Inside Tasmania’s past and future draft prospects as AFL licence looms

The depth of players to come from the state of Tasmania has been on the decline, and with a new team set to arrive, it must improve quickly. Check out all the recent Tassie draftees across the AFL.

See every Tasmanian taken in the past decade.

Tasmania should be looking to produce one first-round pick every year and an average of at least four to six players selected through the draft to help feed its own team when a 19th club enters the competition, according to the AFL’s long-standing talent guru.

As the competition awaits the official announcement of a 19th licence, the league’s talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan said the AFL was optimistic the introduction of a Tasmanian team would help deliver draft “numbers that we might not have seen before” from the southern state.

An analysis of Tasmania’s draft history in the past 15 years showed how significantly the state’s draft numbers dropped away last decade before the team returned to full-time participation in the Coates Talent League.

From a high of eight players selected through both the national and rookie drafts in 2013 – headlined by Melbourne forward Ben Brown and Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis – that number dropped to just one (rookie Robbie Fox) in 2016.

The draft hauls from Tasmania in 2017, 2019 and 2021 did not fare much better in terms of overall numbers with a total of only two players selected in each of those years.

But the Tasmanian draft crop picked up again last year with a total of five players taken though the national, rookie and mid-season rookie drafts, including Carlton’s second-round selection Lachie Cowan, from Devonport.

Lachlan Cowan headlined Tasmania’s draft haul last year. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The quality and depth of the Tasmanian talent pool is set to come into sharp focus ahead of the state’s historic entry into the AFL, which is set to be confirmed on Wednesday.

Sheehan said the state should be producing a minimum of four players selected through the various drafts each year, including a first-round pick.

“We are optimistic we will get back to what we should have and maybe a wee bit more,” Sheehan said of the Tasmanian draft pool.

“What we should have is at least four players a year coming through, but with a league team as well you could get a few more rookies, you might get five or six out of a market as big as Tassie that comes through each year.

“Around that mark and that’s a great result for them. We are hoping for a first-rounder each year as well.

“That’s not to say they all play at home in Tassie, but we think …. a greater level of coaching with the proposed academies that they get to that number and they could even exceed that.

“It can give us numbers that we might not have seen before …. that would be the ultimate aim.”

Tasmania is expected to field a football team within two to three years with the 19th AFL club set to compete in the VFL before its entry into the big league.

Sheehan said a Tasmanian VFL team would also open up more avenues to the league for Apple Isle hopefuls, who may not initially make the grade.

“If you have got your own VFL (team), those later developing players that might need a state league program until they are 21, 22, they might well push through and become listed players,” Sheehan said.

“If they don’t make it at 18 or 19, they persevere through the reserves comp or the VFL end of it and keep playing and eventually push up to be good enough rather than …. falling off the radar or out of the main pathway program.”

Jack Callinan and Colby McKercher are Tasmania’s top draft prospects coming through the under-18s this year, although Sheehan has yet to cast an eye over the under-16 class this year.

Sheehan said Tasmania’s absence from the Coates Talent League had hurt development in the state.

“They had to get back in it because they need consistent footy from the best boys back here in Victoria,” he said.

“The kids were drifting into so many other sports and they weren’t producing the numbers and it was reflected in the draft.

Jack Callinan is one of Tasmania’s top prospects. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It was decided to treat them, in a football sense, like any other part of Victoria.

“They were in the top four of the Coates Talent League last year and look to be a pretty reasonable side this year, so should compare pretty favourably with any region of Victoria.”

Sheehan said Tasmania had the potential to be delivering as many draft selections as any of the Victorian regions.

“They should be producing about that number like any other region around the state here would,” Sheehan said.

“Sandy (Sandringham) and Oakleigh are very strong, but the other 10 regions they should compare to in terms of productivity of players and be as good as any of those regions.

“(The draft total) got up to about five last year and that’s because they have had a consistent presence in the Coates Talent League for a couple of years leading into that.

“So all of this is building to get back to what we think it should do, around four players a year coming through it.”