The Tassie Mariners Under-18s side has been rewarded for an undefeated 2018 National Academy Series with 13 players picked in the preliminary Allies squad ahead of the National Championships in June.
The Mariners had the perfect 2018 National Academy Series, recording victories over the Gold Coast Suns (45 points), Northern Territory (15 points), Brisbane Lions (96 points), Sydney Swans (32 points) and GWS Giants (42 points) in consecutive weeks.
As the only undefeated team for the series, a host of the team’s standout performers have been selected in the preliminary squad ahead of the National Championships that will see the Allies take on South Australia, Victoria Metro, Victoria Country and Western Australia.
After booting five goals against the GWS Giants and receiving the Hunter Harrison Medal as the Academy Series’ best and fairest player, highly rated prospect Tarryn Thomas will be a key feature of the squad.
Thomas is joined by fellow North Launceston star Rhyan Mansell, while Launceston contingent Tim Auckland, Ethan Jackson, Chayce Jones and Blair Rubock also feature.
Lauderdale are also well represented through Mitch Anderton, Nic Baker and Matt McGuinness, while Fraser Turner (Clarence), Lachlan Gadomski (Tigers) and North Hobart pair Baxter Norton and Mitch O’Neill have also been rewarded for impressive campaigns.
O’Neill is the only player in the group that is too young to be drafted this year.
The remainder of the 50-player squad is made up of 11 GWS, eight Gold Coast, eight Brisbane, six Sydney and four Northern Territory players.
The Allies squad will be split into two for trial matches against Vic Metro and Vic Country at Ikon Park, Melbourne, on Sunday week, with the 50-player squad to be trimmed to around 35 ahead of next month’s National Championships.
Tasmanian Allies Squad Members:
Mitch Anderton (Lauderdale)
Tim Auckland (Launceston)
Nic Baker (Lauderdale)
Lachlan Gadomski (Tigers)
Ethan Jackson (Launceston)
Chayce Jones (Launceston)
Rhyan Mansell (North Launceston)
Matt McGuinness (Lauderdale)
Baxter Norton (North Hobart)
Mitch O’Neill (North Hobart)
Blair Rubock (Launceston)
Tarryn Thomas (North Launceston)
Fraser Turner (Clarence)
ALLIES NAB AFL UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS SQUAD
Gold Coast Academy:
Emmanuel Baru, Ryan Gilmore, Caleb Graham, Dirk Koenan, Bailey Scott, Lachlan McDonald, Connor Budarick, Timakoi Bowie
Brisbane Lions Academy:
Ben Sloan, Jack Tomkinson, Keidan Coleman, Jesse Quint, Connor McFadyen, Toara Marango, Tom Matthews, Darcy Marsh
Greater Western Sydney Academy
Kieran Briggs, Riley Corbett, Jacob Koschitzke, Jeromy Lucas, Guy Richardson, Nick Murray, Matt Walker, James Peatling, Ben Kelly, Thomas Green, Liam Delahunty
Sydney Academy
Joey Reinhard, Josh Stern, Zak Cameron, Kyle McKellar, Nick Blakey, Josh Rayner
Northern Territory
Matt Green, Michael Mummery, Izaak Wyatt, Rodney Baird