Lockhart a highlight in honourable defeat

IF AFL scouts were in town to run their eye over Jay Lockhart in Saturday’s representative clash they would have liked what they saw from Tasmania’s rebounding defender.

While the state didn’t get the result it desired – going down by 17 points to the NEAFL in a dour arm wrestle – there were several shining lights for the “Map”. One of those was North Launceston’s Lockhart, playing his second consecutive match for Tasmania at senior level.

The 21-year-old had the team’s second most disposals (20) behind his club coach Tom Couch, as well as having a match high nine rebound 50s as he regularly thwarted NEAFL attacks before setting up the rebound.

His performance earned him the honour of being awarded the Lefroy Medal as the side’s best player.

“I definitely wasn’t expecting it, it was massive just to play in the game let alone be awarded the Lefroy Medal,” Lockhart said.

“I’m absolutely honoured thankful for the opportunity.”

Despite the speculation leading into the clash that several AFL club scouts were headed to Hobart, Lockhart was focused purely on his task at hand under coach Anthony Taylor.

And though the side didn’t get the win it was desperately craving, Lockhart felt a much better chemistry within the group from the one belted by the WAFL 12 months ago.

“I didn’t alter anything, I just had to go out there and play my role for the team. I was purely focused on trying to get a win for Tasmania to get our competition out there,” he said.

“We were pretty disappointed, it was a game we went into confident we could win. Everyone held their heads high and we really played the Tassie way. Hopefully we can stick together as a group and get the younger guys coming through and hopefully get a win next year.”

The 2014 Bombers TSL premiership player is now setting his sights on helping North back to the top in the second half of the season – and hasn’t given up on his AFL dream.

“It is definitely the ultimate goal.” and