Player profiles: Tasmania’s under-15 footy teams for School Sports Australia

After Tasmania’s success at the under-16 national titles, now it’s the under-15s turn to strut their stuff. Get the lowdown on our future Devils boys and girls in our player profiles.

Tasmania representatives Billy Banks-Smith and Fletcher Murray. Picture: Linda Higginson

 After the success of the Tasmanian under-16 boys team that won its division two national championship last week, the state under-15 boys and girls teams are hoping to bring the silverware home from their nationals in Brisbane.

They’ll head to Queensland for the School Sport Australia titles where they’ll compete against every other state in the country.

Ahead of the competition getting underway on Sunday, we’ve profiled our up and coming stars.

GIRLS

Myler Pelham – New Norfolk High School, half-forward

A speedy small forward, knows how to get the ball and kick goals.

Piper Sharman – Marist Regional College, half-back

A small defender, who provides run and is a good user of the ball with her long, clearing kicks.

Bronte Jones – St Mary’s College, onballer

A split role between onball and resting forward. Good at finding the footy and kicking goals.

Amelia Carter – Scotch Oakburn College, winger

A quick midfielder who can run and uses the ball well.

Sommer Kubank – Ulverstone High School, back-pocket

She gives a great contest deep in defence and marks her player closely.

Ebony French – Marist Regional College, small forward

A small forward who can kick goals.

Ava McDermott – Mount Carmel College, forward

A smart small forward with good finishing skills, finds space.

Lucy Stoneman – The Friends’ School, ruck

Known for her good ruck craft. Strong at centre bounces and good at finding her players with taps.

Tasmania's under-15 girls team. Picture supplied

Ella Cox – Devonport High School, back-pocket

A reliable small defender, who can shut down her player.

Mary Jane Williams – Wynyard High School, forward

A small to medium-size forward, who can kick goals.

Madison McMahon – Campania District School, midfielder

A midfield player who can switch to half-back, reads the play well.

Elka Hutton – Wynyard High School, utility

A basketballer who recently went away with the state under-16 team to the national championships. Athletic and tall, can play anywhere. Holds several school track running records. One of the girls to watch in this group.

Cammi Thomas – Riverside High School, wing

The younger sister of Avery Thomas, who is in the Devils Girls team and also played in the Allies team this year. Cammi is an athletic and promising midfielder.

Annie Humphrey – Sacred Heart, small defender

Good skills, very good one-on-one and can run.

Sabella Hanigan – Marist Regional College, utility

The team’s vice-captain. Athletic and versatile, can play back or forward.

Maryella Mather – Marist Regional College, forward

A medium-size forward who can kick goals.

Tasmania representatives Fletcher Murray, Mia Barwick, Billy Banks-Smith, and Macy Devine.Picture: Linda Higginson

Layla Voorham – Exeter High School, forward

A medium-tall forward who can also play in defence. A bottom age player, meaning she is eligible for the team again next year.

Macy Devine – St Mary’s College, midfielder

A tough inside mid who wins a lot of contested ball on the inside and brings her teammates into the game.

Kayla Waller – MacKillop Catholic College, utility

A versatile tall with good skill and can play anywhere.

Elsie Chaplin – Dominic College, midfield-forward

Good at the contested ball and can kick goals. Fights to keep ball inside 50.

Abbie Cowburn – Rose Bay High School, tall forward

A key position forward who takes marks on the lead and is a reliable goal kicker, averaging two per game.

Mia Barwick – Sacred Heart College, onballer

Playing in the state U15s team for the third year in a row. A midfield-forward with the lot. Highly skilled, high football IQ, racks up possessions, arguably the best skills seen at this age bracket in Tasmania. Had 45 possessions last time out.

Shonae Naylor – Dominic College, key defender

A tall centre half-back known for committing to the contest, competes well in the air and on the ground.

Olivia Sweeney – Brooks High School, back-pocket

A reliable small defender who marks her opponent closely.

