NAMED: Tassie’s Top 100 local footy players outside the TSL
The local footy season has wrapped, and there was no shortage of star players. We name the best of the best from 2021, with the top players outside the TSL ranked from 100 to 1 >>
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While the TSL is Tasmania’s premier football competition and filled with elite talent from around the state, there are some very handy footballers applying their trade in the lower levels around Hobart.
The Mercury sports team has done a deep dive into the Southern Football League and the Old Scholars Football Assocation and compiled a list of the top 100 local footy players outside the TSL.
100. Brock Daniels (Hobart Tigers)
Daniels is a medium sized utility that plays a lot taller than his height suggests and the young Tiger has had a great 2021 campaign where he kicked 21 goals in a variety of roles.
Daniels only played his first year of senior footy in 2020 but the young gun is already solidifying himself as one of the best young players in the SFL.
Daniels was selected to represent the SFL against the NWFL this season but was unavailable due to work commitments.
99. Adam Duggan (Cygnet)
The veteran defender has been one of the best key position defenders around Hobart for a long time. Duggan is often tasked with playing on the big bears of the competition and the no-frills defender often gets the better of his opponent.
98. Tyler Bowden (St Virgils)
The younger brother of Jaye, Tyler is a footy talent in his own right.
The burly forward is an aggressive player that likes to throw his weight around and let opposition players know he’s there. Bowden moves well for a man of his size and has a good set of hands. Bowden played predominantly forward in his first year at the Saints while also chopping out in the ruck.
97. Jake Briggs (Lindisfarne)
Briggs is an aggressive forward that thrives on the contest. In his first season with the Two Blues Briggs proved to be a valuable contributor ahead of the footy by kicking 22 goals in his 12 games.
96. Josh Farrow (New Norfolk)
The athletic tall defender moves extremely well for his size and rarely gives his opponent an inch.
The eagle’s vice-captain often takes the opponent’s best or most agile key forward and
is considered the rock in his side’s defence.
95. Sam Adams (Lindisfarne)
The well-built midfielder has proven to be one of the Two Blues most effective players over the past few seasons. Adams strong build allows him to win his own footy while he also possesses the ability to use it on the outside. Adams kicked 16 goals this season in his 14 matches.
94. Sam Dean (Cygnet)
Dean is a midfield bull does a lot of the dirty work for the Port. The well-built onballer thrives on contested possession and continually uses his strength and clean hands to feed his teammates on the outside.
93. Eddie Burrows-Cheng (Hutchins)
The zippy onballer is a key cog in the Lions midfield and is often seen using his pace to burst away from stoppages to get the Lions going forward. Burrows-Cheng loves to take the game on and uses his dare to great effect for his side.
92. Josh Clifford (New Norfolk)
The 2021 playing coach has been a very handy player in the SFL for a number of years and had another solid season for the Eagles which saw the zippy hard nut play up forward and pinch hit on ball. Clifford kicked 21 goals for the Eagles to be one of the competition’s most dangerous small forwards.
91. Jake Bearman (New Norfolk)
Just like his brother Jye, Jake is a well-built midfielder that is hard to stop.
Whereas his brother is more impactful on the outside, Jake thrives on contested footy and winning the ball at the coal face.
90. Cody Baker (OHA Ships)
The Ships co-captain showed this year he can be a great swingman with the speedster playing at a high level at both ends of the ground. Baker’s flexibility was on full display in 2021 with a goal tally of 19 goals while also playing some great footy off the half back flank. Baker was a key piece in the Ships finals campaign playing down back and was often seen providing dash and showing great courage for a man of his size.
89. Callum Rawson (Huonville)
Rawson is a dashing half back with elite hands for his size and a great ability to intercept mark. The Lions co-captain has been one of the SFL’s best rebounding defenders over the past few seasons with his drive off half back and his leadership proving invaluable to the Lions rise up the ladder.
88. Kase Miller (Lindisfarne)
The Two Blues veteran is still one of the Two Blues most reliable players. Miller has an appetite for the contest and is often found at the bottom of a pack or laying a bone crunching tackle to galvanise his team.
87. Jack Siggins (Dodges Ferry)
The veteran Dodges Ferry ruckman has shown over a long period of time to be an elite ruckman in the south of the state.
