Mariners on mission to be Giant killers

THE Tassie Mariners are on a mission to down Greater Western Sydney Giants at the Twin Ovals on Saturday and go through the AFL Under-18 Academy series undefeated.

Tasmania’s best teenage players have a clean sheet in the academy championship and to make it even sweeter, a handful of them are now in the AFL Draft spotlight and they have embarrassed the big budget AFL-backed academies of Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast and the Sydney Swans.

Mariners wingman Fraser Turner said they aimed to do the same to the Giants.

“The other academy sides get talked up pretty highly, so for us to beat them is pretty good,” he said.

“The job’s not done yet — one more game to go.”

The 17-year-old from Clarence is eligible for this year’s draft and things are looking up after the AFL’s talent manager Kevin Sheehan gave him special praise for his performance in the win over Sydney at KGV on Saturday.

“It was great to get the win but to get a mention was also good — it’s pretty easy with everyone playing well around you,” Turner said.

“It’s exciting that recruiters are looking at us.

“It would be awesome to get drafted. Hopefully, I’ll keep playing well and the rest will take care of itself.”

The Class of 2018 has been together since under-15s, and are undefeated in all that time.

Saturday will be their final game as a group before some are selected to play for the Allies in the AFL National Division One carnival and the rest go back to club football.