Tasmanian representative coach Mav Weller talks selection, plans

Unveiling the 23 players who will don the map, the 123-game, three-club AFL player detailed what it meant to play for the state.

"It comes with a responsibility and an expectation that you'll sacrifice your personal gain for the betterment of the team," Weller said.

"There's non-negotiables in contest, physicality and playing to win and along with that, you've just got to play your game as well - just let it rip on offence, attack the game and play exciting footy.

"That's the expectation that we have on our players."

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The side features seven Kingborough players as well five from North Launceston and three from cross-town rivals Launceston.

Rocherlea's Jordan Cousens is the sole NTFA representative and is one of two from outside the Tasmanian State League, with former Gold Coast Sun Luke Russell selected from Penguin in the NWFL.

"Luke has played 80 games of AFL so he brings a wealth of experience, he's an exceptional offensive player, he's a good size and I think he grasps the concepts really quickly," Weller said.

"Jordan's a ripper, he's a bit of a unicorn I suppose in the position that he plays. He's taller, he's got instant speed and he can kick the ball 60 metres on his left.

"So we think those players are going to add to the group really nicely because overall I think we are probably a bit shorter around the midfield but we've got some guys on the outside that have some size and with the way that we want to play, I think they will complement the rest of the guys nicely."

Weller estimates he's watched "about 30" games of the QAFL in order to decipher how their opposition might play.

The side will feature several former AFL players in 2017 premiership player Jacob Townsend and former Tiger Will Martyn.

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"Traditionally Queensland play a free-flowing quick, offensive-style game that relies on intercept marks and slingshot that way. We think that the conditions and the way that we want to play will match that nicely but they are pretty strong on paper," Weller said.

For the coach, the focus so far has been on establishing the Tasmanian style of play.

However, he admits they will "tap into" some historic Tasmanian matches - including the famous 1990 win over Victoria at North Hobart Oval.

"We've got a couple of special videos to show the boys and to just to show them what it means," he said.

"We reached out to the ex-Tasmanians that play in the AFL and they were only too happy to share an insight of what it meant to play for the map, so that's really exciting.

"Matthew Richardson, Jack Riewoldt, Mitch Robinson and Alastair Lynch, there's some big names there, some Hall of Famers and I think it just adds that special touch and emotionally engages so we're really looking forward to to them running out and creating their own piece of history."

TASMANIAN MEN'S SIDE

B: #15 Jack Avent (North Launceston), #4 Ben Donnelly (Kingborough), #14 Josh McGuinness (Lauderdale)

HB: #16 Luke Russell (Penguin), #18 Jamieson House (Launceston), #6 Elijah Reardon (Kingborough)

C: #11 Jordan Cousens (Rocherlea), #5 Lachlan Clifford (Kingborough), #17 Tyler McGinniss (North Hobart)

HF: #8 James Webb (Kingborough), #3 Sam Siggins (Lauderdale), #7 Eddie Cole (Kingborough)

F: #2 Jake Hinds (Launceston), #21 Jack Tomkinson (Kingborough), #1 Brad Cox-Goodyer (North Launceston)

FOLL: #20 Alex Lee (North Launceston), #23 Brodie Palfreyman (Launceston), #9 Kieran Lovell (Kingborough)

INT: #13 Josh Arnold (Glenorchy), #19 Baxter Norton (Clarence), #10 Ben Simpson (North Launceston), #25 Bryce Walsh (Lauderdale), #22 Brandon Leary (North Launceston)

EMG: #12 Bailey Boag (Burnie), #24 Dylan Smith (Burnie)

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