While getting on in years Siggins still shows his worth with his dominance in the middle of the ground and his strong hands around the ground.
86. Rhys Douglas (Huonville)
Douglas is a well-built midfielder-forward that has a ‘see ball-get ball’ attitude.
‘The barnacle’ as he’s sometimes known has a strong appetite for contested footy and is a very hard man to bring to ground once he’s got a hold of the sherrin. Over the past few seasons Douglas has also displayed a great set of hands above his head and shown that when moved forward he can certainly impact the scoreboard.
85. Matthew Schenk (Huonville)
The skinny Lion has shown over the past few seasons to be one of the best wingman in the SFL with his run and carry a constant weapon for the Lions. Schenk plays well above his weight and has no regard for his body when coming up against much bigger bodies.
84. Jake Murphy (Dodges Ferry)
Murphy continues to be one of the SFL’s most underrated players and the key to the Sharks backline. Murphy is often tasked with manning the opposition’s best key forward and more often than not gets the better of his opponent.
83. Jono Bullock (Dodges Ferry)
The midfield bull has been a key cog in the Sharks engine room for a number of years and has continually proven himself to be one of the SFL’s best midfielders. Bullock is as hard as a cats head and thrives on winning contested possessions and feeding the ball to his outside runners.
82. Riley Hooker (Dodges Ferry)
Hooker is one of three brothers down at Sharp Park and the barrel-chested young gun is an inside midfielder that loves to play an aggressive and competitive brand of footy.
The big bodied midfielder is in his third year at the club and has proven to be one of the best midfielders in the SFL.
81. Ryan Bailey (Brighton)
The former Clarence ruckman had a great year for the Robins which saw him kick 27 goals in 15 games. Bailey is a great athlete with a good set of hands and competed well for the Robins all around the ground.
80. Toby Cowen (Cygnet)
Cowen is an exciting line breaker that loves to break open the game with his run and carry.
The local Cygnet boy is only lightly framed but that doesn’t stop him from winning his own footy among bigger body midfielders.
Cowen has represented the SFL on numerous occasions and his form this season earned him another spot in this season’s rep game.
79. Corey Murfet (Sorell)
The former Tassie contracted cricketer had a great debut season for Sorell which saw him kick 29 goals in just 12 games to prove to be a very handy addition to the Eagles.
78. Jeremiah Perkins (Sorell)
Perkins is a local Sorell boy that previously played for Lauderdale before returning to the Eagles in 2021.
Perkins is an athletic lightly framed midfielder that has the ability to go forward and have an impact on the scoreboard.
77. Joel Poke (Sorell)
Poke is well built defender that has the ability to shut down his direct opponent while providing dash off half back.
Poke is from Smithton in the state’s North West and is a product of the Tassie Mariner’s program. In his first year at the Eagles the young gun represented the SFL side against the NWFL.
76. Kobey Phillips (Hobart)
The dashing Phillips had a blistering start to 2021 before succumbing to a season-ending injury in Round 4. Phillips ability to use his pace and take the game on has been a huge weapon for the Tigers since arriving at the club last season.
75. Luke Adams (Hobart)
The stocky onballer had another great season for the Tigers where his grunt work and ball winning ability were on full display. Adams was previously one of the best players for Richmond in the Old Scholars and since joining the Tigers last season has proven to be a great player in the SFL also.
74. Sam Lewis-Johnson (Brighton)
Lewis-Johnson is a hard working midfielder that has the ability to be an impactful forward.
The young gun won the Robert Beakley Medal in 2018 playing for Clarence and his move to the Robins in 2021 has provided the youthful side with vital leadership and top end talent.
Lewis-Johnson is an all-round midfielder that can win his own footy while also possessing the ability to be damaging on the outside with his pace and agility.
73. Mitch Walker
The 2019 William Leitch medallist made the move from Claremont to the Lions in 2021 and proved to be a great addition whether playing in the ruck or up forward.
Walker kicked 24 goals this season and was named Huonville’s best player in its losing grand final to Cygnet.
72. Jack Crossin (New Norfolk)
Crossin is a big body that has the ability to have a strong influence playing in a variety of positions.
In 2021 the Eagles utilized the strong bodied Crossin as a forward which saw him finish fifth in the SFL goal kicking tally with 44 goals in just 14 games.
