We name Tasmania’s all-time best AFL players from Mariners under-18 program
Football guru Mathew Armstrong has seen plenty of talented footballers come through the Tasmanian pathway into the AFL. He names his greatest Mariners team. See who made it.
Mathew Armstrong started his career with Hobart in the Statewide League and was selected in the first AFL National Draft in 1986, going to Fitzroy as pick 24.
He played 132 games and kicked 71 goals for the Lions between 1987-94, and then went to North Melbourne where he played 43 games and kicked 18 goals.
Armstrong returned to Tasmania and captain-coached North Launceston to the 1998 TFL premiership, going undefeated through the entire season — a feat that has not been matched since.
He was the inaugural coach of Tasmanian Devils in the VFL and then coach of the Tassie Mariners.
He is now the southern talent manager for AFL Tasmania and still has a huge hands-on role in the development of the state’s aspiring young talent.
Here is Mathew Armstrong’s all-time best Tassie Mariners under-18 team.
FULL BACKS
Jimmy Webster – 30. Mariners/Glenorchy/St Kilda: Drafted No. 42, 2011: Debuted for St Kilda round seven 2013 against Carlton. Has played 133 games for the Saints, and kicked 4 goals, and still a key member of the Saints’ defence.
“An elite left-foot kick and a genuine competitor, and he was like that right from the start. He was a boy from Bagdad, that’s where he was when first got noticed. A defender with strength and power and brings the ball out of the backline like they demand in the modern game, and does sit well.”
Colin Garland – 35. Mariners/North Hobart/Melbourne: Drafted No. 46, 2006. Debuted v Sydney at the SCG round five 2007. Played 141 games, kicked 16 goals.
“Played almost 150 games and almost every one of them on the best forward for opposition teams, and did it very well. He was athletic and his ability to compete was outstanding. Was very good in the air and showed that before he was drafted.”
Jeremy Howe – 33. Dodges Ferry/Mariners/Hobart/Melbourne/Collingwood: Drafted by Melbourne No. 33, 2010. Debuted round 11, 2011, v Essendon at MCG. Has played 226 games (Melbourne 110 games, 80 goals/Collingwood 227 games, 14 goals). Melbourne leading goal kicker 2013. AFL Mark of the Year 2012.
“Speaks for itself. One of the boys who was taken on raw ability and athleticism. Really good at everything but master of none. A very good kick and mark, great hands, courageous with good speed. Has developed his game to become a very good interceptor, coming across packs and turning defence into offence.”
HALF-BACKS
Grant Birchall – 35. Mariners/Hawthorn/Brisbane Lions: Drafted by Hawks No 14, 2005. Debuted round 1 2006 v Fremantle UTas Stadium (Launceston). Played a total of 287 games, kicked 36 goals, four premierships with Hawthorn (2008 2013-14-15), All-Australian 2012. Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
“A four-time premiership player. Elite left-foot kick, heaps of courage and good speed. He was a really good kick as a kid and a good decision-maker. That flowed into his AFL career, where he became one of the first of the modern intercept players and a repeat rebounder, releasing the ball out of Hawthorn’s backline with speed and accuracy.”
Alex Pearce – 28. Mariners/Ulverstone/Devonport/ Fremantle: Drafted No. 37 2013: Debuted round 6 2015 v Essendon at Domain Stadium. Has played 103 games, kicked 4 goals. Fremantle captain 2023.
“Was late into the football program because he was in the cricket development program. We struggled to get him involved in footy, maybe because he didn’t have the confidence he could play at the level. Once he came in and discovered his to run and that he had and speed and was powerful overhead, it took game to another level.”
Jake Kolodjashnij – 27. Mariners/Launceston/Geelong: Drafted No. 41 2013. Debuted 2015. Has played 170 games, kicked one goal. Premiership at Geelong 2022.
“Had great speed for a big player and great courage. A very good kick and another good intercept player. Willing to cover the ground, get in the hole and take marks. He can play on talls and resting midfielders. A super premiership player.”
CENTRE-LINE
Chayce Jones – 23. Mariners/Launceston/Adelaide Crows: Drafted No. 9, 2018. Debut v Hawthorn round 1 at Adelaide Oval. Has played 74 games and kicked 17 goals.
“A top 10 draft pick. Played down back for us and through midfield and I loved his speed and agility. It has taken a while to get there and now found his feet at AFL level and is doing well. Can play many roles – back, forward, middle. Could be a long term AFL player now he’s found his feet and has got the attributes to do that.”
Sam Lonergan – 36. Mariners/Launceston/Essendon/Richmond: Drafted by Essendon No. 50 2005. Debuted 2006. Played 79 games, kicked 39 goals for the Bombers. Delisted 2012. Rookied by Richmond, played 2 games in 2013.
“A midfield leader, captained the Mariners. A player who got the most out of himself. A good mark for his size and could kick goals. What he lacked in skill by foot he made up for by outstanding skill by hand. Very tough, a great competitor.”
