The Mercury sports team names its favourite TSL moments
From the best captain to best dummy spit and best goal, the Mercury Sports Team has broken down all the memorable moments of the 2023 TSL season. Here’s how they voted.
The votes are in and the Mercury Sports Team has named its best and worst of the TSL for season 2023, including the best captain, best goal and best dummy spit.
The sports crew also named their best coach, recruit, ruck, forward, defender and onballer.
Here’s how we saw 2023 – the penultimate TSL season.
BEST PLAYER
It was a lively debate and a close-run thing but after deep discussion North Launceston’s playing-coach Brad Cox-Goodyer just nudged out Lauderdale’s mercurial Sam Siggins for the title.
As influential as “Siggo” can be, including his miraculous match-winning goal for Tasmania against Queensland, “Coxy” was seen as a born leader and consistently showed his young side how to perform on the big stage. That included on grand final day when he did everything in his power to get the Northern Bombers over the line.
BEST RECRUIT
The unanimous vote went to Tiger Nic Baker. He boosted stocks in the midfield and influenced every game he played. And despite almost cutting off his left index finger halfway through the season, came back for the last two games on the year, including a standout performance in the grand final.
Football writer Jon Tuxworth said: “The 23-year-old former Tassie Devil captain’s arrival at Kingborough after a stint with Sorell was a huge pick-up for the eventual premiers. His versatility gave coach Trent Baumeler structural and tactical options depending on how their opposition shaped up each week.”BEST DEFENDER
The TSL is spoiled for choice when it comes to top-shelf backmen – you could figuratively throw a Sherrin and hit one in every game.
The winner here was another premiership Tiger and Tasmanian full-back, Ben Donnelly, who beat out teammate Elijah Reardon, Clarence centre half-back Keegan Wyllie, Launceston centre half-back Jamieson House, Glenorchy young gun Blake Waight and Lauderdale’s rebounding specialist Josh McGuinness.
BEST ONBALLER
The hardest category of all. State onballers Kieran Lovell and his Tigers premiership captain Lachie Clifford, and fellow-state players Sam Siggins, Brad Cox-Goodyer (North Launceston), Brodie Palfreyman (Launceston), Baxter Norton (Clarence) were the front-runners.
In the end, Lovell took top honours for his ability to influence a contest from the inside and out, and get forward to impact on the scoreboard as he did in the Tigers’ grand final win.
BEST RUCKMAN
The grand final battle between state ruckman Alex Lee and Tigers twosome Marcus Gardner and Jack Tomkinson showcased the high standard of rucks in the TSL. Clarence’s Sam Green was also mentioned highly in dispatches, but the nod finally fell to the general Lee.
BEST CAPTAIN
The team could not agree on this one so the join winners were Jarrod Harper (Clarence), Ben Simpson (North Launceston) and Lachie Clifford (Tigers).
BEST GOALS
Zac Barrow – North Hobart: In the Demons’ clash with the Tigers at Twin Ovals in round 10, the home side got out to an early break but the Dees breathed fire in the second term and jumped into the lead with a miraculous goal by midfielder Zach Barrow on the halftime siren.
North Hobart had worked the ball to the wing and it popped out to a waiting Barrow, who wheeled around and took off toward the goals.
Two steps past the centre circle he unloaded a missile that pitched 30m out from the goal face and, in a tactical blunder by the Tigers, was left to bounce through for a goal after the siren to give North Hobart the lead.
Max Collidge – Tigers: In round 14 against Launceston, Collidge kicked the winner late to give Tigers the lead and the eventual win.
Jake Hinds – Launceston: The Blues were in grave danger of being upset by Lauderdale on the road in round six. But in wet and windy conditions, a mark and goal from 45m out, camped on the boundary line, from Jake Hinds in the fourth quarter was enough to squeeze out a 9.12 (66) to 8.11 (59) win. Considering the conditions and the importance of the kick, it gets the nod as one of the standout goals of the season.
BEST MARK
Oliver Dean- North Launceston: He allegedly wears size 17 custom made boots, and North Launceston’s teen beanpole showed he’s got a leap on him with a memorable hanger in the qualifying final loss to Kingborough.
Tigers’ defender Ben Donnelly was arguably best afield, but Dean had his time in the sun when his strong contested grab led to one of his two goals for the day.
BEST DUMMY SPIT
Ask straight-shooting Clarence coach Peter Ryan a question, and you generally get an honest answer. That was the case for our footy man Jon Tuxworth when the Roos’ mentor made it clear they didn’t want to play on a sodden Windsor Park against Launceston in round 17.
Ryan said he “didn’t think the ground was acceptable for TSL level” and questioned whether it was safe for players after heavy overnight rain reduced it to a mud pit.
Clarence proceeded to play like they didn’t want to be there, conceding eight unanswered first quarter goals in the tough conditions, and lost by 60 points.
Originally published as The Mercury sports team names its favourite TSL moments
How Tassie stadium greenlight is a win for the NT’s AFL team push
NTFA: Every clubs’ recruits, re-signings for 2026
New Bombers coach targets youth-led ‘reset’ after player exits
Top End footy battles wild weather following Tasmania’s stadium debate
90+ names: The greatest players in QAFL history
