Jay Blackberry has played with some of Tasmania’s best and this weekend he will hit a milestone

Only one TSL player has done what Jay Blackberry will do against North Hobart at Windsor Park this weekend.

L-R Bradley Cox-Goodyer, Jay Blackberry, Hugh Williams, Sam Rundle, Bryce Walsh (back) Brady Jones and Sam Rice. TSL. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

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LAUNCETON’S most dangerous all-rounder Jay Blackberry will become only the second player in the history of the Tasmanian State League to hit the 200-game milestone against North Hobart today but he has an eye on a bigger prize – another premiership.

Blackberry was part of South Launceston’s all-conquering team that went on a rampage in 2013 and landed the TSL flag under coach Mitch Thorp.

Now in charge of the Blues, Thorp has Launceston in a premiership-winning position and Blackberry would love to be part of another one.

“I’ve been at Launceston for five years and the group is very similar to the one we had in 2013 – very young, driven and some of them probably haven’t discovered their full potential yet, which is exciting,” he said.

“The guys across the river [North Launceston] have been the standard for some years now and we’re all coming for them, and it’s nice to be in a position to challenge for one [flag] but we know there’s a lot of hard work to go still, just to get the chance to maybe take home that cup.”

After a major hiccup against Lauderdale at Lauderdale Oval last Saturday, the Blues are motivated to bounce back against the Demons at Windsor Park.

“If we can win one out of our next two games we secure second spot and that’s been the goal, to get to the finals in top two positive, get a home final, and start to play some finals-type footy,” Blackberry said.

With so many talented and enduring players in the TSL, Blackberry was surprised to be only the second player to reach 200 games behind Glenorchy’s Jaye Bowden.

“It’s obviously a nice achievement, and it has snuck up on me,” Blackberry said.

“It’s a lot of footy in the 11 years of the State League, and I’m sure going forward there will be more achieve it but it’s nice to reach a milestone and say you’ve played at the top level for such a long time.”

The highlight was a flag for South Launceston triumph.

“The premiership is No. 1 highlight, it’s very hard to go past that,” Blackberry said.

“Probably sitting close are the five state games I’ve played in, and to win some of those games, and to play in the under-18 championship-winning team with the Mariners.

“Playing for Tassie is a massive honour and being able to win at junior and senior level is something I will look back on with a lot of pride.”

Blackberry played with some outstanding players _ Josh Green, Jake Gillbee, Ben Brown, Mav Weller, Luke Russell, Andrew Phillips, Hugh Greenwood and footballer-turned-cricketer Sam Rainbird.

“It was a great year and a pretty talented line-up and good when you can reflect on that and think about the players you have played with.”