Sport Shorts: Devils boys squad named; Jackies retain young gun

The Devils under-18 boys team to play in this year’s Coates Talent League has been named, with several familiar surnames in the mix. Plus the Jackies have retained a young gun in our latest edition of Sports Shorts.

Tasmanian draft hopeful Oliver Dean will play another year with the Devils. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

An AFL star’s younger brother and a couple of overage draft hopefuls headline a 40-strong Devils squad announced before the boys’ Coates Talent League season opener against Bendigo on Saturday.

Rudi Schoenmaker, younger sibling of St Kilda’s Arie who made his AFL debut last year, has been included after making his TSL debut for Launceston in 2024.

North Launceston forward-ruck Oliver Dean will play as an overager, as will North Hobart inside midfielder Nathaniel Sulzberger.

Both players were invited to last year’s state draft combine, and Sulzberger was part of Sandringham’s premiership-winning squad last year.

The Devils’ games have been reduced from 15 to 12, and the girls from 14 to 13, after AFL Tasmania expressed concerns over the travel load on the players.

Ten of the boys’ 15 matches last year were played on the mainland.

Nathaniel Sulzberger at the State Draft Combine. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“The boys games have been reduced from 15 to 12 and the girls from 14 to 13,” AFL Tasmania’s talent manager Dave O’Sign said in a statement last month.

“However, there is a plan to add one girls under-17 game and one boys under-17 game to play against one of the interstate CTL or Academy under-17 teams.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but we believe the reduction in games will reduce fatigue to optimise performance for the peak period for the athletes.”

The Devils girls don’t begin their season until ANZAC Day when they take on Sydney Swans Academy at Blacktown.

Devils squad: Riley Walters, Miller Young, Malachi Sheehan, Jack Miller, Jack Gilligan, Tyane Thomas, Jasper Hay, Jess Bula, Toby Callow, Oliver Dean, Nathaniel Sulzberger, Rylee McHenry, Oliver Depaoli-Kubank, Wilbur McMurray, Archie Devine, Ben Barwick, Ryder Bugg, Jacob Stretton, Lucas Wooton, Max Roney, Ethan Bonde, Hugh McCallum, Ewan Dillon, Khalen Matthews, Charlie Bovill, Brodie Speed, Jarvis Breen, Avery Thomas, Zeke Pennington, Anthony Volta, Blake Philpott, Kamichael Peters-Chapman, Lachlan Davey, Joshua Webber, Rudi Schoenmaker, Mason Brown, Bowen Clemons, Isaac Smedley, Jade Clark, Tom Prokopiec

JACKJUMPERS RE-SIGN NUNN

The JackJumpers have opted to retain Victorian guard Brody Nunn as a development player for next NBL season after he impressed during his first season at the club.

The 2023-24 NBL champions had an option to extend his development deal for a second year, which they have activated.

“Brody has showed great potential and we’re happy to bring him back for another year,” JackJumpers general manager of basketball Mika Vukona said.

“We’re excited to see his development continue next season” Vukona said.

“The 22 year old guard took the court four times the past season, and also featured in the Intercontinental Cup in Singapore and the NBL Preseason Blitz.

Nunn will again suit up for Knox Raiders in the NBL1 South, after averaging more than 15 points and four assists in the club’s conference championship-winning campaign last year.