TASSIE STAR ENDS 33-YEAR LARKE WAIT

Brendan Rhodes

Highly-rated midfielder Ryley Sanders has become just the second Tasmanian to win the Larke Medal after dominating in the Allies’ undefeated run to their inaugural AFL National Under-18 Championships title.

Sanders, 18, joins Paul Williams, who won the medal in 1990 before going on to play 306 games for Collingwood and Sydney including the Swans’ drought-breaking 2005 premiership, as the only Apple Islanders to be named player of the carnival in Division 1, while he is the first member of the composite team to win.

The North Launceston product racked up a whopping 143 disposals across the four matches at an average of 35.8 a game and a disposal efficiency of 80.4 per cent, adding 14.5 contested possessions, 6.3 marks, 5.0 clearances, 4.0 tackles and 5.8 inside-50s a game while also booting four goals.

Sanders polled 25 votes to beat fellow Tasmanian and Allies teammate Colby McKercher (20).

Votes were awarded by a panel chaired by AFL Talent Ambassador Kevin Sheehan and including AFL National Academy coach Tarkyn Lockyer and AFL recruiters Adrian Caruso (GWS),

Larke Medallists

2023 Ryley Sanders (Allies)

2022 Will Ashcroft (VM)

2020-21 Cancelled due to COVID

2019 Deven Robertson (WA)

2018 Sam Walsh (VC)

2017 Oscar Allen (WA)

2016 Jack Graham (SA)

2015 Josh Schache (VC)

2014 Christian Petracca (VM)

2013 Dom Sheed (WA)

2012 Lachie Whitfield (VC)

2011 Stephen Coniglio (WA)

2010 Harley Bennell (WA)

2009 D avid Swallow (WA) Andrew Hooper (VC)

2008 Jack Watts (VM)

2007 Cale Morton (WA)

2006 Tom Hawkins (VM)

2005 Marc Murphy (VM)

2004 Jesse Smith (VM)

2003 Kepler Bradley (WA)

2002 Byron Schammer (SA)

2001 Sam Power (VM) Steven Armstrong (WA)

2000 Kayne Pettifer (VC)

1999 Paul Hasleby (WA)

1998 Garth Taylor (WA)

1997 Tim Finocchiaro (VM)

Kade Nanscawen (Gold Coast), David McMullin (Fremantle) and Stephen Wells (Geelong).

He played in the Coates Talent League for Tasmania Devils in 2021 before moving to Melbourne and joining Sandringham Dragons, where he played in last year’s premiership and has averaged 31.3 disposals in three games this year while also playing both matches for the AFL Academy against state league opposition.

He picked up 20 disposals (eight contested) and six tackles against Port Adelaide Magpies and 24 touches (six contested) and six inside-50s against Carlton’s VFL team.

Sanders takes over the title of reigning Larke medallists from Brisbane Lions star Will Ashcroft, while the previous winners include a who’s who of future AFL stars (see table right).

The Allies’ strength was shown in the fact that neither Sanders nor McKercher claimed their team’s MVP award, with that honour going to Albury’s Connor O’Sullivan, who plays for the Murray Bushrangers. Willunga’s Sid Draper, the brother of Collingwood player Arlo, was named South Australia’s MVP, with Claremont’s Daniel Curtin claiming Western Australia’s honour, East Brighton’s Oliver Murphy – another Dragon – taking out the Victoria Metro award.

The favourite for the NAB AFL Draft No. 1 pick, Tongala star Harley Reid, will return to Bendigo Pioneers with the Victoria Country MVP award tucked away in his kitbag.