Tassie squads look to defend landmark national crowns

They created history last year, but Tasmania’s inclusion squad isn’t resting on its laurels as it looks to repeat the dose. And the state’s wheelchair team is keen to follow suit.

Tasmania celebrates winning the division one AFL National Inclusion Carnival grand final last year. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

They’ve already created history, but Tasmania’s inclusion squad is confident they can repeat the dose when it defends its national title next month.

The team won last year’s carnival for male footballers with an intellectual disability, defeating South Australia by four points in the final to become the first Tasmanian side to win a national crown.

For the first time the event will be held in conjunction with the wheelchair national titles, as part of the AFL Open in Brisbane from November 21-26.

Thirteen players from last year’s victorious inclusion side have been named in this year’s squad, including grand final best on ground winner Joel Corbett and All-Australian selections Craig Blaschke, Jordyn Blizzard, Brayden Cowell and Bailey Menzies.

There’s continuity in the wheelchair squad as well, with seven of the nine players in this year’s squad featuring in the 2023 premiership win.

Collingwood VWFL stars Josh Christian and Martyn Ford and St Kilda’s Trent Johnson are set to lead from the front once again.

Josh Christian of Tasmania and Tasmania Head Coach Joe Chivers hold the premiership cup aloft after winning the AFL Wheelchair National Championships title last year. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Last year’s inclusion premiership captain Craig Blaschke said they’re looking forward to stepping up to the pressure of having a target on their backs.

“This is always something that I look forward to, and it’s especially exciting this year with the chance to defend our title.

“Normally we go over to these carnivals hunting teams, but now we’re the hunted and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.

“To be successful in being selected in this state team and representing Tasmania, it always means the world to me.

“The best thing about our squad is we’re really young, and as the week goes on, we’ve still got a lot of legs to run over the other states.”

Tasmania’s wheelchair side also won silverware in division two last year.

“We’re really looking forward to the tournament. Last year was great winning the division two title, but ultimately we would like to be up there in division one,” playing coach and last year’s captain Josh Christian said.

“This year we have some really good inclusions that will hopefully take us right up there and have us fighting for a premiership in the top division.”