AFTER a season like no other, the Mercury Sports desk has run the rule over Tasmania’s AFL stocks and assessed their status heading into season 2021.
Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
2020 games: 15
2020 goals: 6
Total games: 23
Total goals: 9
Jones statistically went backwards in 2020 from his 2019 campaign which saw him win the
club’s Mark Bickley Award for emerging talent but did play 15 of 17 games in a side that
underperformed. The Longford lad will be expected to make steps forward as the club
rebuilds.
2021 forecast: Jones is inked with the Crows until 2023 and is in position to be a big
improver as the Crows rebuild.
Grant Birchall (Brisbane)
2020 games: 16
2020 goals: 6
Total games: 264
Total goals: 34
Birchall headed north to Brisbane to fill the “Luke Hodge” role as a battle-hardened ex-Hawk
among the emerging Pride of Lions. The move paid off as he shrugged off the injury bug and
top brass at the Gabba were rapt with his efforts.
2021 forecast: Birchall has reportedly met clauses to trigger another year at the Lions and
according to his agent is keen to play on. The Devonport product can sniff a fifth flag to put
him in elite company.
Mitch Robinson (Brisbane)
2020 games: 19
2020 goals: 5
Total games: 210
Total goals: 113
Robinson’s renaissance under Chris Fagan continued in 2020 as the ex-Lauderdale star
cemented his spot as one of the Lions’ leaders. Never far from the headlines.
2021 forecast: Robinson is contracted for another year and will be chomping at the bit to start
a 2021 campaign where the Lions look to improve on their preliminary finals exit.
Liam Jones (Carlton)
2020 games: 17
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 142
Total goals: 84
A season of consistency in the Navy Blue for Jones, playing in every game as he rewarded
the faith the club has shown in the North Hobart product.
2021 forecast: The 29-year-old is contracted until the end of 2022 so his primary focus will
be to maintain his lock on a spot in the side’s best 22 as the club continues to rebuild.
Jeremy Howe (Collingwood)
2020 games: 4
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 187
Total goals: 89
What might have been for a season that began with an All-Star selection for the bushfire
charity relief match and ended with just four games played. The former Dodges Ferry and
Hobart star had played at least 20 games for the previous eight seasons.
2021 forecast: Putting aside the injuries which sidelined him will be the focus for Howe this
summer. He is contracted until the end of 2021.
Brody Mihocek (Collingwood)
2020 games: 18
2020 goals: 25
Total games: 58
Total goals: 90
Mihocek continued his AFL fairytale, which started with the Burnie Dockers, with another
solid campaign up forward for the Magpies. His sure hands in marking contests and above
average accuracy in front of goal made him a Magpie mainstay.
2021 forecast: Uncertainty surrounds Mihocek’s status at the Pies. While President Eddie
McGuire says he’s “very valued”, the Melbourne media jungle drums are beating ahead of
trade week.
Tom Bellchambers (Essendon)
2020 games: 7
2020 goals: 1
Total games: 136
Total goals: 77
Persistent knee injuries in a compacted fixture hobbled Bellchambers’ final season in the red
sash. He announced his retirement during the season but some observers criticised the Dons
for not giving him a farewell match.
2021 forecast: The former Northern Launceston player farewelled Essendon saying:
“Physically, my body is telling my time is up and I go out knowing that I couldn’t have given any more to this great club.”
Andrew Phillips (Essendon)
2020 games: 5
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 46
Total goals: 15
The former Lauderdale Bomber filled a depth position for the Dons’ ruck stocks, playing in
only five games as a result.
2021 prediction: Out of contract at his third club, Phillips’ status will depend on new
Bombers coach Ben Rutten’s assessment of the list and the club’s options in the trade and
draft periods.
Mitch Hibberd (Essendon)
2020 games: 5
2020 goals: 9
Total games: 0
Total goals: 0
Thrown a lifeline by the Dons after leaving North Melbourne, the former Clarence Roo
managed five games but could not cement a spot in a disappointing Essendon side.
2021 prediction: Hibberd was one of five players delisted by the Dons in September, with his
future up in the air.
Alex Pearce (Fremantle)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 53
Total goals: 3
A lost season for one of the AFL’s emerging elite defenders. A left ankle injury from the
middle of 2019 reared its ugly head again costing the former Ulverstone and Devonport jet
his 2020 campaign.
