Dinkum’s Top 25 of the Decade
Football historian David Ingram assembled his top 25 players of the decade on performance across the decade.
Assessed on overall impact across 2009-2019, longevity and consistency were factors, as well as individual success and team success.
The idea behind this was not only to celebrate the sensational talent which has graced the fields of the Tasmanian State League this past decade, but also to generate discussion, and in that endeavour I think we can say we’ve succeeded. A few of the more common issues/observations with the countdown are here addressed:
– Obviously the main point of conjecture is players who missed out. Longevity of sustained brilliance in the TSL ONLY (from 2009) was the primary factor in selection, and that was only superseded by talent when that talent was absolutely exceptional, such as in the case of Cameron Thurley, who played five seasons before his accident. It was this lack of longevity in the TSL itself that saw guys like Brett Geappen, Ken Hall, Ian Callinan and Aaron Cornelius – all undoubtedly brilliant players – miss out.
– On that note, there are a few players extremely stiff to miss out, none more so than Rhys Mott: 190 games for Devonport/Glenorchy, 2016 premiership player, 3x TOTY member and 3 state guernseys. I HATED leaving him out, but that’s a testament to the level of talent in the comp these past 10 years. Mott’s former Devonport teammate Kurt Heazlewood can also consider himself unlucky, as can Jay Foon (North Launceston), Jeromey Webberley (Clarence) and Josh Arnold (Glenorchy).
– It was also noted that zero players from Hobart, North Hobart/Hobart City or Kingborough made the 25. It’s just an unfortunate reality that clubs suffering from a lack of on-field success for an extended period generally don’t possess players who performed at an extremely high standard for a long time. Ken Hall, Robbie Devine and Sam Darley have all been exceptional players for North Hobart, but their time in the TSL has just been too short to make the list. I did consider Kane Richter but in the end decided against him. Mitch Carter and Marcus Davies were the only Tigers players I considered.
Here is the full 25.
25. JOSH MCGUINNESS
80 games for Lauderdale, 2013; 2017-19
Lauderdale TSL Grand Final teams 2017, 2018, 2019
TSL Team of the Year 2017, 2018 (vc), 2019 (vc)
State Games: 2 (2017, 2019)
24. JAY LOCKHART
90 games for North Launceston, 2013-17
North Launceston TSL premierships 2014, 2015, 2017
North Launceston Best & Fairest, 2016
TSL Team of the Year, 2017
State Games: 2 (2016, 2017)
Lefroy Medal 2017 (vs NEAFL)
23. DYLAN RILEY
120 games for South Launceston, Devonport, Launceston)
South Launceston TSL premiership, 2013
Devonport Best & Fairest, 2016
Launceston Best & Fairest, 2018
TSL Team of the Year 2016, 2017, 2018
State Games: 1 (2016)
22. NICK McKENNA
130 games for Burnie, 2011-17
Burnie TSL premiership, 2012
TSL Team of the Year 2011, 2012, 2013
State Games: 4 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)
21 SONNY WHITING
120 games for Launceston, 2011-18
Launceston TSL premiership, 2011
Launceston All-Time TSL Goalkicker
Peter Hudson Medal, 2013 (TSL Leading Goalkicker)
Launceston Leading Goalkicker 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017
TSL Team of the Year 2011, 2013
State Games: 2 (2013, 2015)
20. BART McCULLOCH
100 games for South Launceston (2012-13), Western Storm (2014-15), North Launceston (2017-19)
South Launceston TSL premiership, 2013
North Launceston TSL premierships 2017, 2018, 2019
TSL Team of the Year 2013, 2014
State Games: 3 (2013, 2014, 2017)
Lefroy Medal 2013 (vs NEAFL)
19. DANIEL ROOZENDAAL
80 games for North Launceston, 2012-16
North Launceston TSL premiership, 2014
Darrel Baldock Medal, 2014 (Best on Ground, TSL Grand Final)
North Launceston Best & Fairest, 2013
Alastair Lynch Medal, 2014 (TSL Best & Fairest)
TSL Team of the Year 2014, 2015, 2016
18. SCOTT STEPHENS
140 games for Launceston, 2009-15
Launceston captain, 2009-12
Launceston TSL premiership, 2011
Launceston Best & Fairest 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
TSL Team of the Year 2010 (c), 2011
State Games: 1 (2012)
17. BRYCE WALSH
150 games for Lauderdale, 2011-19
Lauderdale captain
Lauderdale Grand Final teams 2017, 2018, 2019
Lauderdale Best and Fairest 2014, 2016, 2019
TSL Team of the Year 2014, 2015
State Games: 2 (2015, 2017)
16. DARREN BANHAM
151 games for Burnie, 2009-16
Burnie TSL premiership, 2012
Burnie Best & Fairest, 2010
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2011, 2013
State Games: 4 (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015)
15. LUKE SHACKLETON
100 games for Burnie, 2009-13
Burnie TSL premiership, 2012
RACT Insurance Player of the Year, 2012
Burnie Best and Fairest, 2012, 2013
Burnie Leading Goalkicker, 2010
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2012 (c), 2013
14. BRADY JONES
140 games for Clarence, 2011-19
Clarence captain, 2014-19
Clarence Best & Fairest 2013, 2018, 2019
TSL Team of the Year 2012, 2013 (Capt.), 2019
State Games: 4 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
Lefroy Medal 2012 (vs Victoria)
