Tasmania loses five stars for its representative match against VFL team Sandringham at UTas Stadium

More than half of Tasmania senior men’s team changed for its academy clash with VFL team Sandringham, including the loss of five big guns. See who’s in and out.

Sam Siggins in action for Tasmania's academy team against Norwood. He will miss game three against Sandringham. Picture Linda Higginson Solstice Digital

Tasmania will field its most inexperienced state academy team this year after the loss of five big guns among nine changes for the Devils’ date with VFL team Sandringham at UTas Stadium on Sunday.

Not only has it lost injured centre half-back Harrison Gunther, Tasmania will also be without its most dangerous forwards, Sam Siggins and Josh Green, who between them kicked 15 goals last weekend.

Sam Siggins will miss game three of Tasmania's academy representative series, this time against VFL team Sandringham. Picture Linda Higginson Solstice Digital

Ruck dominator Andrew Phillips and ball-magnet Ethan Jackson will also miss the third instalment of the five-game Tasmania academy series.

The primary ruck position vacated by Phillips will be filled by former state captain and North Launceston premiership captain Alex Lee, who has been in outstanding form in the NTFA.

Launceston rising star Archie Wilkinson will make his senior state debut as a key defender, winning the race as the player to replace Gunther.

Gunther’s Glenorchy teammate Baker Smith also made his way into the team as an insurance policy for the centre half-back post, albeit named as centre half-forward.

Baker Smith, of Glenorchy, has been promoted into the Tasmanian senior team to play Sandringham. Picture: Caroline Tan

Despite his side copping a 131-point beating at the hands of Clarence on Saturday, Brighton ace Darcy Gardner earned a spot in the state team, along with North Launceston gun Harry Bayles.

Tasmania coach Jeromey Webberley said the team to play Sandringham was built more for speed compared to the hard, contested outfit he put together to play VFL team Frankston at North Hobart Oval five weeks ago.

“We don’t want to play a different style but there is going to be some things that we identify with that ground that we want to execute well that will give us the best opportunity to win,” Webberley said.

“With changes in systems comes changes in personnel.

“We selected a strong contested team to play at North Hobart.

“We are looking to add some runners into this team to play at UTas Stadium this weekend because UTas Stadium a bigger ground.”

Webberley named his team on Wednesday following an all-in training session at UTas Stadium on Tuesday night.

The players won’t see each other again until Sunday.

“We got together twice before the last game and we’ve been together another two times since then,” Webberley said.

“We’ve trained together six or seven times over the course of the past few months, which I reckon has been beneficial.

“We don’t want to take the players away from their clubs a lot either so we think Tuesday night’s session was a good way to start the week.”

The Tasmania-Sandringham game starts at 2.30pm.

TASMANIA MEN’S TEAM

B: #2 Harry Elmer (Devonport), #27 Theo Ives (North Launceston), #12 Will Clifford (Kingborough)

HB: #15 Baxter Norton (Clarence), #21 Archie Wilkinson (Launceston), #7 Harry Bayles (North Launceston)

C: #6 Fraser Turner (Clarence), #8 Bailey Boag (Burnie), #18 Mitchell Brouwer (Kingborough)

HF: #4 Tom Reeves (North Hobart), #25 Baker Smith (Glenorchy), #13 Oscar Paprotny (Clarence)

F: #11 Brandon Leary (North Launceston), #20 Kai Cameron (Devonport), #1 Brad Cox-Goodyer (North Launceston)

FOL: #26 Alex Lee (North Launceston), #9 Michael Stingel (North Launceston), #10 Darcy Gardner (Brighton)

INT: #14 James Bealey (Lauderdale), #16 Fletcher Hooker (Lauderdale), #5 Keegan Lowe (Devonport), #23 Jack Dolliver (Lauderdale), #17 Joshua Wolfe (Wynyard)