Tasmanian young guns ready for the 2022 AFL Draft
They’re the finest footballing products of their generation, and these young Tasmanian weapons are intent on cracking into the AFL. Meet our bright hopes here.
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HE’S the quiet achiever from the North West Coast that has become the face of Tasmania’s draft hopes but despite the spotlight well and truly being shone on him, Lachie Cowan remains as humble as ever.
The Tasmania Devils co-captain has shot into first round calculations for Monday’s opening night of the NAB AFL Draft with the 17-year-old taking everything that comes with being the state’s best young player in his stride.
“There is always going to be nerves and I’m pretty nervous for the night but I’m just trying to stay relaxed and hang around with mates and family and get some work in to take my mind off things,” Cowan told The Mercury.
The Devonport junior product turned North Launceston TSL player has quickly made a name for himself this season following an outstanding NAB League campaign that saw him awarded the Morrish Medal – something he didn’t even know existed.
Essentially the equivalent of the Brownlow Medal, the no-fuss defender was named joint winner alongside Dandenong Stingrays midfielder Taj Campbell-Farrell.
He was ranked elite for disposals (26.9 per game), marks (five per game), intercept marks (2.2 per game), intercept possessions (eight per game) and score involvements (5.3 per game) with AFL recruiters well and truly taking notice.
“I’ve had at least one conversation with all 18 clubs which is good,” Cowan said.
“It was a massive shock (winning the medal). It’s huge and it’s an honour to win. It’s not something that I was playing for this year, obviously, I didn’t even know what it was, but while they aren’t something I play for it was definitely an honour to win.”
Describing himself as a hard running, break the lines, kicking defender, Cowan models his game on Western Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale and credits two former Tasmanian draftees among those responsible for his successful switch to defence following a junior career as a midfielder.
“The switch to halfback really helped my footy but also my coaching last year,” Cowan said.
“Justin Roberts was pretty big and this year Jamie Hayward and my North West coaches Maverick Weller and Jason Ling sort of tell you to back yourself and show what you can do and I take a lot of confidence out of that.”
“Sam Lonergan has also been huge for me. I’ve annoyed the crap out of him with hundreds of questions but he’s been brilliant. Weather that’s giving me feedback or, staying with him when I went over for the combine. He’s been great for me this year.”
The former Launceston TSL coach is currently working as a development coach at Richmond with Cowan joking he hoped Lonergan had put in a good word with Tigers recruiters and coach Damien Hardwick for him.
With Cowan expected by draft insiders to go anywhere between pick 20-25, the gun prospect is just as focused on his fellow Devils AFL dreams coming true just as much as his own.
“I just focus on what I can control. I wanted to have a consistent year and I feel like I’ve done that. Tommy Mac (Tom McCallum), Cam (Cam Owen), Brandon (Leary) and Seth (Campbell) are just as much of a chance as I am so I just controlling what I can control and go from there,” Cowan said.
“Especially over this year I’ve gotten close with all four of those guys so it’s been great being able to share the lead up with them.”
Tall timber hopeful of achieving AFL dream
HE models his game on a young bulldogs star and now Tassie draft hopeful Cam Owen is hoping he can join the big league himself with the athletic ruck-forward optimistic he can realise his AFL dream early next week.
After a strong year with the Tassie Devils and an impressive outing at the state draft combine, Owen is among a handful of Tasmanians in contention to be picked up at Monday and Tuesday’s AFL National Draft as well as Wednesday’s Rookie Draft.
The 18-year old young gun- who is the younger brother of Hobart Hurricane Mitch Owen- said he was feeling mixed emotions as he prepared for the anxious wait to see whether his name would be called next week
“There’s a bit of both [nerves and excitement], “Owen said.
“The nerves just come from the unknown.
“I’m someone who is certainly not a lock [to be drafted], so I think leading up closer to the draft the nerves will really start to kick in.”
Ahead of the draft, the 203cm teenager said he felt he could impact the game in multiple areas and that he had modelled his game on a very similar style player.
“Tim English from the Bulldogs is someone I’ve watched pretty closely and tried to be a sponge off and learn from the stuff he does,” Owen said.
“He’s good at being really versatile and when he’s in the ruck he follows up really well and helps the mids and that sort of stuff which is important.
“I’m a ruck -forward who predominantly spends most of the time in the ruck and my strengths as a player are probably my ruck craft and ability to impact games whether that’s in the ruck or up forward.”
Owen said having a brother in professional sport had been a big help in showing him what was required to get the best out of himself in his pursuit of his AFL dream.
“Obviously mum and dad and coaches are a big part of it, but having my brother around has been huge as well with the professionalism and all of that sort of stuff.