2021 prediction: Contractually Pearce is secure until 2022 but he will be desperate to shake
off the injury bug that has plagued his young career. When healthy he’s shown All Australian
potential.
Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong)
2020 games: 16
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 109
Total goals: 0
A highly valued member of Matthew Scarlett’s defensive set up at the Cats, the former
Launceston defender’s solid form and versatility will see him given a Grand Final berth this
weekend.
2021 prediction: Next season will be a contract year for Kolodjashnij, and with the expected
departures of Harry Taylor and possibly Lachie Henderson, as well as a potential Premier’s
medallion around his neck, he will be in a strong negotiating position.
Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast)
2020 games: 17
2020 goals: 3
Total games: 68
Total goals: 39
After switching to the Suns from Adelaide ahead of the 2020 season, Greenwood enjoyed his best season to date, averaging 17.8 disposals and leading the club’s Brownlow Medal polling (11). The Lauderdale onballer’s presence in the Suns’ young midfield was of key importance to coach Stewart Dew in 2020, particularly following the season-ending injury to first-year midfielder Matt Rowell.
2021 prediction: Next season will be Greenwood’s second year of a three-year contract with the Suns, with a trigger for a fourth year. Expect to see a similar role for Greenwood in season 2020 as the club looks to bolster the experience of the young players around him. Upon signing with the Suns, Greenwood said “to be able to help out where I can with the development of some of the younger guys, was a huge selling point for me”.
Lachie Weller (Gold Coast)
2020 games: 17
2020 goals: 12
Total games: 103
Total goals: 35
Weller capped off a solid year in 2020, playing all 17 matches and averaging almost a goal a game. A key cog in the Suns team, the Burnie midfielder chalked up 100 AFL games during season 2020 – 47 of which were spent over three seasons at Fremantle.
2021 prediction: Weller was former Suns coach Guy McKenna’s pick, when he was asked earlier this month, who the club’s next All Australian selection would be. Expect Weller to continue on his good 2020 form and prove wrong critics who questioned Gold Coast’s decision to trade its pick 2 for the midfielder.
Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 80
Total goals: 14
Concussion has brought his career to a complete halt, having only played two games in 2019
and none this season. The former top 10 draft pick from Launceston has bigger issues than
football to worry about.
2021 forecast: While Melbourne is expected to carry him on their list, debilitating head
injuries might end the promising career of the dashing defender.
Jay Lockhart (Melbourne)
2020 games: 10
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 22
Total goals: 9
A bizarre season all round was even more strange for Lockhart, when he spent some of the
mid-season recess in isolation in Musselroe Bay in Tassie’s North-East. After literally
spending time in the wilderness he was able to add 10 games.
2021 forecast: The former supplemental draft pick has two seasons under his belt but faces a
nervous, uncontracted wait to see what happens next year.
Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
2020 games: 9
2020 goals: 8
Total games: 130
Total goals: 287
The key forward experienced his leanest year in goals in 2020 (8) after bagging 64 and 61 majors in the past two seasons, respectively. Brown played just 8 games in 2020 amid concerns with injury and form.
Prediction for 2021: It’s unlikely the Devonport forward will be at North Melbourne next year after the club told him to explore his options. He has been linked with a move to the Demons.
Aaron Hall (North Melbourne)
2020 games: 15
2020 goals: 10
Total games: 124
Total goals: 90
A more consistent year than his first at Arden Street in 2019, Hall impressed Roos fans in 2020, playing all but 2 games at 14.6 disposals. The Hobart wingman was one of the better performers for North in a season which saw the club record just 3 wins.
Prediction for 2021: With one year left on his contract, the 29-year-old looks set for a similar role at North Melbourne next year despite speculation earlier this year of a payout from the club.
Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
2020 games: 6
2020 goals: 3
Total games: 26
Total goals: 19
A disappointing 2020 for the fast-paced North Launceston product whose season was cut short by season-ending foot surgery after just 6 games. In just his half dozen appearances this year the former pick 8 draft selection showed glimpses of the talent that earned him a rising star nomination in 2019.
2021 prediction: The club’s decision to see Thomas undergo surgery for his “long-term health and wellbeing” should see the forward return in better shape next year. He is contracted at the club until the end of 2022.
