TSL vs VFL Saturday 26 May, Blundstone Arena

[The Prototype]

[The Prototype]

Preview from AFL Tasmania

FORM: Who really knows? Tasmania’s last state representative game was in 2010 and resulted in a disappointing 79-point thumping at the hands of Queensland on the Gold Coast. Victoria’s last foray was much more formidable – a 55-point win over the WAFL in Perth.

BURNING QUESTIONS: Can Tasmania’s largely young and inexperienced team rally behind the famous “Map” jumper to pull off a huge upset? Can the Big V get itself up for a game not against its traditional rival of recent times, the WAFL or the SANFL?

KEYS:

JASON LAYCOCK (TAS): The former Essendon ruckman is the most dominant player in the TSL. After a full season under his belt, game continuity has the big man back close to his best. Not only dominating the stoppages for Burnie, he has also been pushing forward and kicking multiple goals for the Dockers with 15. If Laycock can catch on fire, he will cause a lot of headaches for the Victorians.

JAYE BOWDEN (TAS): Bowden has been in career best form in 2012. He was restricted by injury last season but this year is fighting fit. He holds aspirations of one day being picked up in the draft as a mature-age recruit (even if he is only 23) and a big game against the Big V will only enhance his reputation and chances.

ANDREW LEE (TAS): Named skipper of the state team for the first time, Lee is an athletic utility who spent some time at Essendon. At 196cm, 92kg, he can play centre half-forward or centre half-back, but has the pace and fitness to play on a wing or even in the midfield if need be.

JOHN BAIRD (VIC): Baird captained Port Melbourne to the perfect season last year – unbeaten in for the year with 21 wins and the 2011 premiership, the Borough’s first flag since 1982. He played 47 AFL games with North Melbourne mostly as a defender but now plays a lot as a midfielder, recently racking up 35 touches in another Port Melbourne victory. He was a clear and obvious choice to lead the Vics.

SHANE VALENTI (VIC): After 15 AFL games between 2008-09 for Melbourne, Valenti became a star of the VFL. In his first year at the Borough, 2010, he had an outstanding second half of the season, and was joint winner of the VFL best and fairest award, the J.J. Liston Trophy, tying on 20 votes with North Ballarat’s Steve Clifton. He became the first player in league history to win both the Fothergill-Round Medal as the league’s best young player and the Liston Trophy in the same year. In 2011, Valenti won his second consecutive J. J. Liston Trophy, becoming only the third player in VFA/VFL history to win the award back-to-back.

DEAN GALEA (VIC): Galea originally played for Williamstown but got sick of being dumped from the seniors for AFL listed players, so moved to Port Melbourne in 2010. In his first year he was okay with 48 goals, but set the competition alight last year with 71 goals, including six majors in Port Melbourne’s successful grand final. He is again on track this year, leading all VFL goal-kickers with 24 goals in eight games, including a bag of six against Carlton-aligned Northern Blues.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY? Tasmanian footballers grow an extra leg when they don the famous primrose, rose and apple green “Map” jumper but this task might just be a little to tough. The TSL is only in its infancy, with just three and a half seasons to its name, compared to 135-years of history behind the VFL. Playing at home will be an advantage but the Tasmanian selectors have readily admitted they are looking long term with this group and this is just the first step. The Victorians have brought a strong team with many having AFL experience and under Port Melbourne premiership coach and former Geelong and Adelaide AFL coach Gary Ayres, should be too strong.

TIP: VFL by 58 points.

[The Prototype]

In the curtain raiser...

Mariners.0.0.0
Rebels.2.1.13

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Tasmania v Victoria Teams

Tasmania
B: Allwright, McKenna, Walters
HB: Woolley, Lee, Harris
C: Musicka, Webb, Cox
HF: Standen, Reynolds, Bowden
F: Jones, Laycock, Ponsonby
R: Brown, A.French, Waller
Int: Milhocek, Hardy, Stephens, C.French, Blackberry, McCulloch, Taylor

Victoria
B: Hoy, Pendlebury, Hartigan
HB: Goodes, Pleming, Jolley
C: Cook, Sewell, Towers
HF: Burstin, Haretuku, Dwyer
F: Cain, Galea, Ross
R: Skipper, Barid, Valenti
Int: Duscher, Lambert, Witkowski, Martin, Osbourne, Shinners, McNamara, Marcon

[The Prototype]

Half Time
Tassie Mariners 1.5.11
North Ballarat Rebels 5.5.35

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Post Reserved for Three Quarter Time Scores

10 minutes final quarter...

Mariners.2.7.19
Rebels.11.10.76

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Final Scores
Tassie Mariners 3.9.27
North Ballarat Rebels 14.10.94

[MagpieBat]

^ Ouch.

C'mon Vics!

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A rushed behind there by Harris.

Tasmania 0.0.0
Victoria 0.1.1

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Musicka has goaled.

Tasmania 1.0.6
Victoria 0.1.1

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Hey! Homeless Jimmy is playing for Tassie!


...owait that's McKenna. Nevermind.

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That's a rushed behind for Tassie.

Tasmania 1.1.7
Victoria 0.1.1

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Galea marks in the pocket, and he's missed.

Tasmania 1.1.7
Victoria 0.2.2

[The Prototype]

Haretuku has kicked the Vics first.

Tasmania 1.1.7
Victoria 1.2.8

[MagpieBat]

Haretuku goals.

TSL 1.1.7
VFL 1.2.8

12 mins gone...