71. Brody Rundle (Huonville)
The zippy rundle has been a very handy addition to the Lions since joining the side in 2019. Rundle has elite skills on both sides of his body and is as elusive as they come which often allows him to dance around opposition players.
70. Scott Jones (DOSA Roosters)
The crafty left footer is a very handy player for the Roosters.
While not possessed with blistering pace, Jones is a great contested player and uses his footy smarts to consistently get his hands on the footy and drive it forward.
69. Damon Curtain (DOSA Roosters)
The crafty half forward had a great season for the Roosters this season with his knack for kicking goals and his overhead marking both highlights. Curtain proved to be a difficult matchup for opposition coaches and this was proven with his goal tally of 29 goals in just 16 games.
68. Hamish Kingston (Hutchins)
Kingston is a key piece of the Hutchins side with the athletic big able to produce at a high level at either end of the ground for the Lions.
Kingston has proven to be one of the better bigs in the Old Scholars for a number of years and can be used as an attacking rebounding tall or a great target ahead of the footy.
67. Hugh Johnston (Hutchins)
The big man has a great set of hands and provides the Lions with a big target ahead of the footy while also providing great value as a pinch hit ruckman.
Johnston won the Hutchins best and fairest in 2017 as well as being named in the OSFA Team of the Year that year before spending some time at the Tigers before returning to the Lions in 2021.
66. Harry Nichols (Hutchins)
The zippy small forward provides a lot of x-factor for the Lions and showed his goal kicking prowess this season kicking 31 goals in just 12 matches. Nicholls made the OSFA Team of the Year in 2020.
65. Will Burgess (Hutchins)
The rangy forward proved to be a tough matchup this season kicking 33 goals in his 16 matches Burgess has a great set of hands and provided a great target ahead of the footy for the Lions this year.
64. James Zeitzen (Cygnet)
Zeitzen is a wirey swingman that has the ability to impact the scoreboard as a forward or go down back as a stingy defender. After a fantastic 2020 in defence, Cygnet coach Thor Boscott used Zeitzen predominantly as a forward this year where he has proved to be a headache for opposition sides. Zeitzen was one of the Port’s best performers in its recent premiership, with a running goal from 50m in the wet a highlight of the match.
63. Trad Duggan (St Virgils)
Duggan was a driving force for the Saints in 2021 with his booming right leg providing constant attack from the Saints’ half back line.
The half back flanker was a constant thorn in the opposition coach’s side as his ability to use the ball and pick teams apart by foot allowed the Saints to consistently transition the ball from defence to attack and provide opportunities for their elite forward line.
Duggan was rewarded for his 2021 season with a spot on the half back flank in the OSFA Team of the Year.
62. Damien Paul (OHA Ships)
The crafty defender is one of the most underrated players in the Old Scholars. Paul is often tasked with quelling the influence of the opposition’s most dangerous forward and more often than not gets the better of his opponent. Paul was one of the Ships best players in their recent grand final win over the Saints with his defensive work and intercepting possessions a driving force for the ships.
61. Theo Jaynes (Lindisfarne)
Jaynes has been one of the SFL’s silkiest players for some time. The ultra fit wingman possesses a great footy brain and elite skills and uses his ability to find the footy to be a damaging player that opposition coaches must put time into.
60. Daniel Muir (St Virgils)
Muir was a key part of the Saints star studded forward line this season and the big forward kicked 37 goals in just 12 matches before suffering a season ending leg injury.
59. Simon Vandervelde (University Rainbows)
The ruckman was a rock in the middle for the Rainbows in 2021 and used his big frame to provide his talented midfielders with first use. Vandervelde moves well around the ground for a ruckman and gives his all every week for his side.
58. Cam Duffy (St Virgils)
The giant athletic ruckman was a beacon in the middle of the ground for the grand finalist St Virgils with his ruck work often allowing the Saints midfielders first use of the footy.
Duffy has elite endurance for a man of his size and the former state representative is certainly one of the dominant ruckman outside of the TSL.
57. Sam Chivers (University Rainbows)
The big man again proved in 2021 his ability to play at a high level at both ends of the ground. Chivers played a key role for the Rainbows at times and kicked 31 goals in just 16 matches while also being tasked with fullback duties at times where he was able to successfully quell the influence of some of the Old Scholar’s best key forwards. Chivers was rewarded for his season by being named at Centre half back in the OSFA Team of the Year in 2021.
