I know that Tassie are no longer in the VFL, but this is a sad story.
[quote]TASMANIA'S football fraternity is mourning the loss of one of its most talented young sportsmen.
Matthew Westfield, 26, was killed on Wednesday night when his car and a truck collided on the Midland Highway.
His death has rocked his current club Clarence and former club South Launceston.
It has been a horror month on the state's roads with five fatalities in 10 days - and a trailbike rider was killed in the North-West.
[b]Westfield will be remembered for one VFL match last year when he crashed into the goal post at Bellerive Oval, snapping it off at the base.[/b]
He played eight VFL games with the Devils.
South Launceston president Baden Haywood said Westfield was an "icon" to the club, where he began as a junior and in 1999 played in an NTFL premiership at just 16.
He was a Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder in 2000 and his leadership qualities were evident early when he was appointed captain of the state U-16 side.
The versatile utility player won the Darrel Baldock Medal in 2006 and he finished equal third for the William Leitch this season.
Clarence president Richard Mulligan said the club was in shock that one of its most popular players had had his life cut short.
Counselling was organised last night for Westfield's teammates, who are busy preparing for next year's new Statewide League.
"We are totally gutted," Mulligan said.
"It's a total tragedy that such a talented young person can be taken away from us at that age.
"It's traumatic and we are looking to make sure players are given some professional support and counselling if needed.
"Matthew was a quiet unassuming person who was . . . one of the most skilful players I've seen.
"He is a tremendous loss to both football and to his family and loved ones."
AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said Westfield's death would rock the entire football community.
"He was terribly unlucky not to be drafted," Wade said.
"He was a player of the highest quality and served club footy in Tasmania very well." [/quote]
I don't have the link, but this was in the Mercury earlier this month. The source is reliable, and I think he may still be a member here, although he hasn't posted for quite some time.
