“Hinds’ elite kicking is his x-factor and he has courage in the way that he attacks the ball and backs back into the packs,’’ Sheehan said on Wednesday when describing the Blue.

“He had an injury at the wrong time of the (under 18) campaign, but he certainly has AFL attributes and would be some chance late or as a rookie.”

Four Tasmanians are seen as realistic chances of being drafted out of the underage competitions, along with Tigers’ Hugh Dixon, Glenorchy’s Harrison Gunther and Burnie’s Tom Mundy.

Gunther and Mundy are seen as being in the same boat when it came to their draft chances.

“I have seen a fair bit of him, and he certainly has some AFL attributes,'’ Sheehan said of Mundy.

“His marking is quite special and he’s a very versatile and a tough, hard player that you could see playing off half-back or half-forward or as a contested ball winner through the midfield, such is the competitiveness that he has got.

“He has just had injuries and illness (appendicitis) at the wrong time of the year, but he is still around the mark and on the radar, and certainly a contender.”

Sheehan said he was impressed by Gunther’s work as a lead-up forward who has “a good clean set of hands and a lovely long kick”.

But Dixon is seen as the state’s best chance, and tipped to be a third round selection.

“He has certainly learnt a lot and developed a lot as the year has gone on,’’ he said.

“Earlier in the year he was Tasmania’s MVP in the academy series, and after that, when he realised he had a chance, he reshaped his body, lost some more weight and became more mobile, and really presented as a potential draftee. 

“He went into defence, he has strong with his contested marking at at 195cm, he has all the indications that he will fit in an AFL environment and we think he will get his opportunity.”

No matter what happens on Friday in Sydney, Sheehan believed the state was in a far better position than 12 months ago when no Tasmanians were drafted. 

“I can see this year, and next year at the same time, that you do have some terrific kids coming through after this year like Tarryn Thomas and Chayce Jones, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.”