Our season of great expectations
Mercury Sports editor BRETT STUBBS looks at every Tassie player and coach in the AFL in season 2019 and examines who’s under the pump.
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THERE are big expectations, but how will the Jack and Tom Tiger show go in reality?
With the Gold Coast train wreck behind them, can Aaron Hall and Kade Kolodjashnij get their careers back on track at new clubs?
How will Tassie’s talented two – Tarryn Thomas and Chayce Jones – perform in their first seasons in the big time?
Will Hawks stalwart Grant Birchall make it back?
All we’ve got is speculation at this stage, but that is not going to stop us as we take a look at some of the key Tasmanian storylines we’ll be following in the 2019 AFL season.
FRESH START:
Aaron Hall (North Melbourne)
The enigmatic Aaron Hall will take his supreme talents to Arden Street for a fresh start after six years at the Gold Coast Suns. Made his name as a small forward before becoming a dynamic midfielder, but the highs – such as three best on grounds to start 2016 – were matched by the lows as he was criticised for only running one way and a lack of tackles. Will the new start bring the consistency the Roos crave?
FRESH START II:
Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne)
Another former Gold Coast Sun looking to restart his career. After being taken No.5 in the 2013 national draft, Kolodjashnij looked a star of the future with his run from half back and precision kicking. But a series of concussions derailed his time at the Suns, and now he has joined one of the AFL’s most exciting lists with a chance to restart his promising career.
RISING STAR:
Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
Thomas has already been compared to Shaun Burgoyne and Daniel Wells despite being yet to play a game. Can play forward, midfield, wing or in defence and has been earmarked as a future champion. May take time to fill out but there are high hopes if Thomas can handle the scrutiny and expectation he will more than justify the buzz.
UNDER THE PUMP:
Brendon Bolton (Carlton)
Aside from St Kilda’s Alan Richardson, is there any coach more under pressure than Brendon Bolton? A credible seven wins in his first year in charge at the Blues has been followed by diminishing returns of six in 2017 and just two last year on way to the wooden spoon. The full strip down and rebuild of the list is now well underway and the long suffering Blues fans want to see some improvement in 2019.
DRAFT BOLTER:
Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
Former Tassie Mariners coach and now the Crows’ national recruiting manager Hamish Ogilvie surprised a few when he selected Launceston midfielder Chayce Jones with pick nine in last year’s national draft. But Ogilvie might just yet again to be shown to be ahead of the curve. Jones is a tough midfielder who can also play on a wing and forward, as kicking two goals in the last pre-season game demonstrated, but what sets him apart is his leadership skills and character, traits footy clubs strive for.
RETURNING VETERAN:
Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)
For about a decade, Grant Birchall was about as reliable player as you could find in the AFL, then injury hit. The four-timer premiership player and All-Australian defender did not make it on the ground last year and played only five in 2017 due to a series of knee injuries and a broken jaw. However, the Hawks are hopeful of Birchall, 31, returning to action before round eight this year.
A NEW ROLE?
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
The arrival of former Gold Coast Suns co-captain Tom Lynch will give Jack Riewoldt a serious fellow key forward for the first time since Matthew Richardson departed Tigerland. The Tigers have built a fearsome reputation around a forward line consisting of Riewoldt and a number of smalls harassing opposition defenders. How will it work with two big alpha forwards prowling the forward 50? Will it be the perfect combination or a case of too much of a good thing?
GREAT EXPECTATIONS:
Chris Fagan (Brisbane)
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan is under pressure for a whole different reason than his former Tassie Mariners charger and now Carlton coach Brendon Bolton. Fear of failure is rampant at the Blues, while for the Lions it is dealing with expectation. After two years in charge, that returned five wins in both seasons, great things are expected from Fagan’s Lions given their talented kids and the competitive, attractive football they played in 2018.
CLASS OF 2019:
Tasmanian players in the AFL this season.
Hugh Greenwood (Adelaide)
Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
Mitch Robinson (Brisbane)
Liam Jones (Carlton)
Andrew Phillips (Carlton)
Jermey Howe (Collingwood)
Brody Mihocek (Collingwood)
Tom Bellchambers (Essendon)
Hugh Dixon (Fremantle)
Alex Pearce (Fremantle)
Jake Kolodjashnij (Geelong)
Lachie Weller (Gold Coast)
Grant Birchall (Hawthorn)
Tim Mohr (Hawthorn)
Kade Kolodjashnij (Melbourne)
Ben Brown (North Melbourne)
Aaron Hall (North Melbourne)
Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
Toby Nankervis (Richmond)
Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
Fraser Turner (Richmond)
Mav Weller (Richmond)
Jimmy Webster (St. Kilda)
Robbie Fox (Sydney)
Jackson Thurlow (Sydney)
INS:
Chayce Jones (Adelaide)
Tarryn Thomas (North Melbourne)
Fraser Turner (Richmond)
OUTS:
Josh Green (Essendon)
Brady Grey (Fremantle)
Ryan Gardner (Geelong)
Jesse Lonergan (Gold Coast)
Mackenzie Willis (Gold Coast)
Kieran Lovell (Hawthorn)
Mitch Hibberd (North Melbourne)
MOVING HOUSE:
Mav Weller (St. Kilda to Richmond)
Jackson Thurlow (Geelong to Sydney)
Aaron Hall (Gold Coast to North Melbourne)
Kade Kolodjashnij (Gold Coast to Melbourne)
Tim Mohr (GWS to Hawthorn)
Tassie’s rep footy schedule locked in
Tasmania’s best footballers will be in action in several representative games this year where they’ll face VFL opposition and state sides. See who and when they’ll take place.
Tassie to host SANFL giants in rep trial
Tasmania will host a big mainland club in men’s and women’s trial games in March, and more local stars have signed on with the SANFL giant. Get the details here.