“He teaches me a lot about dieting and what it takes to be a professional athlete which is great.
“And then stuff away from footy like sleep and recovery, he’s all over that.”
Likewise, Owen said Devils coach Jeromey Webberley had been a huge help in preparing him for what it took to make it to the top level.
“He’s been massive. He’s been really good at building our relationship within the team and enforcing that selfless attitude which is probably why we want so well this year.
“He’s had a massive influence and obviously having AFL experience has been massive for us boys trying to get drafted because he’s lived it and he has the best info around that sort of stuff. “
The versatile key position player said he would enter next week’s draft optimistic but with the attitude that if it didn't all go to plan there would be plenty more chances down the road.
“It’s a bit of a cliché but obviously everyone that’s a chance always says that it’s a dream they’ve had since they were a kid and there’s nothing more true than that statement for me,” he said.
“It’s all about a club taking a punt on me really.
“I’m very understanding of how much developing I have to do and all that sort of stuff but I know if it doesn’t happen in the National [draft] it could happen in the Rookie [draft] and if it doesn’t happen this year it’s not the end of the world because there’s next year and years after that,” he said.
The National Draft will be spread across both Monday and Tuesday at Marvel Stadium followed by the Pre-season and Rookie Draft on Wednesday.
How 10-goal haul sparked carpenter
HE’S got the hands of a carpenter and the smarts of a footballer but for Seth Campbell, the AFL draft presents as an opportunity to down tools and realise his AFL dream.
The North West Coast product is one of five Tasmanians in contention at Monday and Tuesday’s NAB AFL Draft – along with Wednesday’s rookie draft – with Lachie Cowan, Tom McCallum, Brandon Leary and Cam Owen the other contenders.
Campbell, a first-year carpenter, is a clever and crafty forward who has quietly put together a season of football that has AFL clubs taking notice.
“I’ve talked to around 11 clubs throughout the year, which is a really promising sign,” Campbell said.
“At the moment I haven’t really thought about the draft too much though. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time. I’m going to work and keeping my mind off it but I’m sure as it gets closer the nerves will come.”
Campbell progressed strongly throughout 2022, playing 13 NAB League games where he averaged 19 disposals and kicked 16 goals before heartbreak turned into a star marking TSL level turn late in the season.
Following the initial news he wouldn’t be invited to the NAB AFL Combine, Campbell was handed a late call-up that resulted in the 18-year-old producing one of the all-time Tasmanian state league performances.
In round 20 against North Hobart, Campbell kicked a whopping 10.6 and finished with 32 disposals in the Bombers 122-point thumping of the Demons.
“I didn’t get selected for the combine earlier that week and then I got a call from Jez (Devils coach Jeromey Webberley) to say ‘mate you’ve been invited to the combine’ and I was stoked,” Campbell said.
“It just felt like the pressure was off to perform in my next game so I went in on the Saturday and was able to play off instinct. I went into that last quarter and the boys were telling me I’d kicked 8 but I didn’t feel real. I wasn’t counting, I was too busy enjoying my footy but it felt great to finish with 10.”
Campbell says the combine was one of the best experiences of his life with the crafty forward set to watch the first night of the draft in hopes of seeing his best mate Cowan drafted before he hopefully experiences the same joy on Tuesday.
I’ll watch night one because I hope he (Cowan) goes first round. He deserves all the recognition but if he doesn’t he will definitely go night two and I’ll be proud of him either way,” Campbell said.
TASMANIA’S AFL DRAFT HOPEFULS
Lachie Cowan
Date of Birth: 01/12/04; Height: 187cm; Weight: 81kg
Weapon: Intercept marking and dash from defence
AFL player comparison: Tom Stewart (Geelong Cats)
The state’s top draft hopeful, Cowan is a strong and powerful medium defender who intercepts extremely well, is a penetrating kick and provided plenty of rebound for both the Tasmania Devils and Allies during an outstanding year. Averaged 22 disposals, four tackles and six rebound 50s for the Allies at the 2022 NAB AFL National Championships and was rewarded with All-Australian selection. He capped off his terrific year by being named the joint winner of the Morrish Medal, the best and fairest award for the NAB League Boys, after averaging 27 disposals and five marks across 12 matches. Cowan spoke with The Mercury in an exclusive chat that will be in Monday’s Mercury.
Tom McCallum
Date of Birth: 15/09/04; Height: 192cm; Weight: 82kg
Weapon: Intercept mark and burst from defence
AFL player comparison: Tom McCartin (Sydney Swans)
The best young player in the south of Tasmania, McCallum is a tall defender with a good intercept mark who can break open the game with his bursts of speed. He has elite running capacity and can play on tall and small forwards as required. Averaged 14 disposals for the Tasmania Devils in the NAB League and featured on the interchange in the NAB League Team of the Year but was unable to test at the Draft Combine due to an ankle injury. Tom McCallum spoke with The Mercury in an exclusive chat that will be in Tuesday’s Mercury.
