Hawks

Hawthorn and the Tasmanian government have now been in a sponsorship relationship for the last four years and during this time the partnership has been beneficial for both parties.

As reported in the Mercury on March the 10th Hawthorn now has 7338 Tasmanian members with the lofty aim of gaining 10,000 before the year is out. 16% of Hawthorn members are Tasmanian and York Park has given the Hawks a real home ground advantage.

Tasmania has in turn benefitted in the way of Tourism Dollars and jobs. A government media release has the Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne stating:

We now welcome more than one million visitors a year to Tasmania and a good number of these are coming to watch the footy at Aurora Stadium. The Hawthorn partnership supports up to 300 Tasmanian full-time jobs and generates $15 million worth of economic impact each year – terrific for Tasmania and a great endorsement for AFL football.

Ex premier Paul Lennon has also stated in an article in the Mercury that Hawthorn have now reached their saturation point in the state and they have a firm standing in the north.  The only other way for Tasmania to expand its interest into the AFL was for another team to play games in the south of the state at Bellerive Oval.

Mr Lennon said:

I have always argued this is the logical next step along the way to getting our own team and I still think that is some way off, waiting for our own team in Tasmania is one thing but being pig-headed in that and not looking at an opportunity that exists now is stupid in policy terms.

On the back of all this Richmond have considered playing games at Bellerive as Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has put a proposal to the board to play two games at Bellerive from next year.  Essendon have also raised interest in Tasmania but only as an away team.  Essendon’s CEO Ian Robson knows the impact of the Tasmanian/Hawthorn deal first hand while at being at Hawthorn for five years before joining the Bombers.

All this could be good timing as the Tasmanian Government go into negotiations with Hawthorn on the future of the sponsorship deal.

As much AFL football as possible should be played in the state if we are serious about one day having our own team.  It would not only lift the standard of local competitions but would give us as a position to learn from the clubs that play at the elite level and show the AFL that Tasmanian’s can consume more than four games a year.

AFL TAS

With the 2010 football season under way, I thought I would recap on the happenings at the top-level in Tasmanian footy.

Tasmania AFL bid

Andrew Demetriou talks about the future of the AFL and the outlook past the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney and that future expansion is almost a certainty.

He stated:

You could be talking about Tasmania being entrenched in the competition and another team in Western Australia. I just know that it (the AFL) won’t look like it does today.

This statement was in relation to the AFL circa 2030. Read the article – Further expansion potential ‘limitless’: Demetriou

Hawks in Tasmania

Hawk’s great Robert DiPierdomenico has called on the Hawthorn football club to extend its deal with the Tasmanian government saying it’s a win/win for both the state and club.

He also stated that the AFL is keeping a close eye on how state football was working.  Read the Article – Hawks great wants Tassie deal to continue

The Hawks might have to look out as Essendon’s chief executive officer and managing director and also Tasmanian born Ian Robson has stated that Essendon would welcome an opportunity to play games in Tasmania.  Robson who was with Hawthorn last year and has seen the opportunities in the Tasmanian market.  Read article – Essendon sees state as lucrative football market

The Wizz and Wacko Jacko

A  faction from the Kermandie football club recruited ex-AFL players Mark “Wacko Jacko” Jackson and Warwick Capper in effort to save the club from the wilderness and make sure the clubs 127 year history continues.

Even with the two high-profile signing the club was still not able to draw enough players to training to field two team in the upcoming 2010 season.  Martin Flanagan wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald

TSL Board -V- Clubs

The 10 Tasmanian Statewide Clubs were not represented on the AFL Tasmania board, so to get some representation at the top-level, they have empowered ex Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon to represent them at the board level.

This came about by the board wanting to scrap the reserves competition from the state-wide format and have the clubs run that competition themselves.  Having no representation at the top-level meant that decisions were being made without input from the clubs, who were being effected directly.

In conclusion a lot has happened in the months leading up to this years season, probably more so than any other year.  Stepping stone, pathways and clubs need to be preserved in our state.  Players need to develop but it seems if you are not in elite company when you are a 15-17 year old then you might find it hard to find a  way to progress.

