Tassie set to defend wheelchair and inclusion national titles

Two Tasmanian teams are set to defend their national titles, with the state’s inclusion and wheelchair football squads locked in for next month’s Toyota AFL Open in Queensland.

For the first time, the national representative competitions for wheelchair and inclusion football will be held together at the same location as part of the AFL Open. More than 200 players will represent their states and territories across the six-day event, competing for national titles at the South Pine Sports Complex from November 21-26.

For the full fixtures, event information and more, click here.

2023 was a landmark year for both of Tasmania’s disability footy representative sides, with the state’s wheelchair team claiming the Division 2 national title for the first time and the inclusion team winning their first Division 1 national title. The latter was also Tasmania’s first ever title at an open age national football carnival.

13 players from last year’s victorious inclusion side have been named in this year’s squad, including grand final best on ground winner Joel Corbett and All-Australian selections Craig Blaschke, Jordyn Blizzard, Brayden Cowell and Bailey Menzies.

There’s continuity in the wheelchair squad as well, with seven of the nine players in this year’s squad featuring in the 2023 premiership win. Collingwood VWFL stars Josh Christian and Martyn Ford and St Kilda’s Trent Johnson are set to lead from the front once again.

The final two days of the 2024 Toyota AFL Open, on Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th November, will be broadcast live and free with all matches available to be watched via the AFL Play YouTube channel (youtube.com/@AFLPlay) and Kayo Freebies.  

Tasmania Wheelchair playing coach and 2023 premiership captain Josh Christian said: “We’re really looking forward to the tournament. Last year was great winning the Division 2 title, but ultimately we would like to be up there in Division 1.

“This year we have some really good inclusions that will hopefully take us right up there and have us fighting for a premiership in the top division.”

Tasmania Inclusion player and 2023 premiership captain Craig Blaschke said: “This is always something that I look forward to, and it’s especially exciting this year with the chance to defend our title.

“Normally we go over to these carnivals hunting teams, but now we’re the hunted and we’re really looking forward to the challenge.

“To be successful in being selected in this state team and representing Tasmania, it always means the world to me.

“The best thing about our squad is we’re really young, and as the week goes on, we’ve still got a lot of legs to run over the other states.”