analysis
GSFL 2025: Cameron Newbold ranks the best players in the Great Southern Football League for the 2025 season

The Albany Advertiser’s sports editor Cameron Newbold takes a look at the best 20 players in the Great Southern Football League this season. Each player is ranked 20-1, with their previous year’s ranking next to their name. Who tops the list for 2025? Read the top 20 below. 20- DARCY WALLINGER (MT BARKER) – New Took his game to another level in 2024 and helped the Bulls reach an elimination final. Fantastic in the air and sets up play going forward. 19- COREY WARD (ROYALS) – New Really liked the performances from this line-breaker last year. Can play across half-back or through the middle and is very skilful by foot. 18- JYRIN WOODS (NORTH ALBANY) – 10 Another damaging midfielder that can win plenty of clearances and get the ball going the Kangas way. Needs some support but has the ability to turn games. 17- BODHI STUBBER (RAILWAYS) -11 A key cog for Railways over the past few years and despite doing it mainly in attack last year, still can be one of the best players behind the ball. Reads the play well, strong overhead and plenty of courage. 16- ROBBIE LEE (ALBANY) – 5 Still a top 20 player after another very consistent 2024 for the premiers. Finds space on his wing and uses the ball so well. Despite winning a Kleemann Medal often goes under the radar. 15- SAM HOLMES (DENMARK-WALPOLE) – New Great to see him back playing football and looks super fit. Tall and mobile, can play virtually anywhere and on his small sample size of games in the last few years will be a massive pick up for the Magpies. 14- JAYDEN SCOTT (RAILWAYS) – 7 Such a potent player around stoppages, lethal left foot and strength to match. Turned several games last year for the Tigers and is a key weapon for them. 13- MORGAN DAVIES (ALBANY) – New Former WAFL star that is arguably the recruit of the season. Has previously played for the Sharks but didn’t play any football in 2024. A talented midfielder that can find the ball a lot. 12- TYLER STONE (DENMARK-WALPOLE) – 6 Drops from being inside the top 10 but still a very damaging player when up and going. Kicked 30 goals in 12 games last year in a team that won only one game. 11- STEPHEN BEAL (ROYALS) – 13 The best ruckman in the competition for the last two or three years and can have big influences on games. Dangerous up forward as well, his size and strength are big assets for the Lions. 10- KANE PINNEY (ALBANY) – 14 The best intercept defender in the competition last year and a big reason the Sharks won back-to-back premierships. Causes opposition teams a lot of headaches with his ability to read the play so well. 9- JOSH BOOTSMA (NORTH ALBANY) – New A welcome return to the league after a spending the last few years playing for Corrigin. The former Carlton and Peel Thunder key position player has not played in the GSFL since 2011 but will be a huge addition to the Kangas stocks. 8- DANIEL PATCHING (MT BARKER) – 9 Did his status as a line-breaking midfielder no harm last year, with some highly influential games for Mt Barker. Finished fifth in the Coaches Player of the Year and won another Bulls best and fairest. 7- LOGAN STUBBER (RAILWAYS) – New Some may have forgotten but is one of the best midfielders to play here in the last decade. A previous Kleemann Medal winner and despite coming back from ACL surgery, he will be a vital cog to have back in the Railways engine room. 6- BRAYDEN PARKER (ROYALS) – 16 Big jump from his ranking of 16 last year but the Royals captain oozes class. Has plenty of opposition teams put time into trying to curb his influence and added another element to his game with more midfield minutes. 5- BRETT PEAKE (ALBANY) – 2 Drops from No.2 but still firmly a top five player in this competition. Won a third Sean Plaisted trophy as the league’s leading goalkicker with 63 goals, including three in the Sharks second straight grand final win. 4- BAILEY TAYLOR (ALBANY) – 8 Another Shark to rise up the rankings, the utility had a 2024 to remember. Polled 15 votes in the Kleemann Medal, won his club’s best and fairest in a premiership year and played State country football. Clearly in the best handful of players getting around. 3- ISAAC BAUM (ALBANY) – 12 A genuine country football star and has claims that he should be No.1 after a second premiership with Albany to go with an Alan Barnett Medal as grand final best-afield and third in the Kleemann Medal. Stands up in big moments. 2- DECLAN MCNAMARA (ROYALS) – New Was the player who was firmly in Kleemann Medal contention for several weeks in his comeback season with Royals. A beast around contests, tough to stop and rarely wastes the ball. Showed his class to lead the Lions midfield last year. 1- RYLEY VALLI (RAILWAYS) – New Took the competition by storm last year with his ball winning ability, clearance work and elite running. Won his first Kleemann Medal to go with the Coaches Player of the Year and Albany Advertiser Footballer of the Year awards plus a Railways fairest and best. Deserving of the top ranking and is scary good for 21. OUT FROM LAST YEAR’S LIST (* = no longer playing GSFL) 1. Brock Higgins* (Royals) 3. Bailey Bennett (Railways) 4. Zach Jackson* (Mt Barker) 15. Brodie Duffield* (Mt Barker) 17. Jayson Ford (Royals) 18. Bryce Blaszkow (Albany) 19. Hamish McMorran (Royals) 20. Beau Ewen (Railways)

analysisGSFL 2025: Cameron Newbold ranks the best players in the Great Southern Football League for the 2025 season

analysis
GSFL 2025: Cameron Newbold ranks the best players in the Great Southern Football League for the 2025 season