30 years of the NAB League: 2011 Tassie Mariners

This year the AFL is celebrating the 30-year history of the competition which has produced more AFL and AFLW players than any other in recent decades, the NAB League (formerly TAC Cup).

Tasmania has been involved in the competition in various capacities since 1995, and to celebrate the competition’s milestone, we will take a look back at some of their most notable campaigns over the years.

The Tassie Mariners had limited involvement in the 2011 TAC Cup season, playing just two games as part of the competition. That didn’t stop them from making a huge impact, though, with those two games enough to have many still regarding them as one of the state’s most talented teams.

2010 was the Mariners’ first season under head coach Mathew Armstrong, with the side playing two TAC Cup games and losing both. That proved to be a valuable learning experience, and with an uber-talented squad they entered the following season with high hopes. Those expectations would be well and truly met, with Tasmania earning emphatic wins over both TAC Cup grand finalists. With a combined winning margin of 188 points and only four goals conceded in total, the Mariners served a timely reminder that Tasmania was a footballing force to be reckoned with.

While their first fixture didn’t come until round six of the competition, the Mariners were still able to get the jump on Sandringham at Bellerive Oval. They piled on six goals to none in the first half to bury a Dragons side that would go on to win the premiership, ultimately winning by 73 points. Julian Dobosz booted six goals, while two-time TSL Peter Hudson Medalist Dylan Riley was named best afield. It was a similar story in their second game against eventual runners-up Oakleigh, who were held goalless through the entire game as the Mariners booted 19 majors. Dobosz again kicked six and was well supported by Jake Jenkins with five.

The Mariners would also go on the claim the Division 2 title at that year’s AFL Under 18 Championships, with wins over NSW/ACT, the Northern Territory and Queensland powering them to the title. Tasmania captain John McKenzie claimed the Hunter Harrison Medal as the top player in Division 2, and he was named alongside teammate Brody Mihocek in the All-Australian team.

It was a star-studded Tasmanian squad, with eight players going on to spend time with an AFL club. A pair of tall forwards are among the standouts, with four-time Collingwood leading goalkicker Brody Mihocek (99 games, 161 goals for Collingwood) and Melbourne premiership player (160 games, 341 goals for North Melbourne & Melbourne) both featuring. There has also been AFL success at the other end of the ground, with defenders Jimmy Webster (133 games for St Kilda) and Robbie Fox (64 games with Sydney) also in the squad. A host of the TSL’s biggest names were also there, with the likes of Riley, two-time Alastair Lynch Medal winner Brad Cox-Goodyer and Launceston premiership captain Jobi Harper all playing key roles.