We reveal the best nicknames in the Tasmanian State League
Dr Evil doesn’t just taunt Austin Powers. We name the TSL player named after the supervillain and other great nicknames, as their coaches reveal why they got them. SEE THE LIST >>
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FOOTY fans may not be aware that Dr Evil plays in the Tasmanian State League.
So does Wolverine, Shrek, John Deere and the Big Bad Wolf.
These are some of the nicknames given to players in Tasmania’s top football competition, so if you happened to be in the stands and heard one of those names, don’t be alarmed.
Sporting clubs are packed with interesting nicknames for players and the TSL teams are no different.
Lauderdale coach Darren Winter lamented the run-of-the-mill names at his club — “Macca”, “Sutts”, “Bakes”.
At North Hobart, it’s a different story.
Demons coach Richard Robinson — himself known as “Bear” — said it should be obvious why Nathan Hardy was the TSL’s Dr Evil.
It is not for diabolical acts on or off the field.
“No. Nathan is a very good family man — but have a look at the head on him,” Robinson said.
“You know what Dr Evil looks like – have a look at Nathan Hardy.”
Onballer Jack Sandric is “John Deere” because he’s slow, like a tractor, and Callum Kilpatrick is “Oysters”, again for obvious reasons.
Robinson is not immune.
“I’m ‘Bear’ because when I was a young player I was big and slow — nothing’s changed,” he said.
Launceston coach Mitch Thorp, whose team is playing in the TSL grand final against North Launceston at UTas Stadium today, said players in all club had fun with the tags they give teammates.
“They don’t all stick,” Thorp said.
Sometimes they do, like star player, Jobi Harper, who is “Shrek”.
“He’s got the biggest head in Tasmania – his physical head, not his ego,” Thorp said.
“The circumference of his melon is why he is affectionately known as Shrek around the footy club.”
Harper’s midfield colleague and decorated TSL player Tim Bristow is “The Big Bad Wolf”.
“He’s been the Big Bad Wolf forever, not for aggressive reasons, but for his mangy hair,” Thorp said.
Fletcher Seymour is “Cuddles” because that’s his specialty with the opposite gender, and Alec Wright is “Tickets” because his work colleagues thought he had a high opinion of his football skills.
Jett Maloney is “Chutney” because of his bright red hair, and Grant Holt is “Eric the Eel”.
“Remember the 2000 Olympics where ‘Eric the Eel’ from Equatorial Guinea swum at the Games and he was pretty poor. Grant Holt is a particularly bad swimmer so that’s where that came from,” Thorp said.
Glenorchy midfielder Matty Joseph is “Quoll”.
“The boys say that’s because he’s a hungry marsupial,” said coach Paul Kennedy, known as “PK”.
Magpie Ben Kamaric is “Disco” and Tim Butterworth is “Chisel” after an incident at high school in which he allegedly though a chisel in class.
“It stuck – the name, not the chisel,” Kennedy said.
At Clarence, hulking country boy Jason Bailey is “Big Country”, onballer Jarrod Harper is “Poon” as in harpoon, tagger Clint Riley goes by “Gruff” because of is deep voice, and Oscar Paprotny “Pistorius”, after the disgraced South African Olympic sprinter — because Pistorius is easier to say than his actual name.
“Wolverine” also lurks at Clarence in the form of Sam Banks, who got the name, says coach Jeromey Webberley because of his body fur, just like the Wolverine’s head.
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