Tasmanian football Icon Peter Hudson 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.
Peter Hudson'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 the Casey Scorpions at Bellerive Oval this Saturday 22nd July.
In selecting these great Tasmanian players Peter has considered over 50 years of football history in the State. Some of the players to be nominated include:
* Early years - Rex Garwood, John Leedham.
* New Norfolk years - Roger Browning, Trevor Leo.
* Hawthorn / VFL years - Darrel Baldock, Royce Hart and Ian Stewart amongst many other Tasmanian champions of the 1960sand early 1970s.
* Glenorchy years - Robbie Dykes, Daryl Sutton, Rodney Eade.
* Coaching and observing the statewide and national competitions in the period since 1980 - Darrin Pritchard and Scott Wade.
* A full list of the 29 Tasmanian greats and the Tasmanian Devils player who will be recognised by wearing the Tasmanian guernsey are attached.
* Peter Hudson did not select himself but he has been included in the list by AFL Tasmania.
In selecting the 29 players Peter Hudson 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.
Peter Hudson 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 Peter Hudson 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 Peter Hudson in former Hobart rover Burnie Payne. Tasmanian Devils captain Ben Beams was on hand to receive the No.13 guernsey from Burnie Payne for the weekend's game.
Young stars Mitch Thorp (who will wear the No.17 allocated to Brent Crosswell) and Jack Reiwoldt (No.4 of Royce Hart) were also on hand to see their guernseys for the first time.
Other special alignments for mention include:
No.1 - Darrel Baldock to be worn by Nathan Street.
No. 2 - Scott Wade to be worn by his son Mathew Wade.
No.3 - Tassie Johnson to be worn by Nathan Grima.
No.5 - Ian Stewart to be allocated to Ian Callinan.
No.14 - Rodney Eade to be worn by Sam Fielding.
No.26 - Peter Hudson to be allocated to Trent Bartlett.
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:
Shayne Stevenson Promotions Manager - 0416 099 924
Daniel Smedley Assistant General Manager - 0418 114 414
Attached are the 30 Devils Players "aligned" jumpers
Last Modified on 20/07/2006 04:05