2015 Top Fifty from EFL.ORG.AU

[Crusey]

After a year hiatus the #EFLTOP50 is back!
EFL Media star Aaron Kirkby-Rodier put his hand up to tackle the hardest job in football for season 2015. Across all four Divisions Aaron has cast his eye over the stars of the competition and narrowed thousands of players down to just 50!
Over the next four weeks we will reveal 10 players a week before naming players 10-1 starting November 10. 50-41 – October 19
40-31 – October 26
30-21 – November 2
20-11 – November 9
10-1 – November 10- November 19




TODAY



50. Tim Riseley – Upper Ferntree Gully

The star captain of the Kings never stops running, consistently impacts games through the middle. Finds ways to bring his teammates into the game or put them on his back and carry them home. Capped off his outstanding year by winning the 2015 Edie Medal.



49. Chris Hoegal – Mitcham

Part of that dynamic Mitcham forward line, Hoegal kicked 55 goals during the home and away season. His ability to take the high mark as well as play at the feet of Tigers tall timber makes him a dangerous double-threat.



48. Matthew Bate – Norwood

Bate’s second season with the Norseman was marred by injury but his second half of 2015 was sensational. His ability to play anywhere on the ground is his biggest weapon, uses the ball well and showed his midfield ability when he was the one shining light for Norwood on Division 1 Grand Final day.



47 Shane Tennant – Doncaster East

The fearless leader from the Lions came with a big reputation and more than lived up to it. Reads the ball in flight well and marks brilliantly above his head. Started a lot of the Lions attacks from intercept marks and his ability to use the ball cleanly. Showed his brilliance stepping straight into the Captains role in his first season at the Den.





46 Alex Frawley – Rowville

Hard nut from the Hawks found himself with plenty of mates through the midfield this season as he led Rowville to its first Division 1 finals berth. Consistently wins hard the ball with his big body in and under and is one of those players that rarely plays a bad game.





45 Leigh Murphy – Templestowe

In his first year at the wharf, Murphy struggled with injury. His second half of the season was brilliant, showing his prowess as a midfielder who not only wins his own ball but hurts the opposition on the scoreboard. His return coincided with the rise of the Dockers in the second half of the season, also found himself a place in the Division 3 SEN Team of the Year.



44 Stewart Kemperman –Noble Park

Another great season from the stalwart of Noble Park. His Left shoe was as dangerous as ever regularly starting rebound attacks from the back half. Was one of the Bulls best performers in a disappointing finals campaign and again capped off his year with another appearance in the Division 1 SEN Team of the Year.



43 Jack Callanan – Bayswater

What a season from Callanan, anchored the Centre HalfForward position for the Waters in 2015 and did it superbly. Kicking 42 goals during the home and away season he struck up a formidable partnership with Full Forward Wayne McInerney. Work rate and engine are massive, runs more than most in Division 2.



42 Mike Smith – Mooroolbark

Smith again starred in 2015 for the Mustangs. Has a fantastic ability to find space despite not being the quickest. Uses his left foot to great effect and marks well above his head. Played his best game against Bayswater in Round 5 with four goals.



41 Matthew Mariani – Templestowe

Another stellar year from Mariani, one of the best players in Division 3. Kicks goals and consistently racks up big numbers through the middle. Off the back of a stunning 2014, Matt along with Brother Anthony were the driving factor in the Dockers run to September. In two seasons at the Wharf Mariani has recorded an incredible 52 League B&F votes leading to a win in 2014 and a top five finish in 2015.

 

[Dave Trotter]

I was quite interested in this and had a look yesterday. What a difficult task but good on Aaron for having a go which hopefully will lead to some interesting discussion. I was surprised at the 1st name mentioned and thought Tim Riseley would rank lower than that. Would 3rd Division go against him in that regard or is that a fair ranking??

 

[Bully Man]

I think Aaron is forgetting the huge difference in standards between div 1 and lower divisions. The top end of div 1 is my guess 20+ goals stronger than Div 2 , let alone Div 3 and 4. To have 7 lower div players already in the top 50 doesn't make sense. Not suggesting these guys can't play but unless they are up against the best teams in the league you can't really know how they stack up. I also can't wait to see the next 40 players rated higher than Matthew Bate.

 

[Crusey]

40 Nathan Thompson – Doncaster

Thompson once again came up big when it counted kicking 6 goals in the Sharks Division 2 Grand Final win. Amazing ability to mark the ball at full stretch on a hard lead and has the class to finish from anywhere inside 55 metres. Hung up the boots at the end of the season and will be sorely missed in 2016 as the Sharks launch an assault on Division 1.



