Revealed: 16 Tasmanians primed to shine in warmer months
From basketballers to cyclists, hockey players and cricketers, a number of Tasmanians look ready to take the next step in their respective sports in the warmer months. Check out 16 athletes we predict are ready to dominate.
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The final siren has sounded on the football season, so we’ve made some predictions on which Tasmanian athletes are primed to dominate, or have a break out campaign, as we enter the warmer months.
BEAU WEBSTER (CRICKET)
The all-rounder nicknamed ‘Slug’ has burst into the equation as a possible Australia team bolter are sustained dominance in the Sheffield Shield.
He was named the state competition’s player of the year after producing 938 runs at 58.62 and 30 wickets at 29.30 to help steer the Tigers to the Shield final.
The possibility incumbent Australia all-rounder Cameron Green could miss the summer through injury may open the door for Webster, if not Tests at least at limited overs level.
He began the season in strong style with 113 in a batting dominated Shield opener in Victoria this week.
“It’s hard to ignore. It’s everywhere, all the media, whether he (Green) is going to bowl or not or can bat or not, or surgery or things like that,” Webster said.
“But there’s a lot of other good all-rounders around the country.
“I hope it (happens), I’d love to (play for Australia A), I think I’m in good form and can hopefully press my case there if I do get an opportunity. But just trying to pile on as many runs as I can now for Tassie.”
JACK WOODBERRY (TRIATHLON)
The Hobart youngster will represent Australia as the World Triathlon Junior Championships at Spain starting late next week.
Also a national standout in his age group on the track, Woodberry has adopted triathlon as his passion, and won gold at this year’s Australian Junior Championships and the Oceania Junior Championships.
He also became the first Tasmanian since Jake Birtwhistle in 2012 to win the Australian Junior Super Sprint Championships in 2023.
Woodberry has set himself the goal of competing at an Olympics in 2028 or 2032.
“I swim three to four times a week, that’s the same with riding and then I try and fit in two hard runs and gym sessions a week. It is a lot and a very busy schedule but it’s very rewarding,” he said after his national junior title.
“If you love something it’s pretty easy to get up and train like I do. Some people wouldn’t find it easy but I’m always motivated to do it.”
MATT BEVILACQUA (IRONMAN)
The two-time winner of the iconic Nutri-Grain Ironman Series will look to add a third title to his CV in the rebranded Shaw and Partners Iron Series.
The Clifton Beach product finished third overall in last year’s standings but looks a strong hope to contend again after clinching back-to-back world board titles at the World Surf Lifesaving Championships on the Gold Coast in September.
TAYLOR MOLE (BASKETBALL)
The Hobart product made her WNBL debut with Adelaide Lightning last season, but is part of a youthful squad new club Geelong United have assembled for their debut season.
The versatile wing/forward is keen to learn under experienced championship coach Chris Lucas, who has given her the challenge of becoming the team’s lockdown defender.
The 25-year-old is coming off a strong NBL1 campaign in Mackay and is likely to get more minutes at her new home.
“I want to challenge myself to get better defensively, become more of a lock down defender and tune up my offensive game,” she told this masthead last month after signing with Geelong.
“That’s something Chris wants more of from me, to guard the best player in the team. That’s a really cool job to have as well.
“I like being thrown little challenges, hopefully some of those come my way.”
CALLIE WILSON (CRICKET)
Hopefully the injury gods will finally start to smile on the luckless young quick after enduring a number of setbacks the past couple of years.
Now fully fit, she was signed by the Hurricanes last week for the upcoming WBBL season, and has played a couple of WNCL games for the Tigers this season.
Wilson moved to Tasmania from South Australia at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, and early indications are she’s likely to be given every chance to make up for lost time.
TARAN ARMSTRONG (BASKETBALL)
The dynamic point guard has begun the NBL season in scintillating style for Cairns.
Taipans coach Adam Forde has made no secret of his blueprint to build a roster around Armstrong, a 22-year-old from Burnie.
He possesses great ball vision but has also shown an improvement in scoring himself this year, in particular using his speed to attack the basket.
An auto-entrant into the NBA Draft, Armstrong dealt with some injury battles last year, but the confidence instilled in him by the franchise was the launching pad for a strong end to the season.
After averaging 7.7 points, four rebounds and 2.7 assists last season, that has skyrocketed to 17 points at 70 per cent from the field, five rounds and 4.5 assists so far this campaign.
