TALENT ON PARADE:

ALL EYES ON MARINERS v SYDNEY CLASH TODAY

REPRESENTATIVES from all 18 AFL clubs will be at KGV Oval this morning to see a smorgasbord of under-18 topend talent when Tasmania hosts the Sydney Swans Academy.

Both sides are undefeated this year and have possible first-round national draft chances in Tasmanians Tarryn Thomas and Chayce Jones, and Swan Nick Blakey — the son of former Fitzroy and North Melbourne and now Sydney assistant coach John Blakey.

Tasmanian coach Lance Spaulding said all eyes would be on today’s clash.

“I would expect all the clubs to have someone there tomorrow,” Spaulding said.

“It is two big clubs so I expect them all to be there.”

He said his phone had been ringing constantly about this talented group.

“That has been happening since we started our practice matches,” he said.

“These people are really well informed.

“They know about these blokes, there is a good chain through [development managers] Jy Bond and Mathew Armstrong and the information flows consistently.”

The future of Tasmanian football, including the under18s, the Mariners, remains in a state of flux given the ongoing AFL steering committee.

Spaulding, who has coached at TSL level with North Hobart and at VFL level, remains a big fan of the Devils concept, even if it is at the expense of the state league.

“They were fantastic days and that is something high up in the business will make the decision, but I think it would be fantastic,” Spaulding said.

“For a start it gives us the opportunity to retain players here at a level that may not be AFL but it is the next best thing.

“It is something for people to aspire to, the crowds really got behind it and enjoyed the football so I think it is a wonderful concept.

“It would be difficult to have both [TSL and Devils] because of the player drain but that is not for me, I don’t really have any view of that.”