Mitch Robinson – 34. Mariners/Lauderdale/Tasmania Devils (VFL)/Carlton/Brisbane Lions: Drafted No. 40, 2008. Debut round 1 2009 against Richmond at the MCG. Played 247 games and kicked 129 goals (Carlton (100, 58/Brisbane 147, 71), 14 seasons.
“An enormous competitor who could play many different positions. He started halfback at Carlton and then to finished in the midfield for Brisbane. Had great running capacity. The sort of bloke you’d want to run out with every week because you knew what you are going to get.”
HALF-FORWARDS
Ben Beams – 44. Mariners/Glenorchy/Tasmania Devils/Melbourne: Drafted No. 33 Rookie Draft 1997. Played 23 games and kicked 17 goals over 5 seasons. Played in the Melbourne grand final side in 2000.
“Captained the Devils and played in an AFL grand final. A left-foot opportunist. Some of the goals he kicked were sensational. There were a couple of blokes who had a licence from me, no matter where he was on the ground, they could have a shot at goal. He was one and Ian Callinan was the other. ‘Beamer’ could kick goals from anywhere, he could take great mark, and was a fantastic finisher. The Devils played against him for a few years in the VFL when he was at Melbourne.”
Jack Riewoldt – 34. Mariners/Clarence/Tasmania Devils (VFL)/Richmond: Drafted No. 13 2006. Debut round 9, 2007 v Essendon at the MCG. Has played 344 games kicked 781 goals. Coleman Medal winner three times, 2010, 2012, 218. Richmond premiership three times, 2017-19-20. All-Australian 201, 2015, 2018.
“One of the most gifted players to come through our program. The smartest football brain I have seen come through. Some of decisions and what use to do were phenomenal. A great work ethic. He’s tall enough but no giant so he’s a great mark and great kick. As a junior he saw the game faster than most kids his age, he played like a 200-game player when he was 18. All class.”
Russell Robertson – 44. Mariners/Burnie/Melbourne: Drafted Debuted round 20, 1997 v West Coast at the WACA. Played 228 games kicked 428 goals. Four times Melbourne’s leading goal kicker 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009.
“An exceptional medium-sized forward with an unbelievable tank. Great work ethic and exceptional ability to go vertical. He ran hard but you didn’t see a lot of that on the screen.”
FULL-FORWARD LINE
Ian Callinan – 40. Mariners/Clarence/Tasmania Devils (VFL)/Central Districts (SANFL)/Adelaide Crows: Rookie Draft No. 64, 2011. Debuted round 14 that year v Geelong at Adelaide Oval. Played 34 games, kicked 42 goals.
“Hard done by not to be drafted earlier. An elite kick, won the VFL best-and-fairest medal, won medals in South Australia and played in five premierships for Centrals. Finally got on a list at 27 and that’s outstanding perseverance. Simply an outstanding player, small in stature but big at heart, and passionate. He’s a ripper.”
Ben Brown – 30. Mariners/Glenorchy/Werribee/North Melbourne/Melbourne: Drafted No. 47, 2013. Debuted round 14 2014 v Melbourne. Has played 170 games, kicked 353 goals. North Melbourne leading goal kicker 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. Melbourne premiership player 2021.
“Of all the players I have seen come through the program, he was one of the most influential. When he played well, we won – we won games with him and championships with him playing well. He could play in the ruck and forward. His ability to change games as a junior was amazing. He came to football late from basketball, and he’s an AFL premiership player.”
Brodie Mihocek – 30. Mariners/Burnie/Port Melbourne/Collingwood: No. 22, 2018 Rookie Draft. Debuted round 11 2018 v Fremantle at MCG. Has played 120 games and kicked 203 goals. Collingwood’s leading goal kicker for the past four seasons _ 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
“The year he should have been drafted in 2011 he made the All-Australian [under-18] team as centre half-back. He was a very good kick as a junior and strong. You don’t make All-Australian side as the key defender, up against Victoria and Vic Metro and WA, if you’re not a good player. He got to the AFL the hard way through Werribee, put his hand up and Collingwood took him. We only see him as a forward now but he’s just as good behind the ball.”
FOLLOWERS
Toby Nankervis – 28. Mariners/North Launceston/Sydney/Richmond: Drafted by Sydney No. 35, 2013. Debuted round 14 v Port Adelaide SCG. Played 12 games, kicked 3 goals for Sydney. Traded to Richmond in October 2016, debuted for Tigers round 1, 2017 v Carlton at MCG. Has played 134 games and kicked 36 goals for Richmond. Three-time Richmond premiership player, 2017 2019 2020. Richmond captain 2022, 2023.