13. JOBI HARPER
120 games for South Launceston (2010-13), Western Storm (2015), Burnie (2016), Launceston (2018-19)
South Launceston TSL premiership, 2013
Darrel Baldock Medal, 2013 (Best on Ground, TSL Grand Final)
Burnie Best & Fairest, 2016
TSL Team of the Year 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
State Games: 3 (2013, 2015, 2016)
12. JOSH PONTING
109 games for North Launceston, 2012; 2014; 2016-19
North Launceston TSL premierships 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019
Darrel Baldock Medal, 2019 (TSL Grand Final Best on Ground)
TSL Best and Fairest, 2018, 2019 (Alastair Lynch Medal)
North Launceston Best and Fairest, 2019
TSL Team of the Year 2018, 2019
State Games: 1 (2019)
11. JAKE COX
49 games for Glenorchy, 2009-11
110 games for Clarence, 2012-19
Clarence Best & Fairest 2012, 2015
TSL Team of the Year 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
State Games: 4 (2012, 2013, 2015, 2016)
Lefroy Medal 2016 (vs WA)
10. HARRY WALTERS
180 games for Burnie, 2009-17
Burnie TSL premiership, 2012
Burnie Best & Fairest 2015
Burnie All-Time TSL Goalkicker (180)
Burnie Leading Goalkicker, 2016
TSL Team of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
State Games: 4 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)
9. BEN REYNOLDS
40 games for Devonport, 2009-10
111 games for Glenorchy, 2011-17
Glenorchy TSL premiership, 2016
Glenorchy Best & Fairest, 2013
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016
State Games: 5 (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 (c))
Lefroy Medal 2010 (vs QLD)
8. TRENT STANDEN
160 games for Clarence, 2010-18
Clarence TSL premiership, 2010
Clarence All-Time TSL Goalkicker (406)
Clarence Leading Goalkicker 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017
State Games: 4 (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017)
7. BRAYDEN WEBB
165 games for Glenorchy, 2009-19
Glenorchy captain, 2014-19
Glenorchy TSL premiership 2016
Glenorchy Best & Fairest, 2011
TSL Team of the Year 2011, 2014 (Capt.), 2015 (Capt.), 2017 (Capt.)
State Games: 5 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017)
Lefroy Medal 2015 (vs NEAFL)
6. CAMERON THURLEY
100 games for Clarence, 2009-13
Clarence captain, 2012-13
Clarence TSL premierships 2009, 2010
Darrel Baldock Medal, 2010 (Best on Ground, TSL Grand Final)
RACT Insurance Player of the Year, 2011
Clarence Best & Fairest 2010, 2011
Clarence Leading Goalkicker 2011, 2013
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2011 (c), 2012
State Games: 2 (2009, 2010)
5. MITCH THORP
47 games, 118 goals for South Launceston, 2011-13
45 games, 100 goals for Devonport, 2015-17
39 games, 107 goals for Launceston, 2018-19
South Launceston TSL premiership, 2013
Alastair Lynch Medal, 2013 (TSL Best & Fairest)
RACT Insurance Player of the Year, 2013
South Launceston Best & Fairest, 2013
Peter Hudson Medal, 2018 (TSL Leading Goalkicker)
South Launceston Leading Goalkicker, 2011, 2012, 2013
Devonport Leading Goalkicker 2016, 2017
Launceston Leading Goalkicker 2018, 2019
State Games: 3 (2013, 2016, 2017)
4. TAYLOR WHITFORD
151 games for North Launceston, 2011-19
North Launceston captain 2015-17
North Launceston coach 2018, 2019
North Launceston TSL premierships 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
RACT Insurance Player of the Year 2015, 2018
North Launceston Best & Fairest 2014, 2016, 2018
TSL Team of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (vc), 2018, 2019
State Games: 4 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
3. JASON LAYCOCK
96 games, 113 goals for Burnie, 2011-15
Burnie TSL premiership, 2012
Darrel Baldock Medal, 2012 (Best on Ground, TSL Grand Final)
Burnie Leading Goalkicker, 2012
TSL Team of the Year 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
State Games: 3 (2012, 2014, 2015)
Lefroy Medal 2014 (vs NEAFL)
2. BRAD COX-GOODYER
174 games for North Launceston, 2009-19
North Launceston TSL premierships 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
TSL Captain 2018, 2019
TSL Best & Fairest, 2017 (Alastair Lynch Medal)
RACT Insurance Player of the Year, 2019
North Launceston Best & Fairest, 2017 (Jack Hill Medal)
Darrel Baldock Medal 2017, 2018 (Best on Ground, TSL Grand Final)
TSL Team of the Year 2014, 2016, 2017 (vc), 2018 (c), 2019 (c)
North Launceston All-Time TSL Goalkicker (296)
North Launceston Leading Goalkicker 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
State Games: 1 (2017)
1. JAYE BOWDEN
206 Games for Glenorchy, 2009-2019
Glenorchy captain, 2011-12
Glenorchy TSL premiership, 2016
Tassie/Alistair Lynch Medal 2012, 2015, 2016; Runner-Up 2014 (TSL Best & Fairest)
RACT Insurance Player of the Year 2014, 2016, 2017
Glenorchy Best and Fairest 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; Runner-Up 2009, 2011, 2013
Competition All-Time TSL Goalkicker (518)
Peter Hudson Medal 2015, 2016, 2017 (TSL Leading Goalkicker)
Glenorchy Leading Goalkicker 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
TSL Team of the Year 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
State Games: 7 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017)
