The Tasmania Devils talent program celebrated the year that was on Saturday night, with the 2022 Tasmania Devils Awards Night recognising the players that made an impact throughout the year.
2022 was a successful year for the program, with the Devils impressing across the NAB League Boys, NAB League Girls and NAB AFL U16 Development Championships.
NAB League Boys
Jack Riewoldt Medallist (B&F): Liam Jones (Launceston)
Best and Fairest Runner Up: Lachlan Cowan (North Launceston)
Devil of the Year: Joshua Gillow (Launceston)
Best in Finals: Thomas Beaumont (Launceston)
Toby Nankervis Rising Star: Colby McKercher (Launceston)
Brody Mihocek Leading Goalkicker: Brandon Leary
Liam Jones claimed the Jack Riewoldt Medal as the Devils’ NAB League Boys best and fairest, averaging 22 disposals, four inside 50s and four clearances across his 14 games. Jones finished seven votes clear of co-captain and NAB League Team of the Year representative Lachie Cowan.
Lockdown defender Josh Gillow was recognised as ‘Devil of the Year’ for his outstanding campaign. Gillow led the competition for spoils and was rarely beaten, working as a genuine leader in defence.
The Devils enjoyed a strong finals campaign, and Tom Beaumont was recognised as the
side’s best finals player, having averaged 24 disposals, 17 contested possessions, eight
clearances and seven inside 50s across his finals campaign.
Colby McKercher clinched the Toby Nankervis medal as the Devils’ ‘Rising Star’. McKercher dazzled with his speed, highlighted by his second placing in the NAB League for bounces. He played 13 games for the Devils to average 23 disposals, four tackles and four clearances, while also playing two games for the Allies and taking part in the U17 Futures Game on AFL Grand Final day.
Livewire goal sneak Brandon Leary topped the goalkicking charts for the Devils with 29 goals in-season and 33 across the campaign including finals. This return saw Leary kick the most home and away goals in the NAB League competition. Leary enjoyed a big year, playing two games for the Allies and making his VFL debut for North Melbourne.
NAB League Girls
Best and Fairest: Brooke Barwick
Best and Fairest Runner Up: Meghan Gaffney and Georgia Clark
Devil of the Year: Charlie Vandenberg
Rising Star: Priya Bowering (Lauderdale)
Leading Goalkicker: Bellah Parker
Brooke Barwick starred across the 2022 NAB League Girls season and AFLW U18 Championships campaign, named in the All Australian side. Barwick played all nine games for the Devils, averaging 16 disposals, six tackles and four clearances.
Barwick finished two votes clear of Meghan Gaffney and Georgia Clark, who both enjoyed standout seasons. Gaffney averaged 14 disposals and four tackles across the NAB League season before being drafted to the GWS Giants. Clark impressed as a bottom-age player, kicking 13 goals across the season and averaging 15 disposals, four marks and four tackles per game. Clark took the most marks and the second most contested marks in the NAB League.
Charlie Vandenberg has been named ‘Devil of the Year’, averaging seven disposals, three tackles and 20 hitouts per game. Vandenberg broke the record for the most hitouts to advantage in a NAB League Girls match with 14.
Young gun Priya Bowering has taken out the Rising Star award, having turned 15 just this year. Bowering played seven NAB League Girls games to average 16 disposals, six tackles and four clearances, leading the side for contested possessions and clearances per game.
Bellah Parker kicked the most goals for the Devils with 15, finishing second in the NAB League Girls competition. Averaged seven disposals and two marks per game.
U16 Boys
Grant Birchall Medallist (B&F): Oliver De Paoli-Kubank
Best and Fairest Runner Up: Blake Harper
Devil of the Series: Connor Ling (Brighton / Glenorchy)
Coaches Award: Harry McLeod (North Hobart)
Oliver DePaoli-Kubank was crowned the Grant Birchall Medallist as the U16 Best & Fairest, polling 46 votes – two clear of Blake Harper. DePaoli-Kubank, as vice-captain of the team, shone throughout the campaign, named as Tasmania’s MVP, as an All Australian and as the Alan McLean Medallist as the Division 2 Best and Fairest player.
Connor Ling and Harry McLeod were also recognised, winning the ‘Devil of the Series’ and
Coaches Award respectively.
