best players from the men’s and women’s competitions are in our polls below.
Senior Men’s Top 10
1. Abe Ankers (Federal)
It’s been a massive year for Ankers who finally won an NTFL premiership with Waratah.
The ultimate professional and captain of the unbeaten Federal he has earned the respect of teammate and opponent alike with his clever skills and ability to find the football.
The dual Minahan medallist has been at his best under new coach Sam Laporte in a familiar on-ball role, even starring in a best-on-ground performance for the CAFL rep side against the Tahs in June.
2. Robby Bartee (Federal)
A versatile player who can play through the middle, up forward and down back with equal force.
Bartee’s body type is similar to several great CAFL players down the years and his current form is helping keep Federal on top.
Strong on both sides of the body where his kicking and handball skills are first rate, Bartee can also run out games as effectively as he does from first bounce.
3. Jackson Cole (Pioneer)
One of the league’s rising stars, Cole has established himself as a genuine defender with his ability to take intercept marks and set up scoring opportunities from the half back line.
Has cut his teeth in both the NTFL and now the CAFL with his lead from the front attitude and leadership qualities being among his main attributes.
4. Thomas Swan (Souths)
Was one of Pioneer’s best in the grand final win over Souths, and has only carried on that form since making the switch to his new side.
Has plenty of foot speed and can run both ways in his role as a wingman.
Can play down back and up forward with equal efficiency, making him one of the league’s most valuable players.
5. Shaydan Close (Rovers)
Has already impressed in just his first season for the Double Blues with some superb performances through the midfield.
Close wins a lot of contested ball and has the all-round skills to make his disposals count, and also loves to go forward when he senses he can do damage on the scoreboard.
SANFL club South Adelaide has kept a close eye on his form and have invited the classy midfielder to pull on their navy blue jumper this season.
6. Braydon Weily (Federal)
Weily is yet another factor in Federal’s rise up the ladder this season with his ability to find the football and use it wisely.
He can play in any position with equal efficiency, including providing a forward target when his team is in possession of the football.
7. Taylem Stubbs (Souths)
At just 17 Stubbs is another rising star among the league’s young players.
He played junior football with North Adelaide this season in more proof of his ability with a football in hand.
A key defender with last season’s grand finalists, Stubbs has established himself as a long-tern senior player with his run and carry and skills on both sides of his body.
8. Dylan Alice (Pioneer)
The Santa Teresa product has pace to burn and often adds much needed leg speed to the Eagles’ line-up.
He has superb foot skills that also make him an important goal kicker for the reigning premiers, including his ability to score goals from a long way out.
9. Shane Inkamala (Federal)
An athletic forward with a giant leap, Inkamala always threatens to kick a lot of goals against opposition defenders.
The Papunya product is hard to match up on, particularly on bigger grounds such as Traeger Park where his pace and spring can be fully utilised.
Inkamala’s accuracy when kicking for goals in another big factor in his favour.
10. Kynan Barnes (Federal)
Barnes is the general in defence for the ladder leaders, leading the back six with his run and clever disposal by foot.
The brick wall opposition players find hard to penetrate, he has won the respect of many with his attack on the football and strong bodywork.
Senior Women’s Top 10
1. Gabrielle King (Alkamilya)
Dubbed ‘Silky’ by her teammates the Panthers’ midfielder has lit up the women’s competition this year with her superb skills and ability to find space.
King can play through the middle and up forward where her creative style of play has inspired the unbeaten flag favourites.
2. Kaitlyn Armstrong (Alkamilya)
Another Panther who has been in dominant form, providing an important target in front of goals.
Her physicality, ability to take a mark and deadly accuracy have been big factors in Alkamilya’s unbeaten season to date.
It comes after Armstrong won the NTFL women’s goal kicking medal playing with St Mary’s.
3. Lucy Nicolai (Rovers)
The Double Blues’ winger has been in outstanding form, being named in her side’s best in four of the five games she has turned out for.
Endowed with good skills by foot and hand, Nicolai’s ability to get the football down to her forwards has been an important link in Rovers’ push for finals football.
4. Hannan Murdoch (Wests)
Essentially a key position player where she can lead the defence from centre half-back or take some big marks at centre half-forward.
Murdoch’s presence in the Bloods side is an important piece of the side’s armoury.
Named in the side’s best in the eight games she had played and booting eight goals in the process is proof of that.
5. Kahlisha Rioli (Alkamilya)
Rioli has all the skills associated with her famous Territory family and has captained the league leaders well in 2023.
An inspiration to her teammates with her lead-from-the-front attitude, Rioli’s work through the midfield includes several trips down back and in front of goal where she can control proceedings.
6. Ebony Miller (Souths)
One of Central Australia’s most consistent players, Miller can play in the ruck where her mobility and strength come in handy in marking contests and contested situations.
Her never give up attitude and great aerobic capacity often lifts her teammates to greater heights.
7. Libby Taylor (Federal)
The Demons’ midfielder is a big possession player with most of her disposals ending up in the arms of a teammate.
Named in her side’s best six times from the eight games played in the new season, Taylor’s captaincy and ability to find the football has Federal in fourth in just their first women’s season.
8. Keomi Ross (Pioneer)
The E-Girls midfielder has all the skills and hunger for the football needed to succeed at senior level.
Ross was one of her side’s best in the 19-goal shootout against Alkamilya and continues to impress her coaching staff with her positive approach to the game.
9. Regan Maher-Moldrich (Alkamilya)
Another consistent player for the Panthers as they charge toward another finals series.
Has kicked eight goals and has been named in her side’s best players three times by working in tandem with prolific goal kicker Kaitlyn Armstrong.
10. Molly Southam (Rovers)
Has only played five games this season, but her work in the ruck for the Double Blues has been instrumental in the reigning women’s premiers run to second this year.
Southam has become a vital cog in her side’s push for a rare four-peat of women’s flags with her capability to take a big mark and eagerness to get involved in ground-level contested balls.
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