Rhianna Lette – Scottsdale High School, half-forward

A small forward who puts a lot of pressure on in the forward 50 to keep the ball in attack.

BOYS

Phoenix Howard – Launceston Church Grammar School, onballer

The son of Nathan “Buzz” Howard, former Devils VFL captain and highly-respected onballer. Unlike his dad, who was an inside warrior, Phoenix is an elite-running outside onballer. Reads the play and racks up touches.

Lennox Hazell – Kings Meadows High School, midfielder

A tough inside-mid with good skills.

Coby Praciak – Kings Meadows High School, half-back

A small defender who gives the side run off half-back and uses the ball well.

James Marsh – Taroona High School, forward

A dangerous small in attack, a pressure forward who can kick goals.

Harry Hardstaff – Burnie High School, half-back

A medium defender who competes hard.

Luke Bromfield – Dominic College, winger

A hard-running player with good skills, good footy IQ and can switch to half-back when needed.

Jack Blackwell – Exeter High School, inside-mid

A tough inside midfielder who gets the ball and uses it well.

Bailey Talbot – MacKillop Catholic College, utility

A speedy player who can play at both ends and loves to run and carry the ball.

Campbell Barwick – St Virgil’s College, forward

The team’s vice-captain. Went away with the successful Tasmanian under-16 team and performed well playing off half-back. Has elite speed and skills and attracted interest from recruiters at the u16s carnival.

Fletcher Murray – Kingston High School, midfielder

A product of Channel juniors, a midfielder-forward with elite skills and coaches say an “unbelievable” goal sense.

Caleb Haremza – St Virgil’s College, defender

He’s a backline player who can lock down on his opponent and gives the team run as well.

Angus Dunham – MacKillop Catholic College, midfield

A classy midfield player who can also go forward. Racks up touches, doesn’t waste a possession and can kick goals when in range.

Ryder Jones – St Virgil’s College, onballer

An inside-mid with pace and good ball user.

Billy Chisholm – St Brendan-Shaw College, utility

A forward or backman. A fast-developing player with a strong build and competes hard.

Tasmania's under-15 boys team. Picture supplied

George Ribbon – The Hutchins School, utility

A half-back or half-forward, good runner with elite skills.

Asher Scott – St Virgil’s College, wing

A skilful midfielder who runs hard and can find the footy.

Billy Banks-Smith – The Hutchins School, onballer

The team’s captain, who went away with the championship-winning state u16 team. A versatile player, a contested beast, and an outstanding leader. Grandson of well-known Tasmanian footballer figure and politician, Jim Wilkinson.

Lewis Curnin – The Hutchins School, utility

A hard-running half-back or half-forward with elite running capabilities.

Benjamin Atkin – Dominic College, midfielder

The son of a gun – Ben “Bucket” Atkin. Like his dad, Benjamin is an elite player who is just as at home on the wing as at half-back. Unlike his dad, he is an elite left-foot kick.

Luca Latter – MacKillop Catholic College, wing

A hard-running wingman who can switch to the half-forward role. Is a hard worker with elite skills. Coaches believe he has got what it takes to play at the top level.

Dexter Wright – MacKillop Catholic College, ruckman

A 201cm red-headed ruckman some say in the ilk of Lauderdale’s former Giants, Carlton and Essendon ruckman Andrew Phillips. Has good ruck craft and kicks the ball well for a bigman.

Liam Otley – Riverside High School, tall utility

A ruckman and key position player from Launceston, has good ruck craft and competes hard.

Harvey Alomes – St Virgil’s College, key defender

Younger brother of Glenorchy forward Bryce Alomes, who kicked six goals for the SFL in the state rep series. Harvey is primarily a centre half-back who can switch to a key forward post. Good skills and good hands.

William Timsar – MacKillop Catholic College, defender

The side’s Mr Fix It down back. Can play tall or small, reads the play really well and is a good intercept mark.

Mahli Bird – St Virgil’s College, key defender

A big backman who is a good mark, reads the play and competes well.