MIA KING AND NICOLE BRESNEHAN (AFLW)
The Tassie duo fittingly celebrated their 50th games together in North Melbourne’s opening game of the AFLW season against Brisbane.
The Roos dominated the grand final rematch as they look to go one better this season, and are yet to taste defeat with six wins and a draw to sit atop the ladder.
That record is likely to improve further against 13th-placed Sydney at North Hobart Oval on Sunday.
“It’s really exciting to reach 50 games and to do it alongside Flash (Bresnehan) as well, a fellow Tasmanian (is great),” King said before their 50th games.
“She’s been a great support for me from the beginning.
“Looking at the grand final last year, it was such an achievement to make it. we’ve got a lot of belief within the group.”
AIDAN O’CONNOR (CRICKET)
The exciting Launceston product’s time will come with Tasmania, it’s just a matter of when.
After helping Australia win the under-19 World Cup, the all-rounder continues to bash the door down with strong displays in the Australian under-19 squad’s recent tour of India.
The Tigers are blessed with a host of all-rounders led by Webster and Mitch Owen, but O’Connor will be part of the future of Tasmanian cricket.
It wouldn’t surprise if he is blooded in either the state one day cup or the Shield at some point this year.
ALANNA SMITH (BASKETBALL)
After arguably being Australia’s best player in the Opals’ bronze medal-winning Olympics campaign, Smith is chasing more silverware with Minnesota in the WNBL finals.
The Lynx got off to a great start with a come-from-behind overtime win over the New York Liberty, coached by Opals mentor Sandy Brondello, in game one of the five match series.
Smith fell just short of a double-double with nine points, nine rebounds and four assists, in the 95-93 victory on Friday.
LOUISA JACOBSON (HOCKEY)
The defender won the Premier League’s Most Valuable Player award by a massive ten votes, and will be looking to continue that form into the Tassie Tigers’ Hockey One campaign.
A chance to play alongside Brit duo and Paris Olympians Fiona Crackles and Sarah Robertson, as well as fellow England international Holly Hunt and Dutch defender Gitte Michels will ensure she has plenty of world class talents to learn from at the Tigers.
After failing to score a competition point last year, the Tigers showed they’ll be no pushovers this season after taking NSW to a penalty shootout in round one on Saturday.
JACOB FURPHY (BASKETBALL)
The prodigious guard is in high demand on the college scene after helping Australia win the under-18 Asia Cup last month.
He has also recently travelled to the US to compete in the NBA Academy against some of the world’s best junior stars.
Furphy is being courted by University of Connecticut as he weighs up where to base himself during his college career, but has also reportedly visited Illinois in recent days.
TUNISHA KIKOAK (AFLW)
After being picked up late by Fremantle as a replacement player, the Launceston product has made her chance count for the top eight Dockers. Although she only has 18 touches in five games, she has contributed 4.2 on the scoreboard as Fremantle look to clinch a finals spot.
NATHANIEL ATKINSON (SOCCER)
The 25-year-old has returned to Melbourne City, who he began his professional career with, after a stint with Scottish Premier League side Hearts.
Defender Atkinson has signed a three year deal and will add more x-factor to City’s line up.
Atkinson has won a grand final before with City and his return home could help his chances of adding to his 13 appearances for Australia, with new Socceroos coach Tony Popovic beginning his tenure with a win over China on Thursday night.
FELICITY WILSON-HAFFENDEN (CYCLING)
The junior time trial world champion will ride in the Tour Down Under in January after she made her professional debut at the Adelaide event with American outfit Lidl-Trek this year.
Known for her explosive power and speed, the 19-year-old has the world at her feet after claiming the rainbow jersey at Glasgow last year, despite having earlier crashed out in the road race.
Now already on one of the world’s biggest teams despite only taking up cycling a couple of years ago, Wilson-Haffenden has the chance to learn the ropes from leading riders, including fellow Australian Lauretta Hanson.
JOSH BROOKS (HOCKEY)
The older brother of Hockeyroo and Paris Olympics debutant Maddi looks primed for a huge Hockey One season with the Tassie Tigers.
He won the Victorian Premier League player of the season after shifting from defensive midfielder to sweeper, which he believed freed up his passing game.
“I am looking forward to playing a different role in the backline and hope to play at a consistent level throughout the season to ultimately help the Tigers play in the finals series in December,” Brooks told this masthead early this week.
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