“Came into our program late via the cricket program. I remember going to Launceston and talking to him about cricket and what he wanted to do with his footy. A boy George Town, an amazing competitor. He would do 100 competitive marks a night at training, and anything that was a problem area, he would work on that. Went to Sydney and got traded to Richmond and now he’s a three-time premiership player – quiet achievement for a bloke who just gets on with the job.”
Tarryn Thomas – 23. Mariners/North Launceston/North Melbourne: Drafted No. 8, 2018. Debuted round 2019, round 2 v Brisbane at Marvel Stadium. Made history in 2016 when he was voted Tasmania’s best under-16 and under-18 player at respective national championships in the same year. Has played 64 games, kicked 54 goals. 2019 Rising Star nominee.
“Probably the most gifted player I’ve seen come through the program, him and Jack Riewoldt. What they used to do was phenomenal. With Tarryn, if you needed goals to get back into the game you put him forward, if you needed something to happen in the midfield you put him there. He’s a very skilful player and starting to come into his won at AFL level.”
Brad Green – 42. Mariners/North Launceston/Melbourne: Drafted No. 19, 1999. Debuted 2000. Played 254 games, kicked 350 goals. Melbourne leading goal kicker 2010. Melbourne captain 2011. Australian International Rules representative 6 times, Australia captain 2011.
“When I coached at North Launceston in 1998, he came in and played a few games and he played Mariners coached under Rob Shaw. Brad was a silky player in the midfield and could go forward. His trick was his kicking great goals and he was a good mark for his size.”
INTERCHANGE
Tom Bellchambers – 34. Mariners/North Launceston/Tasmania Devils (VFL)/Essendon: Drafted No. 8 2007. Debuted against Hawthorn in Round 11, 2008. Played 136 games, kicked 77 goals.
“A tall ruckman and excellent tap-ruck, who could go forward and kick goals. Very clean at ground level for big fellow.”
Nathan Grima – 37. Mariners/Tasmania Devils (VFL)/Central Districts (2007 SANFL premiership)/North Melbourne/Essendon: Drafted by North Melbourne No. 14 2008 Rookie Draft. Debuted round 8 v Geelong. After 8 seasons with North, retired due to a knee injury. In 2016 signed with Essendon as a top-up player due to the club’s supplements controversy. Played 88 AFL games (NM 86, Essendon 2).
“Came to Hobart from Launceston to play for the Devils (VFL) and used to get the opposition’s best forward player each week. He was athletic so could play on talls and smalls. Went to SA and got kicked up by North Melbourne. Most AFL key forwards were bigger than him, but he was a good athlete with a good engine so he could run and that kept him in the game. Could play at both ends of the ground.”
Mav Weller – 31. Mariners/Burnie/Gold Coast Suns/St Kilda/Richmond: Drafted 2013 Rookie Draft. Debuted Western Bulldogs in round 3 of the 2011. Played 123 games (Suns 32, 3 goals), St Kilda (89, 55 goals), Richmond (2, 1 goal). Richmond VFL premiership 2019.
Played over 120 games of AFL. Came through the Mariners program, was All-Australian (2009) and was signed by Gold Coast Suns as 17-year-old and played for them in the VFL for one year prior to them entering the AFL. A very talented athlete who could play midfield and forward. A good mark for his size and excellent work rate.”
Jason Laycock – 38. Mariners/East Devonport/Essendon: Drafted No. 10, 2002 Debuted round 19 2004 v Carlton at MCG. Played 58 games, kicked 36 goals over seven seasons. Post-AFL he played Burnie Dockers (96 games, 113 goals), Cygnet (15 games, 42 goals), New Norfolk (17 games, 32 goals).
“He was a very good ruckman at AFL level, and you could put him in as a tall forward. Played very good footy in the under-18 program and went to Essendon and was a thorn when we had to play against him in the VFL. At 198 cm he was a good ruck and then go forward, had exceptionally good hands with a good kick and leading patterns.”
More Coverage
Josh Green – 30. Mariners/Sorell/Clarence/Brisbane Lions/Essendon: Drafted No. 32, 2010. Debuted round 9, 2011 v North Melbourne at the Gabba. Played 81 games and kicked 107 goals for the Lions. In 2016 was delisted, signed with Essendon has a free agent. Played 24 games for the Bombers and kicked 25 goals. Played 105 AFL games, kicked 132 goals. Twice Brisbane’s leading goal kicker 2014 and 2015.
“Played 100 games as a small forward for Brisbane Lions and Essendon, that’s a pretty good achievement. Came through our program as a very dominant midfielder and small forward. A very good player at AFL level.”
Originally published as We name Tasmania’s all-time best AFL players from Mariners under-18 program
‘Cut above VFL’: Mid-season draft hopes rise for overlooked Roo
Revealed: Every Tasmania Devil playing for your SFL club this weekend
The ‘footy-head’ coach who keeps fronting up
‘Super-excited’: The star player Lauderdale can’t wait to debut against Glenorchy
VFL star in limbo: Blues block Saints’ bid for Ethan Phillips