56. Connor Salter (Brighton)
The Robins co-captain had a great 2021 season which saw the key forward kick come sixth in the SFL goal kicking with 40 goals from his 16 games. While Salter is a handful for defenders he has also proven to be a versatile footballer with the ability to run through the midfield to provide a bigger body in the guts.
55. Lewis Franks (Hutchins)
Franks is a very composed and classy halfback flanker that has been picking Old Scholars’ teams apart for a number of years with his precise kicking and dash off of half back.
The silky defender has the rare ability to slow the game down and more often than not finds a teammate with his precise disposal.
54. Braden Barwick (DOSA Roosters)
Barwick is a solidly built bull of a footy player that made the move from Claremont to the Roosters in 2021.
Highlighting Barwick’s versatility was the fact that Barwick spent times this season as a rebounding half back and as a dangerous forward. Barwick ended the 2021 season kicking 47 goals in 16 games and funnily enough was named in the back pocket of the OSFA Team of the Year.
53. Jye Bearman (New Norfolk)
Jye Bearman is a well-built midfielder that has the ability to go forward and heavily impact the scoreboard, highlighted by his 8 goals in round one this season.
The young midfielder is as evasive as they come and a hard player to bring down.
Bearman won the club’s best and fairest in 2020 and earlier this year represented the SFL against the NWFL. Bearman also finished equal third in the William Leitch medal for his great 2021 season.
52. Nick Cleary (Hutchins)
Cleary is a man mountain that has been one of the Old Scholar’s most dominant ruckman for the best part of a decade.
The Burly ruckman is an elite tap ruckman that uses his frame to great effect to give his onballers first use of the footy.
While not the most athletic ruckman in the competition, the big Lion is able to use his frame to impact the game in a number of ways and is very well regarded around the competition.
51. Jackson Gordon (Cygnet)
Gordon has been one of the SFL’s elite young defenders over the past couple of seasons where his run and ball use off half back has been a weapon for the Port. Gordon was one of Cygnet’s best in its recent grand final win over Huonville.
50. Josh Fogarty (University Rainbows)
The athletic tall defender has been an elite performer for the Rainbows for a number of years and most recently was named in the 2020 OSFA Team of the Year.
With the ability to play on opponents of all shapes and sizes, the athletic rebounding defender provides the bows with a unique mix of a defender that’s capable of locking down his opponent while also providing plenty of dash off half back.
49. Aaron Brennan (St Virgils)
The strong and speedy onballer had a great season with the Saints which was rewarded with a spot in the OSFA Team of the Year.
Brennan’s speed and clean hands around the contest make him a great clearance player that is often seen bursting away from stoppages and pumping it inside forward 50.
48. Harri Loveless (DOSA Roosters)
The strong and speedy Loveless had an exceptional season for the Roosters which was rewarded with a second consecutive spot in the OSFA Team of the Year. Loveless is a very strong contested player with the ability to win his own footy and also possesses blistering speed to allow him to break away from stoppages and pump the ball deep into the Roosters forward line.
47. Damon Crew (OHA)
The big burly defender is one of the keys to OHA’s side with his intercept marking a key driving force for the ship’s defence. While Crew is an elite intercept defender he also has the ability to lock down the opposition’s big key forwards. Crew played an integral part in the Ships’ winning back to back flags this season and is often seen going back with the flight and placing his body on the line for his team.
46. Ryan Martin (University Rainbows)
Martin is a powerful athlete that provided the Rainbows with a real X-factor in the middle of the ground. The strong and speedy onballer showed his ability as a goal kicking midfielder this season by kicking 18 goals in just 15 games and was rewarded with a spot in the OSFA Team of the Year.
45. Mitch Anderton (Sorell)
Anderton is a hard running midfielder that is very good overhead for his size.
The young midfielder is another young star who left Lauderdale to try his hand at the SFL in 2021 and while he only played 10 game due to injury is certainly one of the young stars of the competition.
44. Jordan Lane (Cygnet)
Lane is a big bustling ruckman-forward that had the recent honour of being co-captain of the SFL representative side against the NWFL this season.
Lane was born and raised in the Huon Valley and played his junior footy for Cygnet and Kingborough while also representing the state with the Tassie Devils.