39 Mitch Davis – Vermont

Great first season in the EFL for Davis after the big move to the Eagles. Davis kicked 60 goals during the home and away season and was a real focal point after the loss of Van Unen. Dangerous on the lead and has a massive engine look out for a bigger improvement from Davis in 2016.



38 Ben Carboni – Waverley Blues

Blues Coach Carboni has not missed a beat since joining the league at the start of last season. The Waverley playing coach, who signed on for his third season months ago has placed top 10 in both the Wright Medal counts he has been involved in. Captain of the TOTY last season, he backed up his 2014 with a stellar 2015 once again earning a spot in the TOTY as a midfielder.





37 Jake Hammond – Blackburn

The 2014 Trojan Young Gun lived up to a lot of potential in 2015. Has the dual threat of being able to take a big pack mark along with being dangerous at ground level, also has the ability to just explode with 2 or 3 goals in 5 minutes. Could be the best forward in Division 1 in the Next 3-4 years.



36 Billy Morrison – Doncaster East

Morrison was brilliant in 2015 for the Lions, amazing ability to ruck for long periods of time. One of the best ruckman in all Divisions because of his ability to dominate the hitouts as well as win the battle around the ground, great skills for a big man. Whilst his side were soundly beaten on the day, Morrison was the shining light for the Lions on Grand Final day 2015.



35 Zak McCubbin – Norwood

Terrific season from the 20 year old. Hard at the football and really owned a wing for the Norseman in 2015, McCubbin started the year in the Interleague side, which at his age was an amazing effort. Hits the scoreboard and shows real passion for club, watch this space as his improvement in 2015 was huge expect another big one from him in 2016.



34 Daniel King – South Croydon

The 2013 Chandler Medallist had another classy season. Wins the ball both inside and outside with good foot skills as well as hitting the scoreboard for his team. The only Dog to make the Interleague team at the start of the season and the true heart and soul of the Kennel.



33 Ben Johnson – Doncaster

The Premiership Magpie is now a Premiership Shark after a best on ground performance in the Division 2 Grand Final. Johnson stood up when it was needed. Exquisite skills by foot and an uncanny ability to find space in tight spots to power the Sharks forward line.



32 Joel Galvin – Bayswater

The Bayswater Captain continued his form in season 2015 racking up big number through the middle and driving his side toward another finals campaign. Finds ways to influence the game from any position as well as standing up in the big ones, a real champion of the EFL.



31 Kyle Matthews – Blackburn

The Hard man of the Blackburn midfield stood up again this season. Lead by example consistently putting his head over the football and giving the Panthers first use. Has unbelievably clean hands and rarely fumbles.

 

[Crusey]

30 John Meesen – Balwyn

Meesen’s first year in the EFL was fantastic, a really tall ruckman that can jump is hard to find at local level and Meesen is that man. Also has great skills and the ability to be a target for the Tigers. Dominated most ruckmen he faced this year and not just by sheer number of hitouts but a lot to advantage giving Balwyn first use through the middle.



29 Heath Scotland – Doncaster

Another player making his debut in the EFL Scotland showed why he played nearly 300 games at the elite level. Rarely do you see a player of his calibre come back to the level and show the willingness to run and do the hard work, but Scotland did all of these things along with his silky foot skills which as ever are a thing of beauty on both sides of his body. Also one of the Sharks better players on Grand Final day.



28 Cameron Manuel – Rowville

Manuel’s move to the Hawks in 2015 set off with a bang and continued on in that fashion. A goal kicking midfielder with pace and an ability to win the ball in tight saw Manuel lock down a place in the EFL’s Team of the Year. Super athletic with the ability to mark over his head and can kick a long goal as well. Watch out for an ever bigger year from this man next season as the Hawks look to push on.



27 Craig Anderson – Noble Park

Already an ornament of the league, Anderson again showed why he is one of the best we’ve seen in Division 1. Just runs and runs and runs and has that real power running away from contests that drive the Bulls forward. Despite the Bulls star studded midfield Anderson still found himself with a shadow at times in 2015. Dangerous around the goals and still the heartbeat of the Noble Park side hopefully we see Ando running around again in 2016.



26 Dean Limbach – Doncaster East

Limbach entered the EFL with a huge bang booting 60 goals in 8 games to start 2015. He slowed down in the second half of the season but came to life again during the finals steering the Lions to a Division 2 Grand Final birth kicking his 100th along the way. The definition of a power forward strong in one on ones, good over head, quick on the lead and kicks straight.





25 Daniel Hughes – South Croydon

Hughes is a running machine and for a centre half forward that is even more remarkable. Just does not stop leading up to the ball giving his midfielders and defenders something to kick to in all situations. With a reshuffle of the Dogs forward line this season Hughes found himself closer to goal at times and was equally as dangerous. If the Dogs can find that depper forward to compliment Hughes in 2016 it will go a long way to firing them back into finals contention.



