WA Football

The Top 25 WAFL Players Over the Past 25 Years were announced at the official WAFL season launch this morning Tuesday, March 13, and presented with framed certificates recognising the honour.

The Football Budget initiative, supported by the WAFL, was launched at the end of last football season and a well-credentialed panel spent the summer months finalising the inductees to ensure the best players since 1987 are recognized.

The Top 25 are (in alphabetical order): Marty Atkins, Shane Beros, Stephen Bilcich, Brad Bootsma, Jaxon Crabb, Ian Dargie, Willie Dick, Travis Edmonds, Craig Edwards, Mark Hann, Anthony Jones, Steve Malaxos, Toby McGrath, Paul Mifka, Kris Miller, Darrell Panizza, Aidan Parker, Allistair Pickett, Kim Rigoll, Jason Salecic, Brad Smith, Craig Treleven, Ryan Turnbull, Marc Webb and Rod Wheatley.

The Top 25 was born out of the desire to find the 25 players who have left an indelible mark on the WAFL competition between 1987 and 2011.

The following criteria were established to lift the cream to the top of the list.

1. Players must have played in 100 WAFL matches from the start of the 1987 WAFL season to the end of 2011 and can have played at AFL level.
2. Weight is to be given to individual awards – Bernie Naylor Medal, Sandover Medal, Simpson Medal, captaincy, State representation and club fairest-and-best counts.
3. Players do not have to be picked for a position. We are not selecting a line-up.
4. Players to be assessed for “their outstanding contribution to club and competition and high level of achievement”.
5. Already being a member of the WA Football Hall of Fame does not preclude inclusion.

Below is more detailed career information on each of the inductees. If you would like to speak to the Football Budget or any of the 25 inductees please contact Football Budget editor Tracey Lewis.

The inductees (in alphabetical order)

MARTY ATKINS

South Fremantle 1989-2003, 266 games, 122 goals

WA 5 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 266 WAFL and 5 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Simpson Medal 1993

Premierships in qualification period: 1997

SHANE BEROS

Swan Districts 1998-2008, 193 games, 112 goals

WA 4 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 193 WAFL and 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2003, Swan Districts F&B 2003 & 2005

Premierships in qualification period: 0

STEPHEN BILCICH

East Fremantle 1989-2000, 215 games, 255 goals

WA 4 games, 3 goals

Games in qualification period: 215 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: East Fremantle F&B 1993

Premierships in qualification period:  1992, 1994, 1998

BRAD BOOTSMA

South Fremantle 1994-2005, 162 games, 108 goals

Fremantle (AFL) 2000-2001, 23 games, 7 goals

WA 5 games, 0 goals

Games in qualification period: 165 WAFL games, 5 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: South Fremantle F&B 1998 & 1999

Premierships in qualification period:  1997

JAXON CRABB

Claremont 1997-2001, 2003-2009, 188 games, 109 goals

West Coast Eagles 1998-2000, 15 games, 2 goals

Port Adelaide (AFL) 2002, 4 games, 0 goals

South Adelaide (SANFL) 2002, 16 games, 8 goals

WA 5 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 188 WAFL games, 5 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2005, Claremont F&B 2001, 2005 & 2007

Premierships in qualification period:  0

IAN DARGIE

Subiaco 1986-1988, 1991-1994, 131 games, 137 goals

St Kilda 1989-1990, 10 games, 1 goal

West Coast 1991, 1 game, 0 goals

WA 1 game, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 115 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 1991 & 1994,Subiaco F&B 1994

Premierships in qualification period:  1988

WILLIE DICK

Perth 1985-1989, 1991, 1993, 1999-2000, 154 games, 136 goals

Essendon AFL 1992, 7 games, 6 goals

WA 4 games, 4 goals

Games in qualification period: 130 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Perth F&B 1991

Premierships in qualification period:  0

TRAVIS EDMONDS

Swan Districts 1990-2005, 262 games, 80 goals

Fremantle AFL 1995, 1 game, 0 goals

WA 4 games, 2 goals

Games in qualification period: 262 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Swan Districts F&B 1992, 1993, 1997, 2000 & 2001

Premierships in qualification period: 0

CRAIG EDWARDS

East Perth 1979-1983, 73 games, 109 goals

South Fremantle 1984-1992, 163 games, 250 goals

WA 7 games, 4 goals

Games in qualification period: 120 WAFL games, 3 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: South Fremantle F&B 1988 & 1989

Premierships in qualification period:  0

MARK HANN

Claremont 1983-1993, 166 games, 52 goals

WA 1 game, 0 goals

Games in qualification period: 131 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Claremont F&B 1990

Premierships in qualification period:  1987, 1989, 1991, 1993

ANTHONY JONES

Claremont 1994-95, 97-98, 2000, 2002-2008, 147 games, 279 goals

South Fremantle 1999, 1 game, 0 goals

Fremantle (AFL) 1995-2003, 82 games, 3 goals

WA 5 games, 6 goals

Games in qualification period: 148 WAFL games, 5 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2007