Seth Campbell
Date of Birth: 29/12/04; Height: 179cm; Weight: 69kg
Weapon: Speed, work rate and scoreboard impact
AFL player comparison: Luke Breust (Hawthorn)
Seth Campbell has quickly made a name for himself following a strong performance in Tasmania’s under 17 clash with Queensland last year and became a key cog in the Devils’ mid-forward rotation as a top-ager this season. Campbell averaged 19 touches, 4.7 inside 50s and over a goal per his 13 NAB League games this season, earning Allies selection. Produced arguably his standout performance in the TSL for North Launceston, booting 10.6 from 32 disposals to leap firmly onto the draft radar.
Brandon Leary
Date of Birth: 13/05/03; Height: 177cm; Weight: 72kg
Weapon: Goal sense and scoreboard impact
AFL player comparison: Jamie Elliot (Collingwood)
An incredibly consistent small forward, over-age talent Brandon Leary put his name up in lights as a ready-made option for AFL clubs when he finished second in the NAB League goalkicking with 33 goals. Leary was arguably the most consistent goal kicker of the lot, and while Aaron Cadman pipped him for the leading goal kicker, Leary kicked at least one goal in each of his first 13 matches at the level. One of the better pure small forward options for clubs in this year’s draft.
Cameron Owen
Date of Birth: 28/05/04; Height: 203cm; Weight: 94kg
Weapon: Mobility, aerial ability and size
AFL player comparison: Tim English (Western Bulldogs)
While he is far from the finished product, Owen’s upside is enormous. At 203cm and 94kg, is more built than many of his peers, and when presenting out in front inside 50 or around the ground, he is consistent enough with his hands to clunk them and he will always make a contest. His upside is evident with what he does well. Clubs could go with Owen as a long-term prospect that could thrive inside the elite level.
‘Thrill’: State footy to return for bumper double header
Tasmania’s best footy talent will be given the chance to don “the Map” next season with news that state representative footy will return with a massive double header at the state’s traditional home of footy.
On Friday morning AFL Tasmania revealed Tasmania will host Queensland at North Hobart Oval on Saturday July 1 for both a men’s and women’s representative football double header.
North Hobart Oval has a rich history of hosting representative football, with some of Tasmania’s most celebrated football moments taking place on the ground’s hallowed turf, including historic State of Origin victories over Victoria in 1990 and South Australia in 1995.
Tassie has not played a men’s representative match since 2019 in an under 25’s clash against a composite Victoria Metro team at UTAS, while 2016 was the last time the states best females donned the Map.
Both matches will be open age but will require teams to field at least six players aged 23 or under.
The last time Tasmania played an open age mens rep match was against Western Australia in 2016.
Head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill said he was thrilled to bring rep footy back to a state.
“Tasmania has a rich history in representative football, and we look forward to the writing of a new chapter in 2023 with our men’s and women’s teams taking to the field on the same day, Gill said.
“The ‘Map’ is arguably our state’s most important sporting icon, and it will be a thrill to see Tasmania’s best men’s and women’s talent wearing it proudly at the traditional home of Tassie footy.
“There’s no doubt that representing your state is a career highlight for any footballer, and I know everyone involved in this double header – including local coaches, umpires, and administrators – will relish the opportunity.
“We have worked closely with Trisha Squires and the AFL Queensland team to make this a reality, and we look forward to continuing to work together between now and July.”
Likewise his AFL Queensland counterpart Trisha Squires was excited to help her states best players shine and proudly represent their state.
“Football in Queensland is stronger than ever and we’re ready to put that pride back in the maroon jumper,” Squires said.
“Queensland has a rich history of state football, and to have matches against such a proud football state in Tasmania is incredibly significant for our men’s and women’s teams.
“Queensland continues to produce AFLW talent, and this state game will offer an exciting opportunity for our up-and-comers to play at that higher level. Similarly, the men’s program will mix some of our best players with our rising stars.
“Thank you to Damian Gill and the AFL Tasmania team for all the hard work that has gone into hosting such a prestigious event.”
Next year’s clashes will be just the second time Tasmania’s men’s and women’s senior representative sides have played in a double-header, and the first time Tasmania has played Queensland in men’s and women’s representative games since 2010 and 2015 respectively.
AFL Tasmania and AFL Queensland will both begin their coaching appointment process soon, with an initial squad selection to follow in the new year.
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