The Huon Valley product often provides his onballers first use of the footy when in the ruck while also being able to impact the scoreboard when playing as a key forward.
Lane kicked 49 goals in his 18 games this season.
43. Michael Blackburn (Lindisfarne)
‘Sticks’ Blackburn is one of the SFL’s best forwards and possesses a decent set of hands and often seems to lose his opponent on the lead to set up scoring opportunities. Often the Robin to Cassidy’s Batman, Sticks has been one of the SFL’s premier forwards over the past few seasons and shutting him down goes a long way to stopping the Two Blues.
42. Ben Crick (DOSA Roosters)
Crick is the general of DOSA’s backline and is always tasked with manning the opposition’s most dangerous forward.
The athletic, stingy defender has spent the last three seasons at the Roosters after heading down from his hometown of Launceston.
Crick is a great intercept defender and was rewarded for his season by being named at full back in the OSFA Team of the Year.
41. Jacob Wigg (New Norfolk)
The hard running midfielder has been one of SFL’s elite players for a number of seasons and continues to be a rock in the middle for the Eagles. Wigg is a ball magnet with great skills and can be a handful for opposition midfielders who struggle to keep up with the zippy onballer.
40. Lachy Watt (Cygnet)
Watt made the move from the TSL Tigers to the Port this season and had a great debut season in the Huon Valley. The stocky onballer proved to be one of the competition’s best inside midfielders with his appetite to win the footy and apply strong tackles a feature of his game. Watt was one of his side’s best performers in its recent grand final win over Huonville and recently took out the Port’s best and fairest in its premiership year.
39 Rhys Ward (Huonville)
The athletic ruckman has proven to be one of the SFL’s best ruckmen over the last few seasons. While Ward is an elite tap ruckman and while he is strong in the air, it’s around the ground that separates himself from most other ruckman with an innate ability to find the footy like a genuine midfielder.
38. Claude Alcorso (Hutchins)
The strongly built midfielder loves to take the game on and create for the Lions.
Alcorso is an explosive player for his size that opposition players struggle to stop at full speed.
The line breaking onballer is a key cog of the Lion’s engine room and one of the Old Scholars’ most damaging players.
37. Michael Cassidy (Lindisfarne)
The Two Blues aggressive playing coach has been one of the best forwards in the South for a long time. Blessed with a great set of hands and a huge work rate, Cassidy has been a major reason for the success of the Two Blues in recent years. In 2021 Cassidy showed little signs of ageing after finishing third in the competition’s goal kicking with 54 goals in just 17 games.
36. Daniel Blazely (University Rainbows)
Blazely came across to the ‘Bows this year from Lindisfarne this where he represented the SFL on a number of occasions.
Blazely is blessed with elite speed and agility and has the ability to win the ball on the inside and also hurt teams on the outside with his dash. Blazely was rewarded for his great season by being named in the OSFA Team of the Year in 2021.
35. Mitch Reeve (DOSA Roosters)
The captain of the Rooster is a robust ruckman that loves to throw his weight around and show his physicality.
Reeve is very strong over his head and after another great season was named the OSFA Team of the Year ruckman for the second consecutive season.
34 Blake Waight (University Rainbows)
The talented young backman proved again in 2021 he’s one of the best young players in the Old Scholars after another brilliant season resulted in Waight being named in the OSFA Team of the Year for the second successive season. Waight has incredible hands for his size and his excellent judgment of the footy allows him to continually intercept opponent’s forward entries.
33. Alex Vincent (Huonville Lions)
The elusive half back flanker is one of the premier defenders in the SFL. Time after time Vincent can be seen quelling opposition attacks and providing run and dare off half back for the Lions. Vincent has a great ability to come off his man and help out his other defenders while also being able to dance around opponents to create drive out of defence.
32. Will Ford (Cygnet)
Ford has endured a great couple of seasons which saw him win a premiership with OHA in 2020 before moving back down to Cygnet in 2021 where he won a flag with the Port. Ford is an elite intercept player that has an uncanny knack for floating across the front of opposition forwards to chop off their attack. Ford is pound for pound one of the best marks above his head in local footy.
31. Sean Willis (Hutchins)
Willis is an athletic medium sized forward-midfielder that has a great set of hands and is a classy user of the ball.