The Teams are as follows:

ACA Johnnie Walker Four-day Team of the Year in batting order is:
Ed Cowan (TAS), Phillip Hughes (NSW), Michael Klinger (SA - vice-captain), George Bailey (TAS - Captain), Usman Khawaja (NSW), Steven Smith (NSW), Chris Hartley (QLD), John Hastings (VIC), Ben Cutting (QLD), Trent Copeland (NSW), Peter George (SA), 12th man: David Hussey (VIC)

George Bailey  has had a fantastic year in his first year as the Tigers captain and was rewarded by being made captain of both the four-day and one day teams.  He was also selected to tour with the National team in New Zealand in the absence of Michael Clarke.

In Ed Cowans  first year as a Tiger, he cemented his spot in the starting 11 with some high scores including a huge 225 against South Australia and finishing the season proper on top of the leading run scorer list for the series.

ACA Johnnie Walker One-day Team of the Year in batting order is:
Michael Klinger (SA), Phillip Jaques (NSW), Bradley Hodge (VIC - vice-captain), George Bailey (TAS - Captain), Lee Carseldine (QLD), Travis Birt (TAS), Matthew Wade (VIC), John Hastings (VIC), Xavier Doherty (TAS), Ben Cutting (QLD), Nathan Rimmington (QLD), 12th man: Daniel Christian (SA)

On top of his four-day form George Bailey also excelled in the one-day version by finishing the season as the second highest run scorer and by captaining the successful Tigers team in the Ford Ranger Cup.

Travis Birt finished the season the fifth highest run scorer with the second best average for the season.  He also made his international Twenty20 debut against  Pakistan.

Finishing the season with 20 wickets Xavier Doherty ended up with the most wickets for the Ford Ranger Cup series. 

ACA Johnnie Walker Interstate Twenty20 Team of the Year in batting order is:
Shaun Marsh (WA), David Warner (NSW), Bradley Hodge (VIC - Captain), Tim Paine (TAS), Kieron Pollard (SA), James Hopes (QLD), Chris Simpson (QLD - vice-captain), Daniel Christian (SA), Aaron Heal (WA), John Hastings (VIC), Shaun Tait (SA), 12th man Brad Knowles (WA)

Tim Paine was the sole Tiger in the Twenty20 team with a series strike rate of 207.  A solid season for Tasmania in all forms of the game.   Australian one-day representative and centurian and a match defining century in the Ford Ranger Cup final would have made this season one to remember for Paine. 

As for individual awards go, Brad Hodge won the Ford Ranger Cup Player of the Series award with 24 points followed by the Tasmanian duo of George Bailey (20) & Travis Birt (16).  Pakistani import Rana Naved was only two points off the winners of the Twenty20 Big Bash Player of the Series award which was shared between South Australian import Kieron Pollard & David Warner from New South Wales who polled 12 votes each.

George Bailey

Tasmanian Cricket captain George Bailey was chosen to replace the embattled Michael Clarke for the rest of the Chappell-Hadlee series being played in New Zealand.

Bailey who was in preparation for the Tigers last shield game of the season when he got the call up, has not played at international level but is prepared to take any opportunity with both hands.

The call up comes off the back of a terrific Ford Ranger cup season. 538 runs at an average of 59.78 which includes one century and five half centuries. Bailey’s form had a lot to do with the Tigers capturing their fourth Ford Ranger Cup championship, it was also Bailey’s first year as Captain.

George Bailey media conference on the Cricket Australia website

The timing is a little bit off for the Tasmanian as the last ODI against New Zealand will be played on Saturday the 13th of March with Bailey’s Deccan Chargers playing their first IPL game for season 2010 less than 24 hours later.

Image by addynapper

 This victory gives Tasmania four titles in Australia’s one-day domestic competition, the first being in 1978/79 and the last three being within the last six seasons.

 A lot has been said about Victoria’s missing star’s in Captain Cameron White, David Hussey and Dirk Nannes who were all on international duties but fail to recognise that Tasmania were without Brett Geeves and Ben Hilfenhouse who are both injured and Ricky Ponting who was resting from international duties.

 It has also been suggested that Victoria lost the final by dropping  Tasmania opener Michael Dighton on 9 and 42 as he went on to score 80. But no credit should be lost on The Tigers who batted and bowled brilliantly.

 Along with Michael Dighton’s 80, Tim Paine played a calculated innings by scoring a century and steering Tassies innings.  When wickets did fall Ed Cowan stepped up to carve out 61 runs from 66 balls and together with Lockyear, Kreja and Marsh managed to get the score over the 300 mark.

 On the bowling front Jason Kreja opened and was hugely economical putting pressure on the batsmen for the other bowlers to take advantage of, Gerard Denton taking the most with five.

