REVEALED: The modern goalkicking king across all Tasmanian football leagues
A decade of data has been crunched revealing the 11 top Tasmanian goal kicking legends from every league and association across the state. FULL LIST >>
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TASMANIA has had a long history of producing goal kickers at all levels. Now, with the help of AFL Tasmania’s statistician David Ingram, the Mercury reveals the some of the top players for goals kicked across the state from 2010 to 2021.
11. CADEN WILSON
GOALS: 441
GAMES: 170 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 2.6
CLUBS: New Norfolk/North Hobart/Glenorchy/DOSA/Triabunna
AN original product of the Derwent Valley, Wilson has travelled far and wide and slotted goals for fun at every stop. A true hybrid forward, he had the impact of far bigger players through his footy nous and goal sense. Switched repeatedly between SFL and TSL, but always had an impact, and was awarded the William Leitch Medal in 2014 while playing for New Norfolk as the SFL’s best and fairest player.
10. MICHAEL CASSIDY
GOALS: 447
GAMES: 181 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 2.5
CLUBS: Lindisfarne/Hobart/Lauderdale
YOU can almost hear the ball yelp in pain when Cassidy takes another contested mark. With a raking left foot and great aerial judgment, the big red head has been a highlight machine across southern Tasmania. Never hit the century mark, but showed off his talents for a long period in the TSL, highlighted by 139 goals for Lauderdale in 77 games before heading to his original club Lindisfarne to take them to premiership glory in 2018 and ‘19.
9. ALEX GILMOUR
GOALS: 460
GAMES: 189 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 2.4
CLUBS: University/Richmond (OSFA)/Hobart
AFTER stints with Brighton, the Devils in the VFL, University, Clarence and Dodges Ferry before his current role as Hobart playing-coach, the former Richmond AFL draftee dominated for Richmond of the Old Scholars variety. Peaked in 2019 where he hit the exact 100 goal milestone in 21 games.
8. GREG SHARMAN
GOALS: 474
GAMES: 101 (2012-20)
AVERAGE: 4.7
CLUBS: Wynyard
WELL known to footy fans from his days with the Devils in the VFL and with Clarence, Sharman dominated the North West Coast with Wynyard. A hulking full forward but still with surprising speed, Sharman played in three premierships with the Cats and was a three-time competition goal-kicker. He twice reaching triple figures with tallies of 130 (2014) and 109 (2015) — both flag winning seasons for Wynyard.
7. DAVID WICKHAM
GOALS: 537
GAMES: Unknown (2010-19)
AVERAGE: N/A
CLUBS: Rocherlea/Tamar Cats/South East Suns
UNFORTUNATELY for Wickham, if this list started in the mid-2000s he’s be right at the pointy end. After playing some football for Clarence in his early days, Wickham eventually made it to Rocherlea in the NTFA. From 2006 to 2012, he hit the hundred mark six times in seven seasons, including 162 goals in 2010. In 2014 he switched to the Tamar Cats and again hit triple figures — from just 10 games, with personal best haul of 28.
6. JAYE BOWDEN
GOALS: 582
GAMES: 216
AVERAGE: 2.7
CLUBS: Glenorchy/ St. Virgils/ TSL Rep Side
JAYE BOWDEN would arguable have one of the largest trophy cabinets in the state, filled with numerous best and fairest medals, and goal kicking accolades from his time in the TSL and the Old Scholars league. A good deal of the silverware has come from his sharp shooting with three consecutive Peter Hudson Medals (TSL leading goalkicker) from 2015-2017 as well as a bag of medals for leading goalkicker at his respective clubs.
5. CLINTON CURTAIN
GOALS: 600
GAMES: 144 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 4.2
CLUBS: Claremont/Brighton/New Norfolk/Campania
TOUGH and rugged but with plenty of skill to match, Curtain has been a headache for defenders across southern Tasmania. Played most of his footy with Claremont in the SFL, but had his most productive years with Campania in the Oatlands District Football League. Across 2016-17, Curtain booted 258 goals in 41 games — an average of 6.3 goals a game — for the Wallabies with tallies of 126 and 132 respectively.
4. AARON BUTLER
GOALS: 635
GAMES: 167 (2011-21)
AVERAGE: 3.8
CLUBS: Somerset/South Burnie/Burnie
A SOMERSET legend and traditional full forward with a vice like grip and laser left foot, Butler reached the magical 100 mark in three straight years from 2017-19, and then did the feat again in 2014 for South Burnie with 131 goals – his personal best. Remarkably Butler has finished fourth on the table despite spending his first season at Somerset (2012) at full back, but still managed to kick 15 goals in 19 games.
3. TRENT STANDEN
GOALS: 658
GAMES: 217 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 3.0
CLUBS: Clarence/OHA
“SPEEDY” deserves special recognition in this list as of the top 10, Standen has by far kicked the most goals in the state’s strongest competition — the TSL. He kicked exactly 400 goals during this time for the Roos, as well as being a membership of the 2010 premiership team and a six-time TSL team of the year member. He has also played in two Old Scholars premierships for OHA and in one game last year booted 30.12 for the Ships on way to cracking the 100-goal barrier for the first time.
2. ROHAN BALDOCK
GOALS: 719
GAMES: 126 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 5.7
CLUBS: South Burnie/Burnie/Penguin
CREATED headlines across Australia in 2016 when he booted an incredible 241 goals in 21 games for South Burnie in the Darwin Football Association – just nine short of breaking the all time Australian record for most goals in a season. Also shined on the biggest stage, kicking four goals for Burnie in the Dockers successful 2012 grand final team. Not just a Tasmanian legend either, as he once slotted through 21 goals in a game for Stanhope in the Victorian Kyabram District Football League.
1. NICK MILBOURNE
GOALS: 725
GAMES: 149 (2010-21)
AVERAGE: 4.9
CLUBS: East Devonport/Forth/Bridgenorth/Devonport
A POCKET-ROCKET, Milbourne is Tasmania’s king of goalkicking for the past decade. Could be seen as a bit of a journeyman who takes a swag of goals with him wherever he goes, but his heart lies with East Devonport. Standing well under six foot (182cm), Milbourne still plays the key forward role thanks to his strong marking, long accurate kicking and ability to also score from ground balls as well. Booted the ton in 2014 (146) and in 2015 (108) for Forth, with the latter coming in a premiership season. Played most of his football with East Devonport, including a stint as playing-coach, but switched to Devonport after the Swans went into recess, and is still playing seniors today at age 37.
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