Newly crowned TSL media player of the year has eyes firmly on premiership success, not individual accolades

Launceston’s Jobi Harper is in no mood to reflect — yet — on his brilliant individual season, with TSL premiership glory front and centre on his mind this weekend.

Adam Smith

@ajsmiddy

2 min read

October 14, 2020 - 2:12PM

Sport

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JOBI Harper might have produced one of the best individual seasons seen in the State League — but solo awards are the furthest thing from his mind this week.

The Launceston star was three votes clear in the media player of the year award heading into the last round, with the Blues enjoying a bye.

Tigers midfielder Kieran Lovell was the only player who could catch Harper to share the award but he failed to poll a vote in the loss to Lauderdale, leaving the Blues big bull to celebrate alone.

However with Launceston preparing for a blockbuster grand final showdown against cross town rivals North Launceston on Saturday, all Harper’s attention is focused on premiership glory.

Launceston Football Club's Jobi Harper was named TSL media player of the year. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“It is obviously a good honour to get acknowledged for individual stuff but at the moment I haven’t thought about it too much, my focus is 100 per cent on this weekend,” Harper said.

“It will probably sink in a little more if we win the premiership and I can look back on things like that.”

Statistically, Harper had a season to remember in helping the Blues reach the decider.

He averaged 23 disposals, 4.5 marks, three tackles and almost a goal a game and finished the roster season second for disposals, fourth for kicks, fourth for handballs, second for contested disposals, sixth for marks, sixth for contested marks, first for clearances, first for hard ball gets, sixth for loose ball gets, third for inside 50s, eighth for score assists and fifth for score involvements.

The highlight was without doubt the round nine effort against Glenorchy, where he gathered 38 disposals, took 13 marks, had 12 inside 50s, 10 clearances and booted three goals.

Launceston's Jobi Harper battles for the ball against Clarence’s Ethan Jackson and teammate Joe Groenewegen in the round 12 TSL clash at Richmond Oval. Picture: Solstice Digital

But the team of the year skipper paid tribute to his teammates for his extraordinary campaign.

“I think it is the support around me which has helped, a young group going from an average age of 18, 19 we have been the last couple of years are now that 20, 21.

“Being in a stronger side … makes it easier to win awards like this.

“The club is in a really good place on the field and off the field.

“Hamish [Leedham] doing well in the Development League and winning the best and fairest, ‘Dil’ [Dylan Riley] winning the goal kicking, Mitch [Thorp] winning coach of the year.

“We are starting to build a really good group.”

ROUND 13 VOTES

LAUDERDALE v KINGBOROUGH