As another AFL draft comes around, North Launceston's Oliver Sanders is well within the frame of joining the big league.
With the first 18 picks read out on Wednesday night, the remaining draftees will be revealed on Thursday, with 31 Tasmanians nominating for the chance to be on a list.
AFL Tasmania's Northern talent operations lead Nathan Warren said Sanders is among several Tasmanians to have impressed, sparking key conversations with North Melbourne and Carlton despite battling a leg injury this season.
"He turned himself into an elite player in the TSL competition just from his mental attitude and really impressed with how he did that as a person," Warren said.
"Unfortunately he might have gotten more recognition if he hadn't have had the injury but also the way he came back from injury and held himself through that time he was injured was fantastic."
Sanders was one of five Tasmanians invited to the draft's combine alongside Sam Banks, Tyler McGinnis, Baker Smith and Will Splann, while North-West talent Baynen Lowe also took part in the testing.
Launceston key-position player Zach Morris has also gained recruiters' interest after winning the Tasmania Devils' best and fairest, while runner-up Lowe is someone who Warren rates highly.
However, the state's "gold-medal chance" at getting drafted looks to sit with Banks, who was gaining interest from recruiters at an early age.
Warren, who coached the Clarence product at an under-15 and 16 level, spoke highly of the defender-midfielder as a person.
"Talking to recruiters the year they came over ... they just said what a great person [he is]," Warren said.
"That's the thing, talent only gets you so far I always say, the rest of it is made up on how you hold yourself and he's the best I've seen - just as a person and his football talks the rest."
The rookie draft follows the two-night main event, with Collingwood recommitting to Launceston's Isaac Chugg and North Launceston product Jay Lockhart tipped to get an AFL lifeline with Greater Western Sydney.
TASSIE NOMINEES
Tony Aganas (Launceston), Hamish Allan (Sturt, North Hobart), Sam Banks (Tasmania Devils, Clarence), Levi Casboult (Carlton), Isaac Chugg (Collingwood), Sam Collins (Oakleigh Chargers, NH), Oliver Davis (Adelaide SANFL, C'nce), Logan Elphinstone (Devils, Wynyard), Samuel Foley (L'ton), Darcy Gardner (C'nce), Bailey Gillow (L'ton), Harrison Gunther (Glenorchy), Matt Hanson (Werribee, South Launceston/Western Storm), Noah Holmes (C'nce), Brandon Leary (North Launceston), Jay Lockhart (Melbourne/NL), Baynen Lowe (Devils/Devonport), Austin Maynard (George Town), Tyler McGinnis (NH), George McLeod (Devils/NH), Jye Menzie (NH), Zach Morris (L'ton), Mitchell O'Neill (South Adelaide/NH), Keegan Ryan (Devils/NH), Oliver Sanders (Devils/NL), Baker Smith (Devils/C'nce), Will Splann (Devils/NH), Michael Stingel (NL), Sam Tilley (Lauderdale), Fraser Turner (South Adelaide/C'nce), Dominic White (Devils/NH)
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