The ex-North Hobart player is also an elite cricketer and while his cricket season caused a delay in his footy preparation for 2021 he was still able to show his talents and perform at a high level and kicked 34 goals in just 12 games.
30. Marty Allison (DOSA Roosters)
Allison came across from Claremont in the SFL this season where the classy midfielder was one of the best players in the competition.
The strongly built midfielder has the ability to win the footy on the inside while also possessing silky skills to hurt opponents on the outside.
Allison also has the ability to push forward and impact the scoreboard.
29. Joe Direen (Cygnet)
Direen is a young star of the SFL and has proven to be a force both in the ruck and up forward. While in the ruck Direen shows great mobility for a man of his size and while up forward shows a great set of hands. Direen kicked 30 goals in his 18 games this season.
28. Ben Halton (University Rainbows)
Halton is a big, bustling key forward that has dominated forward lines for the past decade.
The big bodied forward has spent many years terrorising defenders in the TSL and the SFL and this year he made the move to the Old Scholars to bolster Uni’s attack.
Unfortunately the key forward suffered a broken finger in Round 1 which delayed his start to the season but once returning he showed his dominance by kicking 33 goals in just six games.
27. Nathan McCulloch (DOSA Roosters)
The new playing coach for the Roosters joined the club this year to fulfil his aspirations of being a senior footy coach and McCulloch quickly displayed he is a born leader and one of the better players in the competition.
The strongly built McCulloch has elite endurance and the versatility to play a number of positions at a high level.
The new playing coach was rewarded for his debut season by being named on ball in the OSFA Team of the Year.
26. Liam Meagher (OHA)
The freakishly athletic ruckman had a fantastic debut season with the Ships which saw the youngster tie for the clubs best and fairest and make the OSFA Team of the Year.
Meagher has an incredible leap and elite endurance which sees him get from contest to contest and provide his onballers with first use of the footy.
Meagher’s work in the middle of the ground for the Ships this season was acknowledged when he came third in the association best and fairest.
25. Cambell Hooker (Dodges Ferry)
The burly full forward had another sensational season for Dodges Ferry which saw him kick 81 goals in 18 games. Hooker is a very traditional bustling key forward that throws his weight around to great effect to provide a key target ahead of the footy for the Sharks.
24. Robbie McManus (Dodges Ferry)
The former Lauderdale wingman made the move to the SFL this season and proved to be one of the league’s most damaging players. The hard running and skilful McManus played as a mid-forward for the Sharks and had a fantastic debut season kicking 15 goals in his 13 games.
23. Luke Potter (St Virgil’s)
Potter made the move to the Saints in 2021 and again proved to be one of the craftiest and most talented forwards in local footy. The mercurial forward is a great overhead mark and his footy smarts cause headaches for opposition players and coaches. Potter used his booming right leg and footy smarts to kick 71 goals in 18 games this season and was named in the OSFA Team of the Year.
22. Ethan Whish-Wilson (OHA Ships)
Whish-Wilson is one of the competition’s standout players and one of the keys to the Ships recent Premiership success.
Whish-Wilson is a very athletic and versatile player that provides a great leading target ahead of the ball while also having the ability to go behind the ball and quell opposition attacks.
The athletic big man kicked 45 goals in just 12 games this season and was named at centre half forward in the OSFA Team of the Year.
21. Matt Ling (OHA Ships)
The strongly built midfielder is an elite runner that leaves nothing left in the tank and has proven to be one of the Old Scholar’s best onballers
In his second year at the Ships since coming across from Clarence, Ling has proved he is one of the competition’s premier ball winners with the ability to continuously break lines with his run and carry and to get involved in scoring chains.
On top of his gut running and ball winning ability, Ling shows a great appetite for the defensive side of the game and is often seen applying suffocating tackles to the opposition.
20. Alex Gilmour (Hobart Tigers)
The Tigers playing coach is one of the SFL’s best players and continued to display that this season before a shoulder injury in Round 6 ended his season. In his six games Gilmour kicked 19 goals to yet again prove his worth as an elite player in the competition.
19. Michael Paul (Huonville Lions)
The big bustling Micky Paul has been one of the SFL’s best players for a long time. Paul is unlucky to have not won a William Leitch medal yet as the monster of a man has dominated the competition year after year. While Paul endured an injury interrupted 2021 season he was still able to provide a great target up forward for the Lions and showed why he’s still one of the best key forwards in the state.
