Tasmanian football Icon Darrel Baldock has selected 29 great Tasmanian players for recognition as part of the AFL Tasmania and Tasmanian Devils "Heritage Day" promotion this weekend. The list of greats and further details of the Heritage Day initiative were announced at a media conference today.
Darrel Baldock's 29 great Tasmanian footballers are all players that he has seen, played with or against or coached.
To coincide with this initiative, the Tasmanian Devils will wear the traditional `map' style Tasmanian guernsey against reigning VFL premier Sandringham at Aurora Stadium this Saturday 7th July.
In selecting these great Tasmanian players Darrel has considered over 40 years of football history in the State. Some of the players to be nominated include:
* East Devonport years - Graeme Lee and Lyndsay Webb.
* St.Kilda / VFL years - Peter Hudson, Royce Hart, Ian Stewart and John Greening amongst many other Tasmanian champions of the 1960s.
* Latrobe years - Bob Jones and Rod Butler.
* Coaching and observing many great players within Tasmania - Brian Yost, Len Hayes, Barry Strange, Colin Moore, Jack Rough and Graeme Shephard.
* A full list of the 29 Tasmanian greats and the Tasmanian Devils player who will be recognised by wearing the Tasmanian guernsey are attached.
* Darrel Baldock did not select himself but he has been included in the list by AFL Tasmania.
In selecting the 29 players Darrel Baldock was at pains to point out that he could have readily selected another 30 players of the same quality and standing in Tasmanian football, such is the talent that has come out of the State during his time in the game.
Darrel Baldock said:
I am pleased to be able to assist and commend AFL Tasmania and the Tasmanian Devils for undertaking the Heritage Day initiative.
It should be an exciting and proud day for all Tasmanian Devils players who pull on the famous Tasmanian `map' guernsey on Saturday to represent the state in the colours that have been made famous by generations of great Tasmanian footballers.
"Of course in selecting a list of 29 great Tasmanians the difficulty is always that you will leave many other great players out.
"There is little doubt in my mind that Tasmanian football has easily outshone all other states on a per capita basis in producing high quality VFL / AFL players.
"It would be readily possible to select another 30 great Tasmanians from my lifetime watching, playing and coaching the game.
AFL Tasmania also provided details today on an opportunity for Devils and Tasmania supporters to purchase the unique football guernseys either framed or unframed. The guernseys will include a certificate of authenticity that outlines the career of the great player selected by Darrel Baldock and also the Tasmanian Devils player who is recognised by being allocated the guernsey for Heritage Day.
In this regard, today's media conference has been attended by one of the greats selected by Darrel Baldock in former Latrobe player Rod Butler and Bob Jones and fellow 1966 All Australian, Graeme Lee. Tasmanian Devils players Adam Derbyshire, Sam Whish-Wilson and Zane Littlejohn were on hand to receive their Guernseys for the weekend's game.
Other special alignments for mention include:
No.1 - Darrel Baldock to be worn by aspiring draftee Tom Collier.
No. 2 - Graeme Lee to be worn by Launceston player Scott Stephens.
No.4 - Barry Strange to be worn by Glenorchy stalwart Ben Careless.
No.6 - Royce Hart to be worn by fellow Clarence player Brett Geappen.
No.10 - Verdun Howell to be allocated to Kangaroos No.3 Draft pick - Lachlan Hanson.
No.11 - Peter Hudson to be worn by full-forward Adam Derbyshire.
No.13 - Arthur Hodgson to be worn by Ulverstone player Sam Whish-Wilson.
No.23 - Don Gale to be worn by dynamic small Jason Howard.
No.28 - Brian Yost to be allocated to Launceston key position player Brennan Savage.
AFL Tasmania advised that the "Heritage Game" will be an annual feature of the game day program of promotions for the Tasmanian Devils. In the coming seasons other Icons and Legends of Tasmanian football will be invited to make their selection of 30 great Tasmanian players.
For more information please contact:
Daniel Smedley Assistant General Manager - 0418 114 414
Bob Jones Latrobe great - 6426 1754
Rod Butler Latrobe great - 6426 2289 or 6428 4116
Graeme Lee Tasmanian great - 0419 310 736
ENDS
Last Modified on 22/02/2008 13:26