Launceston teen elevated to Tassie Tigers’ contract list

A Launceston teenager has earned a spot on Tasmania Tigers’ contract list as a local rookie for the upcoming summer.

Launceston teenager, Aidan O'Connor has signed a local rookie contract with the Tasmanian Tigers for the coming summer. Picture: Cricket Tasmania

The Tasmanian Tigers believe allowing emerging teen Aidan O’Connor to remain home in Launceston will help him accelerate his burgeoning career after he was awarded a rookie contract for the coming summer.

The 17-year-old all-rounder joins the top squad as a local rookie, but will remain home in the north as a member of the Emerging Tigers program under the leadership of Alistair Taylor.

It allows him to prioritise his education, and he will also join the squad for training blocks in Hobart which fit around his schooling.

“I was really excited when I found out (that I was going to be offered a Tigers rookie contract),” O’Connor said.

“Growing up playing cricket in George Town and Riverside, and going through the process for selection for various underage teams and pathway squads over the years, there’s no doubt that you have dreams of playing cricket for your state at the top level at the back of your mind.

“This opportunity of getting a contract – even a rookie one – has come sooner than I could’ve hoped, but I also know that there are no guarantees in sport.

“I’m just going to make the most of the opportunity to learn from the players and coaches in the program, and really hope that I can improve my skills and my game over the next year.”

Tigers head coach Jeff Vaughan said they were excited at being able to give O’Connor the chance to remain at home.

“There is no doubt that skill-wise, he is one of Tasmania’s brightest cricketing talents, but he is also very young,” Vaughan said.

“We want to give him the opportunity to grow and foster that talent within our program, while also remaining at home to complete his schooling and potentially even pursue other interests outside of cricket.

“Being a rookie can be one of the most difficult positions on a contract list. As a rookie you are a young player that is relatively new to the elite system, training full-time, with little time to pursue other interests outside of cricket.

“We’ve just seen with the retirement of Tim Paine how, when managed well, a cricketer can go on to have a career in excess of 20 years.

“This is something we hope for any of our young Tassie talents, and we believe this model of the rookie program allows them the best opportunity to achieve that.”

Meanwhile, Tigers players Caleb Jewell and Tim Ward, have been selected to represent Australia A in the four-day fixtures against New Zealand A in Queensland later this month and early September.