18. Bailey Gordon (Cygnet)
Gordon previously played at the Tigers in the TSL before heading to the Port in 2021 to play with his brother Jackson and the young star has quickly made a name for himself as one of the best midfielders in the competition.
The strong midfielder has the ability to win the footy on the inside while also hurting teams on the outside with his run and carry.
Gordon represented the SFL against the NWFL this season and had a great debut season for the Port in which he finished second in his club’s best and fairest.
17. Nic Baker (Sorell)
The former AFL draft hopeful and former Tassie Devils co-captain is one of the stars of the SFL and one of the best young talents in the state.
The rangy midfielder and rebounding defender is an elite talent that decided to take a step back from the TSL this year and make the move from Lauderdale to Sorrel.
16. Cameron Johns (Huonville)
Johns has proven himself over a number of years to be one of the premier players in the SFL. The smooth moving defender has an innate ability to read the play and seems to always know when to come off his direct opponent to impact the contest. Johns has some of the best hands in the game and his ability to create intercept possessions is a huge weapon for the Lions.
15. Michael Fisher (DOSA Roosters)
Fisher is a very athletic and versatile footy player that has the ability to play up forward, on the ball, or even as a ruckman.
Fisher has the ability to win the ball both at ground level while also being a threat overhead.
Fisher has been a dominant player in the Old Scholars for a number of years, winning the league goal kicking in 2012 with 71 goals and taking out the Peter Fitzgerald Medal in 2016 as the association’s best and fairest player.
In 2021 Fisher kicked a whopping 92 goals in just 18 games and was named at full forward in the OSFA Team of the Year.
14. Ethan Brock (Huonville Lions)
The 2020 William Leitch Medalist has solidified himself as a star of the competition in the last few seasons. While not huge in stature, the livewire plays well above his height and often takes strong high-flying marks usually taken by much bigger forwards. The elusive and highly skilled forward won the club’s best and fairest in 2020 in their premiership year and this season was back to his best after an injury interrupted start to his 2021 season.
13. Brodie Langford (OHA Ships)
Langford is the former playing coach at the Ships and in 2021 stepped down from coaching duties to focus on his own game and showed he is still clearly one of the guns of the Old Scholars competition.
The midfield bull is deceptively quick and is often seen breaking tackles and bursting away from stoppages where he then uses his elite skills to the advantage of his forwards.
Langford is a very versatile player that can play off half back and up forward, with his goal kicking feats exemplified by leading the OSFA goal kicking in 2017.
Langford was rewarded for his 2021 season with a place on the ball in the OSFA Team of the Year, as well as tying for the Ships best and fairest for a club record five wins.
12. Ben McGuinness (Dodges Ferry)
The young star is a very athletic utility that in 2021 showed the ability to dominate a game of footy in a variety of different positions. The former Tassie Devil made the move from Lauderdale to Dodges Ferry this season to play with mates and has proven to be one of the elite players in the SFL.
11. Rhys Mott (St Virgils)
The strong bodied midfielder was another TSL star to make the move from the Magpies and find a new home in the Old Scholars at the Saints and after an injury interrupted start to the season proved his worth and was an integral part to the Saints side.
Mott has the ability to win his own footy but it is on the outside that he is most damaging with his left foot used time and time again to the advantage of his teammates.
10. Gabby Chambers (OHA Ships)
Chambers is another TSL product that in his first two years at the Shipyard has shown to be an elite player in the competition.
The contested bull has the ability to win the ball at the coal face while also possessing great running power to spread and hurt teams on the outside.
Chambers possesses elite evasive skills and when an opponent gets too close he often has the ability to fend them off and burst clear into space.
Chambers was rewarded for his 2021 season with a place on the ball in the OSFA Team of the Year.
9. Jack Philp (Huonville Lions)
Philp has proven to be one of the SFL’s premier players this season after joining the club since moving down from Cairns. The crafty forward-mid has elite hands above his head for his size and seems to have more time and space than anyone else on the field with his ability to elude opposition players and hit a teammate or the scoreboard.