M att McGuiness (North Melbourne)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 0
Total goals: 0
The rookie-listed Lauderdale tall didn’t manage a game in season 2020 and focused on his training and fitness while staying with his parents back in Tasmania during the pandemic shutdown.
Prediction for 2021: Out of contract going into 2021, the wait is on for McGuinness alongside several Roos, with changes to list sizes likely to play a role in the situation.
Toby Nankervis (Richmond)
2020 games: 10
2020 goals: 3
Total games: 81
Total goals: 28
The North Launceston big man endured a two-month injury lay-off in 2020, playing just 10 games. After returning to the side in round 14 Nankervis has shown good form which could see him win his third premiership in four years at the Tigers on Saturday.
2021 prediction: Out of contract going into this year Nankervis is expected to draw interest from a number of clubs looking to bolster their ruck stocks. Should he stay at Punt Road, the Tigers number one ruck choice will be his to lose in 2021.
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
2020 games: 20
2020 goals: 31
Total games: 282
Total goals: 662
The Clarence product again produced a solid 2020 campaign, averaging 1.7 goals for the year. His forward pairing with spearhead Tom Lynch posed problematic for opponents in a year which saw the 31-year-old reach 282 career games last weekend – the same number of games played by former Tasmanian Tiger Matthew Richardson.
Prediction for 2021:
Contracted until the end of next year, Riewoldt is expected to continue to provide a consistent goalkicking option up forward for the Tigers next year.
Fraser Turner (Richmond)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 0
Total goals: 0
The Clarence wingman didn’t manage a game in 2020 in a season in which the Tigers chose not to blood many new faces ahead of its third premiership tilt in four years.
Prediction for 2021: Out of contract at the end of the year, the 58th pick in the 2018 draft could face a nervous wait as the Tigers consider the futures of a host of stars including Bachar Houli, Nathan Broad and Marlion Pickett.
Jimmy Webster (St Kilda)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 93
Total goals: 3
The defender didn’t manage a game in season 2020 in a year that saw him work as a carpenter during the pandemic lockdown. Webster was in the mix for a call up for the Saints during the finals but was overlooked for selection in favour of Shane Savage. It’s been over 18 months since he last played for the Saints.
2021 prediction: Webster is contracted at St Kilda until the end of 2022 where it’s expected he will stay unless he commands interest from other clubs.
Robbie Fox (Sydney)
2020 games: 14
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 38
Total goals: 8
A sound year for the defender saw Fox notch 14 games for the Swans in 2020. The 27-year old received praise from Swans coach John Longuir after he kept Tigers spearheads goalless when matched against them during the round 6 clash.
2021 prediction:
Fox is out of contract heading into 2021 and uncertainty surrounds his future with the club.
Jackson Thurlow (Sydney)
2020 games: 8
2020 goals: 3
Total games: 63
Total goals: 14
Thurlow managed 8 games during his second year with the Swans after crossing over from Geelong at the end of 2018. After failing to win selection in the first half of the season, Thurlow returned to the Swans side for the in round 10, kicking two goals from 15 disposals in the loss to Collingwood.
Prediction for 2021:
Thurlow is left without a contract on the table for 2021 alongside a host of Swans who are challenging for a spot in what will be a reduced list size next year.
Mitch O’Neill (West Coast)
2020 games: 0
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 0
Total goals: 0
Taken with pick 25 in last year’s Rookie Draft, O’Neill didn’t manage a game in 2020 after suffering a back injury. Upon signing with the club, the midfielder said “I’m really excited to learn off Andrew Gaff, who plays a similar game to me”.
2021 prediction:
The North Hobart ball winner will be hoping for a good bill of health in 2021 which could see him force his way into the Eagles’ strong midfield.
Ryan Gardner (Western Bulldogs)
2020 games: 10
2020 goals: 0
Total games: 12
Total goals: 2
The 23-year-old was a durable option for the Dogs in 2020, averaging an impressive 7.1 spoils per game across 10 matches, including 12 against Hawthorn in round 17.
2021 prediction:
The former Burnie Docker finished season 2020 with an impressive 14 disposals the Dogs’ semi-final loss to the Saints. He will enter season 2021 without a contact alongside a host of other promising players.
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