TASSIE MAY HOST THE AFL DRAFT
Tasmania may get draft honour for first time
THE AFL says Tasmania is in the running to host this year’s national draft.
In what would be a stunning coup for the state, AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires revealed she was hopeful we would be hosts for the first time, but the decision had not been finalised.
It would come after an outstanding year by the Tassie Mariners — who went undefeated through the AFL Under-18 Academy series.
TASMANIA is on the verge of creating football history after the AFL confirmed the state was in the running to host this year’s national draft.
AFL Tasmania CEO Trish Squires said the prospect was “exciting” on top of the outstanding performance by the Tassie Mariners, who were undefeated in the AFL Under-18 Academy series.
The draft could also return to Melbourne for the first time since 2009, or go back to Adelaide, the host in 2015.
The Mariners beat the highly rated and well financed academy teams of the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney, as well as Northern Territory, on their way to winning the academy series.
Mercurial onballer Tarryn Thomas has been courted by every team, captain Chayce Jones is in demand, and 12 Mariners are in Melbourne this weekend to try out for the Allies, who will play in the AFL National Under-18 division one championship next month.
Squires was hopeful Tasmania would host the draft for the first time.
“Of course, we would absolutely love to host the draft in Tasmania, especially in a promising year for our Mariners,” Squires said. “It would be exciting for the state if it did come to fruition, but the AFL are yet to determine a location for the event, so we will just have to wait and see.”
The AFL said there were “many factors” taken into account when deciding the host city, such as venue, IT, the broadcast, access for media and travel arrangements for draftees and families.