8. Thor Boscott (Cygnet)
The big bodied former Lauderdale star continued his great transition to SFL footy with another stellar season for the Port. The human wrecking ball spent most of the season playing up forward where he kicked 36 goals in his 17 games. Boscott also showed his talents as a midfielder at times, most notably in the SFL grand final against Huonville where after a quiet first half he was moved onto the ball and made an immediate impact to lead his side to the flag and winning best on ground honours. Boscott was also recently crowned the 2021 William Leitch medal for his fantastic season.
7. Jake Cox (St Virgils)
The former Clarence gun made his way to St Virgils in 2021 where his lethal left boot was a huge weapon for the Saints.
The five time TSL Team of the Year recipient and two time Clarence best and fairest winner is as silky as they come and was a huge reason for the rise of the Saints in 2021.
Cox played a combination of forward and midfield and finished the season with 58 goals from 16 games and finished equal third in the competition’s best and fairest.
6. Jack Gleeson (Lindisfarne)
Gleeson is one of the top couple of players in the SFL and after making the move to the Two Blues in 2020 has dominated the SFL with his ability to continually find the footy and use it well. On top of his ball winning abilities the hard-nosed and hard running onballer has shown a great appetite to hit the scoreboard with a season tally of 29 snags to his name this season.
5. Troy Cunliffe (University Rainbows)
Cunliffe is a two time William Leitch Medallist in the SFL and last year played for North Hobart where he won the club’s best and fairest.
After making his move to the Rainbows in 2021 the lightning quick midfielder has quickly established himself as one of the best handful of players in the old Scholars competition
Cunliffe is an elite stoppage player with silky skills that has the ability to win a game off his own boot.
Cunliffe showed that he can be just as dangerous up forward this season kicking 22 goals in 11 matches.
4. Trent ‘Speedy’ Standen (OHA Ships)
Standen has established himself as one of the best small forwards in the state for more than a decade.
The six time TSL Team of the Year recipient won Clarence’s goal kicking five times and it’s no surprise that he’s led the Old Scholar’s goal kicking each of the past three seasons, including kicking a 94 goals in 2019 and a whopping 110 goals this season.
The crafty forward is blessed with freakish goal sense and skills and has proven time and time again to be one of the toughest match-ups in footy.
Highlighting the freak of a footballer was his round 15 performance against Richmond in which the pocket rocket kicked an incredible 30 goals to miss out on tying the state’s single game goal record by just one goal.
Standen tied for Ships best and fairest for his remarkable season.
3. Brady Jones (Huonville Lions)
The former Clarence captain and multiple time best fairest winner has shown he’s a class above in his first season in the SFL for the Huonville Lions. Jones’ ability to win contested footy and either use it himself or feed outside runners has seen the hard-nosed onballer be a vital cog in the lion’s engine room. Jones importance to his side was emphasised in their recent grand final defeat when he suffered a game ending ankle injury in the third quarter that left their on ball brigade missing its leader.
2. George Burbury (Hutchins)
The former Geelong player is clearly one of the best couple of players in the state.
Burbury is a freakish athlete blessed with athleticism and skill and has proven to be a level above the Old Scholars competition with a host of dominant performances in the past 18 months.
The former AFL player won Peter Fitzgerald medal in 2020 as the competition’s best and fairest player along with being judged best afield in his side’s loss to OHA in last year’s grand final.
While he was the league’s dominant midfielder in 2020, Burbury was moved forward this season where his talent caused nightmares for opposition defenders across the competition after kicking 39 goals in just 12 games. Burbury was again named in the OSFA Team of the Year in 2021.
1 Jaye Bowden (St Virgil’s)
Bowden is one of, if not, the best player in Tassie footy.
In a stellar career spanning over a decade and over 200 games for Glenorchy, the Prince of KGV racked up numerous awards and accolades and in 2021 started a new chapter as playing coach for St Virgils.
The three time Alistair Lynch Medalist and five time TSL Team of the Year recipient is a freak of a footballer with an uncanny game sense and time and time again has won games off his own boot.
While Bowden played most of his Magpie career as a key forward, the Saints new coach played himself in a variety of positions in 2021 and after kicking 88 goals was awarded the Peter Fitzgerald medallist as the best and fairest player in the Old Scholars competition.
Bowden also took his side from five consecutive wooden spoons to making this year’s Old Scholars grand final.
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