Riverland Football Chatter

[whufc]

What happened at Blanchetown/Swan reach? Coach, Captain and a couple of others leaving a week before the season started.

Pretty surprising given the success they had last year.

[SuperFrank]

Probably one of the closest seasons in the RFL for a while with 5 sides genuine finals contenders & probably the most unlikely team taking out the flag. Any of those 4 sides below Renmark were capable on their day which is a huge tick for the league.

Loxton, Waikerie & North all beat Renmark throughout the home&away season I reckon?

[wenchbarwer]

RFL's turn:

The Riverland Football League has been stacked with top talent for decades.

With the help of league insiders, we’ve ranked our top 25 players of the past 25 years with season 2025 just around the corner.

Footballing ability, achievements, awards and impact were taken into account when making selections.

Players with just one season in the competition were ruled ineligible.

Here is our list from 25 to 1.

25. JOSH VATER
(Renmark)

Renmark’s playing-coach through much of the Rovers’ recent success.

A courageous player on the ball, Vater accumulates plenty of the footy, distributes with poise and provides excellent tackle pressure.

Has won four premierships with Renmark.

24. JOEL WORSFOLD
(Loxton North)

One of Loxton North’s top players throughout the past decade.

Worsfold is a hard runner who finds plenty of the ball and always makes reliable decisions, often damaging opposition with his disposal.

Has won two club best and fairests and made multiple Teams of the Year.

23. ZACH GARTERY
(Renmark)

Arguably the competition’s best ruck of the past decade.

An incredibly skilled player who releases midfielders with standout tap-work, Gartery can have an impact around the ground with a strong set of hands and an accurate leg.

Has won four premierships with Renmark and been dominant in each one.

22. JIM THOMSON
(Waikerie)

Thomson can often fly under the radar but his impact at Waikerie has been significant.

A versatile player who can produce strong footy around the ground, Thomson is a reliable decision-maker who finds plenty of the ball.

Has won a club record seven premierships, often saving his best performances for grand final day, and is a 300-game player.

21. TRISTAN GEEHMAN
(Waikerie)

A versatile and skilled player for the Magpies, Geehman has been a standout this century.

Often deployed as a small defender, Geehman’s ability to win the footy and distribute efficiently around the ground makes him highly valuable.

Is a club best and fairest and four-time premiership winner.

20. DAN WOOLFORD
(Renmark)

Woolford has recently emerged as a superstar for Renmark.

A strong and explosive player through the middle who wins plenty of his own ball, distributes to teammates well and lays big tackles.

Won the 2023 league medal and has been part of two Rovers flags in 2022 and 2024.

19. DILLON MILLARD
(Barmera-Monash)

A dominant and versatile player for Barmera-Monash.

Capable of filling a number of roles for the Roos, Millard could influence a game at the back with his aerial ability and also do damage in the contest.

Won the 2011 league medal and was a key part of his side’s 2012 premiership.

18. STEVEN BRAUN
(Waikerie)

A 200-gamer for Waikerie, Braun has been a major part of his club’s success throughout this century.

Braun is an explosive and athletic player who can produce across the backline or in the contest, damaging sides with his run and carry and ball use.

Has won three premierships with Waikerie and also represented SA Country.

17. MATT SPENCELY
(Waikerie)

Brother of fellow former Waikerie star Jake Spencely, Matt became one of the top RFL players after joining from the Crows.

The former Dean Bailey Medallist was dominant for the Magpies in a number of roles including through the middle and as a quick and dangerous small forward, often burning teams with his pace and clean skills.

A superstar in big games, Spencely helped Waikerie to three consecutive flags from 2016-2018.

16. RYAN PROUD
(Loxton North)

A star for Loxton North through years of success for the club.

Proud has been a mercurial player for the Panthers, moving seamlessly through congestion to find teammates and create goalkicking opportunities.

Won four premierships in over 300 games for Loxton North with a best on ground showing and also played in multiple rep games.

15. STEVE BURTON
(Barmera-Monash)

Burton only played three seasons with the Roos before joining Central District but left a big mark on the competition.

A strong midfielder with the ability to win a high number of contested possessions each week, deal to teammates efficiently and also hit the scoreboard.

Won the league medal in 2017 and was part of the club’s premiership run in 2015 as a teenager.

14. ANTON COOK
(Loxton North)

Loxton North’s record games holder, Cook has been a champion of the RFL in the 21st Century.

A talented defender who had no issue standing on the competition’s top forwards and impacting the game around the ground, Cook boasted great overhead ability and clean skills.

Played over 350 games for the Panthers, won four premierships and was named in eight Teams of the Year.

13. MICHAEL BRATTON
(Waikerie)

Joining Waikerie after playing for Norwood and Sturt and being rookie listed by the Crows, Bratton was an instant hit for the Magpies.