24 Wayne McInerney – Bayswater

McInerney played almost a key forward role for the Waters this season. Kicked a bag of goals and had a great partnership with Callanan which almost at times dragged the Bayswater through the season. Not a season in the past six that McInerney has managed less than 40 goals



23 Blake Broadhurst – Balwyn

The Tigers key man had an injury plagued 2015 and I truly believe he would have found himself higher if this wasn’t the case. Terrific one on one and brilliant on the lead. Can kick goals from just about anywhere and played a vital role in the Tigers Grand Final victory in Division 1.



22 Tom Roach – Balwyn

What a player Roach is, fitted into the Balwyn side straight away with a best on ground performance in round 1 in the grand final rematch. Consistently kicked goals for the Tigers including a bag on Grand Final day. One of the hardest players to tag because of his high fitness levels, stills runs on top of the ground in the final stages of games. 2nd is this years Chandler Medal.



21 Dean Poynton – Norwood

The man they call fingers is one of the most underrated players in the EFL. Super surprised that he wasn’t in the Team of the Year. Good size with plenty of speed as well as a good ability to win the ball inside. Genuine two way running midfielder with a long shoe for a weapon. Poynton’s biggest strength is his ability to play anywhere on the ground.

 

[Bully Man]

This list is beyond laughable. Aaron clearly has no comprehension on the differences in playing standards from Div1 to the lower divisions. How can someone who kicked 60 goals and made TOTY in Div 1 (Mitch Davis) be ranked 15 places behind a Div 2 player who played deep forward and kicked 65 goals (Wayne McInerney)? Even same played ranked above Dean Limbach 103 goals in same Division is hard to fathom. I might have a sneaky guess at Aaron having Bayswater connections. Sorry to sound harsh but if the player named at 32 was playing against the Balwyn Noble Norwood and Vermont mids i'd suggest he'd need a motorbike to keep up.

 

[HBFlanker]

Any danger in the rest of the list coming out? pretty slack from the EFL

 

[Crusey]

20 Kris Pendlebury (Balwyn)

In a short time Pendlebury has established himself as one of the best key backmen in the competition. Showing his importance to the Tigers line-up Pendlebury was amongst the best in Balwyn’s 2015 Grand Final side and had no trouble dealing with Norwood Key forward Leigh Williams in their on-going battle. Pendlebury has become the general of the Balwyn backline and tends to be one of the keys to success.



19 Chris Annakis (Doncaster)

Best and Fairest as Captain of a Premiership side…. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Annakis played a pivotal role in an all-star midfield for the Premiership winning sharks and was dually rewarded with this year’s Wright Medal. Pace to burn coupled with silky skills makes Annakis hard to match. Interested to see how he goes at the top level in Division 1 with the Sharks in 2016.



18 Jackson Weatherald (Balwyn)

The running half-back has become crucial to success for a number of EFL sides over the past 12-24 months, Weatherald forms part of an elite group that can have a huge impact on the contest playing as the ‘quarterback’. Much like Pendlebury, an in form Jackson Weatherald has proved highly important to the recent success of the Tigers.



17 Sam Monaghan (Noble Park)

An EFL rep once again in Season 2015 Monaghan utilises disposal efficiency and ability to be able to read to contest to heavy advantage. In 15 games this year Monaghan was named part of the Bulls best 10 times, testament to his class and also his importance to the Noble Park side.



16 Stuart Hill (Norwood)

For a number of years Hill has been a rock in Purple and Black for Norwood and has been an integral part of the makeup of the back six, not only for the Norsemen but also part of the SEN Division 1 Team of the Year. Hill has a keen ability to be able to read the ball in flight and win the contest down to his running backmen.



15 Matt Robinson (Rowville)

Coming back to the club with a Wright Medal to his name, Robinson was always going to be a key to success for Rowville. In the years he had been away and with a new coach at the helm, Robinsons role has transformed over the past 24 months he has been crucial to the goal kicking power of the hawk’s side, booting 70+ goals.



14 Ziggie Alwan (Noble Park)

Excitement machine, there is no better way to describe him. Alwan burst onto the scene after playing a pivotal role in the Bulls back to back Premierships (2010-2011). Having had a crack at state football (Norwood – SANFL 2008) Alwan spent two seasons with the Frankston Dolphins before returning to the bullring in 2015 and helping the EFL secure victory in the Metro Championships and backing it up with a stellar performance for Vic Metro against Queensland.