Tassie Tigers

Catches win matches and Western Australia dropped any chance of playing in this seasons Ford Ranger Cup match, while Travis Birt secured a spot for the Tigers.
Chasing 232 for victory the Tigers were given multiple chances by the Warriors. Luke Ronchi dropped Tim Paine on eight and he went on to score a half century. Mitch Marsh dropped two catches in the outfield, but it was an unbeaten 93 by Travis Birt that steered the Tigers to victory by five wickets, with a ball to spare and gave them a Ford Ranger Cup berth.
One question remained and that was were the final was to be played and that came down to the game between Victoria and Queensland at the GABBA. The winner would host the final and if the game was washed out then Tasmania would be the host.
A bruising 136 not out by Brad Hodge sealed the win for Victoria and cementing a home final for the Bushrangers.
The final will be played this Sunday the 28th February at the MCG and will be telecast on Fox Sports 503 starting at 2pm.

Travis Birt

Birt’s inclusion came due to his heavy hitting and good performances in the Australian domestic Twenty20 competition, playing a total of 22 games at an average of 23.25 and with a strike rate of 132.48. 

Andrew Keyte wrote an article for the SportsAustralia web site stating that we are seeded below Bangledesh for the upcoming world cup and that was due to playing our one-day squad in Twenty20 matches when more enthuses should be placed on playing specialists. Tim Paine was the only Tasmanian to make his hypothetical team. 

The popularity of this form of the game has forced us to start picking specialist players. The dollars, the Indian dominance over world cricket affairs and sportsbetting will rule in the end. 

Birt has now had a chance and was dismissed for one, let hope he gets another go and makes the squad for the upcoming World cup.

Tassie Sports

This weeks Tasmanian related sports news:

• Water Skiers fall just short – The Mercury
• Cyclist Will Clarke interview – Daily Peleton
• Tasmania to host 2011 Adventure Racing World Championships – Government Media Release
• Matt Goss compared to Stuart O’Grady – Cycling News
• Tim Paine makes Andrew Keyte’s Twenty20 world cup squad – Sports Australia
• Extended Bushrangers squad for match against Tassie – Sportal

#47 Little Debbie Toyota Camry image: jdanvers

I found this article on the Fayetteville Observer web site, which states factors which have gone into making Marcos Ambrose’s introduction into Nascar racing could not have gone any smoother.  Here’swhy;

• He has two V8 supercars championships & has a NASCAR Nationwide Series event victory.
• Being 33 years old with experience & success on his side could give him another 15 years in the sport.
• He drives for a young and fully fundedracing team – JTG Daugherty Racing.
• In his first full Sprint Cup season, he finished higher in points than established stars such as Kevin Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Elliott Sadler and Bobby Labonte.
• Has had  five top-5 finishes

On season 2009 and on the upcoming season Ambrose stated:

I needed to do something like to make a stance in the sport. I wanted to make an impression so I had a job. Two-thousand-nine was all about looking good; 2010 is all about converting that into success.

Season 2010 starts next week for Ambrose when he starts practice and qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 14.

The games to be played are as follows: 

1.  Thursday 28 January- 7pm
2.  Saturday 30 January- 5pm
3.  Sunday 31 January- 7pm

Hockey Australia Chief Executive Mark Anderson stated the reason’s behind offer the three game series to Tasmania: 

One of our key objectives is to ensure the exposure of our sport across Australia. It is important that Tasmania has exposure to our elite teams and we are aware that it has been a long time since the State had the opportunity to host the Kookaburras. These Test matches offer sports lovers in Tasmania a tremendous opportunity to see one of Australia’s most successful sporting teams live and we would encourage spectators to make the most of the series. 

This test series will give  Beijing Olympian, Tasmanian Eddie Ockenden his first international on home soil. Ockenden’s profile has soared after being chosen last month in the World Hockey All Star team.  

Ticket prices:(no concessions) 

Daily tickets available at the gate on the night or available from the Tasmanian Hockey Center or Golding and Son Jeweller in Hobart (cnr Mall & Liverpool St)

 

Seat $15 – Seat seasons pass $40

Adult daily $10 – Adult seasons pass $20

Child daily $5 – Child seasons pass $10

Family daily $25 – Family seasons pass $60

 

 

 The Hero Honda Hockey world Cup starts February 28th in New Dehli. 

Eddie Ockenden

Photo by Will Ockenden.