A talented midfielder with top drawer skills and a big tank, Bratton was one of the competition’s most consistent players throughout his time with Waikerie.

Won the 2012 Whillas Medal and was a standout in the club’s 2014 premiership win.

12. ROBERT PRICE
(Barmera-Monash, Berri)

One of the great stalwarts of local footy, Price had a major impact at two clubs throughout his time in the RFL.

A star ruck/forward utility who could control games with clever tapwork, strong marking and a reliable kick for goal.

Price won the 2002 Whillas Medal along with a premiership with Berri the same year and also won a flag with Barmera-Monash in 2012.

11. DANIEL NOBES
(Waikerie)

One of the great goalkickers in Riverland FL history, Nobes left his mark on the competition despite only playing a few seasons with the Magpies.

A powerful key target with impressive athleticism, safe hands and a booming kick, Nobes had no issue booting bags of goals and taking over games up front.

Kicked 130 goals in 2017, 115 goals in 2018 and 96 in 2019 and won back-to-back flags in 2017 and 2018.

10. DANIEL EVANS
(Loxton)

A Whillas Medallist with Loxton, Evans was one of the standouts for the club this century.

Damaging and tough midfielder who could also impact the game up front with his ability to apply pressure, win contested footy and finish well.

Is a 200-game player for the Tigers and was the key player in the club’s 2002 premiership run.

9. MICHAEL ARNOLD
(Loxton North)

One of Loxton North’s most decorated players.

A damaging midfielder who could impact the game in a number of ways, Arnold had no issue finding the footy, distributing to teammates or hitting the scoreboard.

Won five premierships with the Panthers with a best on ground performance, was a state country representative and has been selected in numerous Teams of the Year.

8. TIM BEVAN
(Waikerie)

A longtime star for Waikerie, Bevan is one of the top Magpies this century.

A gun midfielder with the ability to cover ground as well as anyone in the competition, win important possessions and make the best decisions in possession.

Won the league medal in 2014 and has played in four premierships.

7. MATT WOOLFORD
(Renmark, Loxton North)

One of Renmark’s top players throughout the past decade after starring for Loxton North.

Woolford has established himself as a versatile weapon who can do anything for his side from laying big tackles and winning key possessions to damaging with his disposal.

Won the 2017 league medal and has played in four flags.

6. LEIGH KRUGER
(Loxton)

A champion captain of Loxton, Kruger has undoubtedly been one of the top RFL players this century.

Kruger was an inspirational leader of the Tigers, playing a courageous brand of footy to win his own ball, deal to teammates and create goalkicking opportunities.

Captained the Tigers from 2008-2010, was playing-coach from 2017-2020, has been a state representative, won multiple club best and fairests and been selected to multiple teams of the year.

5. SHAYNE STEVENS
(Waikerie)

A legend of the Waikerie Football Club as both a player and coach, Stevens was dominant in the RFL through the 2000s.

A tough and relentless player around the ground who would do plenty of the dirty work for the Magpies and was classy in possession.

Won the Whillas Medal in 2006 and was a key part of the 2005, 2007 and 2008 premierships before leading the club to more flags as a coach.

4. PETER SAFRALIDIS
(Berri)

A Berri legend and one of the most consistent players in the competition throughout the 21st Century, Safralidis has been a major standout for the Demons.

Known as a strong and skilled player on the footy, Safralidis has been able to take over games at the back or in the middle with his ability to win the ball in the contest and damage opposition with his distribution.

A 250-game player for his club, Safralidis won the 2015 Whillas Medal and has been a nine-time Team of the Year member.

3. CRAIG WOOLDRIDGE
(Loxton North)

One of the most decorated players in Riverland Football League history, Wooldridge sits as one of the top players this century.

A premier midfielder in the competition at his best, Wooldridge was a smooth and athletic player who found plenty of the footy and boasted clean hand and foot skills.

Won five premierships in over 300 games with the Panthers with two best on ground performances, is a member of the RFL team of the century and was named in the Team of the Year six times.

2. DAMIAN STEVENS
(Waikerie)

A dominant onballer who also represented the state, Stevens, brother of Shayne, has been one of the top RFL players this century.

Joining Waikerie after time with South Adelaide, Stevens immediately starred for the Magpies as a hard-at-it ball winner who boasted crafty disposal and strong tackle pressure.

Won three flags in 2007, 2008 and 2014 with the Magpies and also claimed the league medal in 2010.

1. TIM WOOLFORD
(Renmark)

Winner of two consecutive league medals and a premiership star for Renmark, Woolford has been a dominant force in the RFL.

A versatile player who can perform almost anywhere on the park, Woolford does damage with his ability to find the footy, distribute to teammates efficiently and also create goals.

Won the Whillas Medal in 2021 and 2022 and has been part of four premierships with the Rovers.