Premierships in qualification period:  0

STEVE MALAXOS

Claremont 1979-84, 1986, 1991, 151 games, 322 goals

East Fremantle 1991-1998, 138 games, 70 goals

Hawthorn (AFL) 1985, 9 games, 15 goals

West Coast 1987-1990, 66 games, 30 goals

WA 10 games, 9 goals

Games in qualification period: 145 WAFL games, 6 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: East Fremantle F&B 1991, 1994 & 1995

Premierships in qualification period:  1992, 1994

TOBY McGRATH

South Fremantle 1998-2001, 2004-2011, 220 games, 108 goals

Essendon (VFL) 2002, 15 games, 2 goals

Bendigo Bombers 2003, 12 games, 2 goals

WA 6 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 220 WAFL games, 6 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2005, South Fremantle F&B 2004 & 2008, Simpson Medal 2005

Premierships in qualification period:  2005, 2009

PAUL MIFKA

West Perth 1984-1999, 283 games, 136 goals

West Coast 1987, 1 game, 0 goals

WA 4 games, 0 goals (2 State of Origin as a WAFL player)

Games in qualification period: 223 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: West Perth F&B 1993

Premierships in qualification period: 1995, 1999

KRIS MILLER

East Fremantle 1999-2006, 153 games, 143 goals

South Fremantle 2007-2011, 106 games, 55 goals

WA 1 game, 0 goals

Games in qualification period: 259 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: East Fremantle F&B 2005, South Fremantle F&B 2007 & 2009

Premierships in qualification period:  2009

DARRELL PANIZZA

Claremont 1979-1986, 1990-1995, 274 games, 114 goals

Woodville (SANFL) 1987-1989, 74 games, 50 goals

WA 6 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 114 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Claremont F&B 1991 & 1992

Premierships in qualification period: 1991, 1993

AIDAN PARKER

Subiaco 2001-2002, 2005-2011, 191 games, 15 goals

South Adelaide (SANFL) 2003-2004, 26 games, 3 goals

Glenelg (SANFL) 2004, 12 games, 0 goals

WA 4 games, 0 goals

Games in qualification period: 191 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: 0

Premierships in qualification period:  2006, 2007, 2008

ALLISTAIR PICKETT

West Perth 1996, 3 games, 4 goals

Peel Thunder 2001-2002, 22 games, 22 goals

Subiaco 2003-2011, 180 games, 230 goals

WA 3 games, 3 goals

Games in qualification period: 205 WAFL games, 3 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2002 & 2004, Subiaco F&B 2004

Premierships in qualification period:  2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

KIM RIGOLL

West Perth 1996-2000, 2003-2004, 144 games, 85 goals

WA 3 games, 2 goals

Games in qualification period: 144 WAFL games, 3 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: West Perth F&B 1998, 1999 & 2003

Premierships in qualification period:  1999, 2003

JASON SALECIC

West Perth 2002-2011, 180 games, 121 goals

WA 7 games, 2 goals

Games in qualification period: 180 WAFL games, 7 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: West Perth F&B 2009

Premierships in qualification period: 2003

BRAD SMITH

Subiaco 1998-2004, 2007-2009, 140 games, 530 goals

WA 2 games, 6 goals

Games in qualification period: 140 WAFL games, 2 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Subiaco F&B 2007, Simpson Medal 2007, Bernie Naylor Medal 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008

Premierships in qualification period: 2004, 2007, 2008

CRAIG TRELEVEN

East Fremantle 1992-1995, 2002-2003, 120 games, 60 goals

Hawthorn 1996-2000, 78 games, 22 goals

Box Hill Hawks (VFL) 2000, 10 games, 3 goals

WA 2 games 2 goals

Games in qualification period: 120 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 1995, East Fremantle F&B 1994 & 1995, Simpson Medal 1995

Premierships in qualification period: 1992, 1994

RYAN TURNBULL

Claremont 1989-1990, 23 games, 17 goals

East Perth 1991-1993, 96, 98-99, 2001-2004, 155 games, 84 goals

West Coast 1991-1992, 1994-98, 2000-2001, 129 games, 39 goals

WA 6 games, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 178 WAFL games, 4 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Sandover Medal 2001, East Perth F&B 1999, Simpson Medal 2001 & 2002

Premierships in qualification period: 1989, 2001, 2002

MARC WEBB

Sandringham (VFA) 1998-1999, 11 games, 3 goals

Port Melbourne (VFL) 2000, 6 games, 1 goal

Perth 2001-2002, 20 games, 5 goals

Subiaco 2002-2010, 175 games, 32 goals

WA 3 games, 0 goals

Games in qualification period: 195 WAFL games, 3 State games

Medals/Awards in qualification period: Subiaco F&B 2003, Simpson Medal 2006

Premierships in qualification period:  2004, 2006, 2007, 2008

ROD WHEATLEY

East Perth 1992-2003, 179 games, 117 goals

WA 1 game, 1 goal

Games in qualification period: 179 WAFL games, 1 State game

Medals/Awards in qualification period: East Perth F&B 1999

Premierships in qualification period: 2000, 2001, 2002

State games during qualification period only include WAFL State games, not State of Origin.