Launceston's Jay Blackberry is one of the most-respected names in the Tasmanian State League.
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Overtaking Jaye Bowden as the league's games record-holder earlier this month, the 29-year-old debuted in 2009 and has won premierships with South Launceston (2013) and Launceston (2020).
Earlier this season, he sat down and spoke to The Examiner.
Who are some of the best players you've played with?
JB: I've been pretty lucky to be able to play some state footy and play with some of the best within the comp but at club level, obviously Mitch [Thorp] is right up there.
Dyl [Riley] has obviously been able to do it for a long time as well and even in the early days, like Bart [McCulloch] when he was really up and going at South, he was almost unstoppable with his height.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
I've been fortunate there but then you also go to your state players and being able to play with players like Jaye [Bowden] in some state games was a really good experience because you just got to see how professional they were through the training and game-day prep.
Who are some of the more annoying teammates you've shared a changeroom with and why?
JB: Jobi [Harper] would be right up there and he'd happily admit that I think as well and he thrives on it.
Tommy Reinmuth would also be up there and I think Albie Russell, when you get him and Tom as well, it's probably not a great combo.
They are just all very loud and very out there and they are happy to tell you how good they are once they get a beer or two into them as well.
- Jay Blackberry on Jobi Harper, Tom Reinmuth and Alex Russell
What are some of your favourite memories?
JB: Just being able to come and have a run around with mates and that's been obviously a lot of teammates over the years but being able to come and chill out, whether that's at training or at footy or at functions, it's just been a great out from everyday life.
It's been fun, there's been some really tough times but there's been some really high times and really good times.
It's been a very long journey, but hopefully it hasn't finished yet.
What has it been like overseeing Launceston's rebuild?
JB: The first year was very tough, we lost [then coach] Sam [Lonergan, as part of Essendon's supplement saga], I don't know what it was, four or five weeks out from the season and struggled to win a game.
Into then developing a team that probably wasn't full of a lot of talent but we gave a lot of heart and we made some finals and to then build it up into the grand final last year and to win it, it's just the cherry on top.
It's pretty evident with some of the guys coming through, they don't want to stop at one, they want to keep going so we'll keep striving to improve and to get better each and every week.