Tasmanian Hugh Dixon has salvaged the state’s AFL draft hopes for the first time in two years.
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Fremantle threw out a lifeline for Tasmania to the sole under-18 Mariner selected at Friday night’s AFL national draft in Sydney.
The Tigers TSL centre half-forward was drafted pick 44 and is set to join Alex Pearce and Brady Grey at the Dockers from the state.
But fancied Launceston half-back Jake Hinds was overlooked by clubs and will have to wait until Monday to know his AFL fate courtesy of its rookie draft.
Ex-South Launceston TSL premiership onballer Matt Hanson has missed out for a fourth year in a row despite a standout VFL season that would also include Victorian representation, a top-five place in the Liston Trophy count and a third successive Werribee best-and-fairest award.
They will both join Burnie’s Tom Mundy and Glenorchy’s Harrison Gunther, and North Launceston’s mature-age nominee Jay Lockhart, in contention for a spot on an AFL list.
Dixon’s selection was the first Tassie name called out since the 2015 draft when Kieran Lovell went to Hawthorn (pick 22), Mitchell Hibberd to North Melbourne (33), Mackenzie Willis to Gold Coast (52) and Ryan Gardner to Geelong (59).
AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheahan on draft night rated Dixon, who made his senior debut for the Kingborough-based Tigers, the premier player coming out of Tasmania this year.
“The first Tasmanian selected was a boy who really dominated early in the year in the academy series – the MVP for Tassie,” he said.
“He’s a big left-footed key forward, 195cm boy – and he showed the capability of going back.
“He did that at the All-Star game – he played in defence.
“So he has a few strings to his bow.”
Meanwhile AFL Tasmania’s state talent manager Jy Bond, who attended the national draft at the Sydney Showgrounds, was ecstatic for Dixon.
Bond lauded the only Tasmanian selected as still a “real positive” for the state’s flagging fortunes.
“We’re very proud after an unlucky year last year to now get one drafted,” he said.
“We’re really proud of Hugh’s efforts to go to Fremantle, who are a good club and he’s really got a good opportunity.
“So we’re really happy about it all.”
The 195cm, 90kg mobile forward found himself on an AFL list after a strong output in the State League, the Tassie Mariners – where he was the state’s MVP in the academy series – and finally the Allies.
Dixon was also the only Tasmanian invited to the 2017 national draft combine.
Bond said all hope was far from lost despite Tasmania not having a rookie-drafted player since Eli Templeton went to St Kilda in 2013.
That same year Kade and Jake Kolodjashnij were selected picks five and 41 from Launceston in the AFL national draft.
Richmond premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis was also drafted four years ago from North Launceston to Sydney with pick 35.
“The rookie draft on Monday is still an opportunity for all those other boys,” Bond said.
“So the door is still not closed just yet.
“They’ve all really had an injury-interrupted year, which doesn’t help.
“All these boys could easily find a home on Monday and I have my fingers crossed that they do.”
Hinds was hurt in the final Allies game in front of club talent scouts that could have harmed his chances.
But Bond believes Hinds is still the best chance from the state this Monday.
“His ball use is just elite and I can see a club really wanting to use that,” he said.
“Putting him in the right environment, giving him a preseason is what he needs.
“He’s got the legs to hit the AFL level.”
Both the AFL pre-season and rookie drafts will be held from 5pm.