Tasmania name 41-man initial squad for state clash against Queensland

A 41-man initial squad has been named to represent Tasmania in July’s state clash against Queensland. See the full list.

Lauderdale’s Bryce Walsh and Kingborough’s Jack Tomkinson have both been named in Tasmania’s initial squad. Picture: Chris Kidd

The initial 41-man squad for Tasmania’s state game against Queensland has been named with coach Maverick Weller saying the job to narrow the team down to a final 22 will be incredibly difficult.

With the clash against Queensland at North Hobart Oval on July 1 now under 50 days away, AFL Tasmania released the full men’s squad on Monday with a number of Tasmania’s best footballers earning selection.

Former Richmond player Maverick Weller is coaching Tasmania’s team in July. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

38 players from the Tasmanian State League (TSL) have been named with all seven teams represented while three players from the North West Football League (NWFL) have also been selected after strong starts to the season.

TSL club Kingborough have the strongest representation with 10 players in the squad while Clarence and Launceston both have seven.

Weller, who will be assisted by Adam Bester, Aaron Cornelius and Trent Baumeler, said that while they had named an initial squad there were a number of players from regional leagues across the state that missed out that were still a chance to represent the state depending on form ahead of training beginning next month.

Kingborough star Jack Tomkinson has been named in the squad following a strong start to the TSL season. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There is some good players in the squad but there is also some good ones that have missed out who we are still keeping track of,” Weller said.

“We are reasonably happy with the squad we have so far and now it’s about keeping track of those players and making sure they are in good form ahead of final selection. There were a handful of players (that missed the cut) and we have let them know that we are considering them.”

While competition for spots will be high, one position set to be the toughest to select will be the ruck with Kingborough’s Jack Tomkinson, Clarence’s Sam Green and North Launceston’s Alex Lee all starting the season in outstanding form.

Two-time TSL best and fairest Sam Siggins will almost certainly play for Tasmania. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Lauderdale star and reigning Alastair Lynch Medalist Sam Siggins was also named in the squad and has shown his ability to perform strongly in the ruck with Weller admitting trying to squeeze four of Tasmania’s best big men into the final side was a good problem to have.

“There is some real quality there in terms of that ruck position,” Weller said.

“Alex (Lee) is probably more a predominate ruck but those other guys have shown that they can play multiple positions, which is important for a game like this.”

The initial squad will be trimmed to a training squad next month with that group to have two full-squad training sessions together before the final team is named in the week leading up to the match.

Tasmania’s initial squad to face Queensland

Bailey Boag (Burnie), Colin Garland (Clarence), Sam Green (Clarence), Baxter Norton (Clarence), Oscar Paprotny (Clarence), Ollie Preshaw (Clarence), Mitch Rainbird (Clarence), Keegan Wylie (Clarence), Keegan Lowe (Devonport), Josh Arnold (Glenorchy), Blake Waight (Glenorchy), Nic Baker (Kingborough), Lachie Clifford (Kingborough), Eddie Cole (Kingborough), Max Collidge (Kingborough), Ben Donnelly (Kingborough), Lochie Griggs (Kingborough), Kieran Lovell (Kingborough), Elijah Reardon (Kingborough), Jack Tomkinson (Kingborough), James Webb (Kingborough), Allen Christensen (Lauderdale), Josh McGuinness (Lauderdale), Sam Siggins (Lauderdale), Bryce Walsh (Lauderdale), Bailey Gillow (Launceston) Jobi Harper (Launceston), Jake Hinds (Launceston), Jayden Hinds (Launceston), Liam Jones (Launceston) Brodie Palfreyman (Launceston), Ryan Tyyrell (Launceston), Callen Daly (North Hobart), Jack McCulloch (North Hobart), Tyler McGinniss (North Hobart), Jack Avent (North Launceston), Brad Cox-Goodyer (North Launceston), Brandon Leary (North Launceston), Alex Lee (North Launceston), Luke Russell (Penguin), Kallum Kubicki (Wynyard)