2025 Tasmanian Netball League season extended following feedback from clubs

After trialling a reduced fixture in 2024, Netball Tasmania is set to extend the length of the TNL season in 2025. Here’s why.

Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson is confident more state league netball next season will continue to develop the Tasmania’s best young players in the hopes of fostering more elite level talent.

It was revealed earlier this month that the 2025 TNL season would consist of a 21-round home and away fixture after a reduced roster of just 14 rounds this season.

Brought about largely due to the feedback of clubs, the increased fixture means teams will play each other three times across the course of the season, with each also having three byes.

It also means the much maligned early-season break for the national tournament would also now fall in roughly the middle point of the season.

Set to kick off in February before wrapping up in July ahead of finals, Coulson said the change was made following feedback from clubs that they would prefer a return to a longer season with all in favour.

Netball Tasmania CEO Mitch Coulson Picture: Linda Higginson

“It was predominantly driven by all the feedback from clubs and players,” Coulson said.

“We didn’t see anyone really strongly against it and certainly in terms of the strongest voices, they were absolutely for it. I think from a high performance perspective as well, sometimes it is a bit of a juggle to fit everything in (if you’re also playing for our state representative teams).

“But our own high performance team would say that more minutes at TNL level is ultimately very beneficial for those athletes.”

Speaking to this masthead back in June, Devon coach Helen Payne spoke openly about her desire for the season to be extended despite it meaning more travel for the competition’s only northwest coast side.

While dates and official fixturing is still being worked through, Coulson revealed the league would hold an AFL-type ‘Opening Round’ next season with all games set to be played at Launceston’s Silverdome.

“We want to make it a regular fixture on the calendar,” he said.

“It probably gives us additional benefits in terms of promotion and kicking the year off with a bang and fans being able to watch all our teams in one location.”

While its inaugural edition was locked in for the state’s north, Coulson said they would be open to it becoming a rotating location to also include Hobart and Devonport.