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There were tears and bowed heads in the Tasmanian changerooms after the interstate slugfest, a classic physical contest won by the Maroons over a wasteful Tasmania 13.7 (85) to 10.14 (74).

But Cresswell reserved an extraordinary broadside aimed squarely at those he felt did not pull their weight.

He felt some rode on the coat-tails of the committed, like Ken Hall, whose superb performance in the midfield won him the Lefroy Medal as the best Tasmanian player on the ground.

It was Tasmania's first interstate match since 1999.

"It's been eight years since we pulled the jumper on, and I just hope the players were hurting as much as we (the coaches), the Tasmanian fans, and the past players who have worn the jumper were," Cresswell said.

"Too many guys take representing Tasmania for granted."

Asked if he thought players were hurt by the loss, he said: "Some were, some weren't.

"I know for a fact that Brett Geappen, Ben Setchell, Matthew Geappen, Trent Bartlett, Ken Hall do respect it and really gave their all for the jumper.

"There's probably a few coming through, the younger generation, who don't know about the history or don't want to know about the history. Maybe we should teach them.

"Maybe that's my job to let them know about the history of Tasmanian football. Let them know what it means to represent their state, that you're not representing your suburb, you're representing your state."

To add salt to the wound, the architect of Queensland's win was Tasmanian Kent Abey, who plays for AFLQ side Morningside.

The former Devil, making his fourth appearance for Queensland, brushed aside four opponents to kick a match-winning five goals and claim the Zane Taylor Medal as the Maroons' best.

"There was extra motivation coming back playing against my home state and against a lot of blokes I used to play with," said the 25-year-old structural engineer.

"I'm a Tasmanian at the end of the day, and I'm proud of it. But I've been up in Queensland for the past four years and I've adopted it as my second home."

Tasmania led by three points at the first change.

It was the switch of Tom Collier from defence to centre half-forward in the second quarter, after the Maroons had booted four unanswered goals to shoot 19 point clear, that helped fire a Tasmanian revival.

His big frame and energy created opportunities.

The Tasmanians moved their running game up a gear and Alex Gilmour, Hall and Nathan Street were the benefactors with goals that put the state within five points at the long break.

Queensland kicked three straight in the third term but Tasmania could not respond until deep into time-on, with a single.

Trailing by 15 points going into the last, Tasmania worked its way to within one point at the 15-minute mark.

Then Clint Watts goaled for the Maroons, followed by Abey's fifth, and it was over.