Lachie Cowan feels the Tassie talent tide is turning.
The young gun defender – Tasmania’s top 2022 draft prospect that could be taken as early as the first round – has seen friends, teammates and opponents give up on their AFL dream at crucial stages of their development, despite having all the traits to make the elite level.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of wasted talent,” Cowan told foxfooty.com.au.
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“People have been told we’re from Tassie and probably not a chance to get drafted, so they sort of give it up when they don’t have to and they’re really good players.
“Even at my local club Devonport, there’s a lot of talent that have gone through there. It was probably around 15 or 16 (years of age) where they just went away and played for local clubs when they could’ve possibly been drafted.
“I can’t really put my finger on that. But just exposure as well I guess, you don’t get as much down in Tassie.”
Cowan, though, senses 2022 could be a landmark year for Tasmanian football – and that‘s not just because the state could be granted its own team soon.
After the 2020 and 2021 seasons were respectively cancelled and severely interrupted due to Covid, the Tasmania Devils had a full NAB League Boys season – and thrived. They finished second on the ladder with an impressive 10-3 record and won through to a preliminary final, in which they lost to eventual runners-up Dandenong by one point. Cowan, who’s been representing his state since Under 12s, labelled it “the best team I‘ve ever played in for Tassie football” and the most tight-knit.
Tassie’s NAB League Girls side showed improvement and finished sixth on the ladder with a 4-5 record, while the boys’ Under 16 national championships side won its three matches against Northern Territory, Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans.
Above all, the momentum and excitement around Tasmania winning a 19th AFL licence has grown. Club presidents will soon meet to vote on whether the next AFL team should be in Tasmania, but the sense is the state’s long wait will finally end before year’s end.
Cowan said “there’s a lot” of excitement around Tasmanian footy and its future. And having a team based on the Apple Isle would provide a firm foundation, to the point where it could persuade doubtful yet talented mid-teenage prospects to continue pursuing an AFL career.
“They’ll have that extra thing to drive for that they’ve got their own team in Tassie. It’ll give them that extra edge,” Cowan said.
Cowan too could prove to be a source of inspiration for aspiring AFL footballers from Tassie.
Only six Tasmanian prospects since 2007 – none since 2018 – have been selected in the first round of a national draft. But Cowan, who’s linked to NSW-based clubs Sydney and GWS that both have multiple late first-round picks, is set to break that trend this year.
A strong and powerful rebounding defender with a long kick and terrific dash – Cowan compares himself to All-Australian Bulldog Bailey Dale – the Devonport product produced a stunning 2022 campaign at all levels he played.
Cowan made the Under 18 All-Australian after averaging 22 disposals and going at 70 per cent by foot in four games for the Allies.
He then became just the third player from a non-Victorian side after St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes (NSW/ACT Rams) and fellow Tasmanian Luke Shackleton to win the NAB League Boys best and fairest award, polling 18 votes to finish equal-first alongside Dandenong’s Taj Campbell-Farrell.
“I didn’t really know what it (the Morrish Medal) was until I got told that I won it and had a look around, but it was an honour. You don’t really play for those things like that, but to be able to get it was just incredible,” Cowan said.
“It was one of my goals this year just to play consistent footy and I feel like I ticked that goal off this season.”
Tom McCallum (Clarence), Seth Campbell (North Launceston/Burnie), Brandon Leary (North Launceston) and Cameron Owen (Clarence) are the other top Tassie-based prospects in this year’s draft mix.
Cowan said his parents, as well as coaches Jeromey Webberley, Jamie Hayward and Sam Lonergan, had all helped him advance to being on the verge of an AFL career.
“I‘ve probably annoyed him with all the questions that I asked him, but he’s been really good for me,” Cowan said of Lonergan.
He said he feels “ready” both physically and mentally for a full-time AFL career, especially after being exposed to senior football in the Tasmanian State League.
“Some of the Melbourne boys might have only played school footy and against people their own age. So being exposed to the bigger bodies and being able to take the hits before getting to AFL is big,” he said.
“If it (getting drafted) happens, it happens. I’ve done everything I could this season, so it’s in the clubs’ hands now.”
Lachie needn’t worry. It’s happening.
But should a Tassie licence get up and a club ultimately allowed to enter into the competition in 2025, the team no doubt would strongly target existing Tasmanian talent to ensure there’s a strong connection and representation from the state.
Asked how appealing the prospect of representing his state at AFL level is, Cowan said: “Down the track, that‘d be unreal to go back home and play for Tassie. I’ve played for Tassie since Under 12s all the way up until NAB League in my draft year. It’d be awesome.“
