Greatest Tasmanian VFL/AFL team headlined by superstars like Royce Hart and Ian Stewart

It’s a tough team to break into, with some stars relegated to the flanks — and even the interchange. As momentum grows for a stand-alone Tasmanian AFL team, we look at the biggest names produced by the Apple Isle.

The extreme depth of a Tasmanian “best of the AFL” team is emphasised by the selection of two Richmond champions in Jack Riewoldt and Michael Roach on the interchange bench.

Riewoldt and Roach have combined for 1230 goals from 459 games, 16 club goalkicking awards, five Coleman medals, four All-Australians, two best and fairests and two premierships.

Yet the pair still couldn’t force their way into this star-studded outfit as selected by Jon Anderson and former Herald Sun colleague (and proud Tasmanian) Geoff Poulter.

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The respective records of Riewoldt and Roach would see them picked in the forward lines of most other states, yet how can they be picked ahead of AFL Hall of Fame Legends in Darrel Baldock, Royce Hart and Peter Hudson, six-time best and fairest winner Nick Riewoldt or Matthew Richardson, who won 13 club goalkicking awards at Richmond? Dual Sydney best and fairest winner, plus 2005 Premiership player Paul Williams takes his place in a forward pocket as second rover to Paul Sproule.

With the exception of Carlton wingman Arthur Hodgson, every footballer in this team played in an AFL Grand Final, with 16 having combined for 35 Premierships, another 12 for 24 club best and fairests.

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Former Lions champ Alastair Lynch.

Royce Hart is one of the game’s greatest ever.

Centreman Ian Stewart occupies the same position in the AFL Team of the Century selected in 1996, just as Royce Hart does at centre half forward.

Missing the team altogether are Collingwood’s 1990 Premiership member and Brownlow Medal runner-up Graham Wright, plus Hawthorn wingman/rover Darrin Pritchard who played in three flags for the Hawks and was arguably their best player in the iconic 1989 VFL Grand Final.

While numbers and quality may not be as high today, Tasmania is well represented in the first week of the 2019 finals series through players such as Tom Bellchambers, Jeremy Howe, Jake Kolodjashnij, Brody Mihocek, Toby Nankervis, Jack Riewoldt and Mitch Robinson.

Jon Anderson's greatest-ever Tassie line-up.

Originally published as Greatest Tasmanian VFL/AFL team headlined by superstars like Royce Hart and Ian Stewart