13 Brendan Goss (Balwyn)

The Recruit – by name and by nature! Brendan Goss came across to the EFL from Old Xaverians (VAFA). He played just 5 games for Xav’s in 2014 whilst taking part in ‘The Recruit’, prior to that he tormented the EFL defence as part of the Ammo’s win in the Metro Champs. 12 months later he was a key role of the ‘B.G’s’ – Broadhurst, Barker, Goss and Gobbels as he booted 52 goals. Make no mistake, Goss has the on-field presence to turn a game and given the space can change a game off his own boot.



12 Marcus Hottes (Lilydale)

Genuine workhorse, a player the Lilydale fans turned to for a number of years. Part of the core group that brought the Falcons into Division 1 Hottes lead from the front with no consideration for his own safety. Has bleed blue and gold during his time at the LSO and has consistently formed part of Interleague teams and Teams of the Year.



11 Jeff Gobbels (Balwyn)

Every coach dreams of a forward who can stand up in big games, Dan Donati (Balwyn Coach) has four. One has stood out amongst the pack, Gobbels is a man of the moment, and it’s not just his 55m bomb in the 2013 Grand Final. Gobbels is one of those rare breeds who knows how to find the ball when it matters. Since coming across from the WAFL Gobbels has played 80 games for more than 200 goals, including a career high 70 in 2015, 11 of those coming when it matters, finals time!

 

[mkrawz4]

Need more Balwyn players

 

[EBERT THE KING]

Surprised Weatherald is at 18. I would have him top 10 or 12.

 

[Crusey]

NUMBER 10: MATTHEW AVER - NORWOOD FOOTBALL CLUBAver is a star, can play on and lock down some of the best forwards in the EFL.
Consistently able to hurt sides with his run and carry off half back coupled silky skills and a brilliant football IQ. Can mark the ball overhead with ease in a contested situation, which makes him just as dangerous in the forward half.

Showed his prowess inside 50 with four goals against Vermont in the second half. In the past couple of seasons has turned himself from a good Division 1 player to one of the best local footballers in country with standout performances for Victoria Metro and a Best on Ground effort for the EFL in the Interleague Victory over WRFL.

Aver is the ultimate hybrid defender and his development reflects the rise of the Norwood Football Club in recent seasons.





NUMBER 9: LUKE WILLIAMS - KNOX FOOTBALL CLUBThe 2015 Chandler Medalist.

Luke Williams is a Superstar of the competition, and was a deserving winner. Combines his size with ability, arguably the most mobile player in the league.

His mobility allows him to play any position on the ground, marks terrifically overhead and constantly bails the Falcons out from week to week. Would love to add more goals to his game but still possesses the ability to go forward and kick straight.
The fact that he can ruck as well as play on the ball I believe, is his biggest strength.

At times when he was beaten thought the season in the ruck he would move into the midfield and often require a tagger. Against North Ringwood during the season the saints actually sent former St Kilda star Jason Blake to Williams to try and curb his influence, in my opinion the ultimate compliment.

 

[Dave Trotter]

Could anyone knock off Kyle Martin as number 1?? Would have to be a major stuff up if Martin cant make the top 50.

 

[RMercadi]

Well if they put Williams at #2, who knows who'll be #1.
Watch the replay of last years GF and Williams was terrible, Pendelbury 5x better player than him. The only noticable effort by Williams was to try and take out a Balwyn player with a terrible looking elbow at about 10 mins into the 3rd or 4th quarter. He was very lucky he missed.

I think Stachnie the umpire will win #1. He is a better player than Williams.

 

[Bully Man]

Could anyone knock off Kyle Martin as number 1?? Would have to be a major stuff up if Martin cant make the top 50.[/

Could anyone knock off Kyle Martin as number 1?? Would have to be a major stuff up if Martin cant make the top 50.

Could anyone knock off Kyle Martin as number 1?? Would have to be a major stuff up if Martin cant make the top 50.

Martin a no brainer for #1. That means no Tim Harper, Jon Holmes , Sean Cross , Ben Daniher among a few others that come to mind. After naming 16 or 17 div2 & 3 players well I've said it before. No idea!!!

 

[RMercadi]

11 Jeff Gobbels (Balwyn)

Every coach dreams of a forward who can stand up in big games, Dan Donati (Balwyn Coach) has four. One has stood out amongst the pack, Gobbels is a man of the moment, and it’s not just his 55m bomb in the 2013 Grand Final. Gobbels is one of those rare breeds who knows how to find the ball when it matters. Since coming across from the WAFL Gobbels has played 80 games for more than 200 goals, including a career high 70 in 2015, 11 of those coming when it matters, finals time!

Just watching the Block finale and in a Mitre 10 ad with Scott Cam, i reckon the bloke loading a piece off wood into the ute looks awfully like young Jeffrey.....

 

[Crusey]

Full list is now up

https://storify.com/footyefl/efltop50-2015