North Launceston coach backs bigger crowds at TSL games as long as deemed safe by health authorities

More people should get to enjoy the craft and skill of the TSL’s reigning premier – but coach Taylor Whitford says only when it is safe to boost crowd sizes.

Football. Tasmanian State League. North Hobart V North Launceston. Fans in the Roy Cazaly Stand. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

• Rampaging Jobi Harper almost missed Launceston’s win over Glenorchy – and the Magpies wish he did
• Hell of a day for Demons as North Launceston warms up for another TSL flag

NORTH Launceston has backed an increase in crowd numbers at TSL games from the current COVID-19 restriction of 500 to 1250 as soon as Public Health deems it safe.

TSL club North Hobart was allowed to raise the limit to 1250 as a milestone public gathering experiment for its match against North Launceston at North Hobart Oval on Saturday.

It had mixed reviews.

Public Health officials policing the day, which will help form a blueprint for the easing of COVID-19 crowd limits at sporting and community venues around Tasmania, said the club had to be tougher on enforcing social distancing.

Northern Bombers coach Taylor Whitford said his club would like bigger crowds at their home ground UTas Stadium, if the circumstances say it is safe.

The TSL’s reigning premier has sold out every home game so far this season under the 500-people limit.

Ideally, North Launceston would like extra numbers for its next home game _ a TSL blockbuster against its grand final opponent of the past three years, Lauderdale on Saturday-week.

“We would like more people to come to our games as long as it is sustainable and safe to do so,” Whitford said.

“I thought it went well at North Hobart – they had plenty of volunteers out there before the game organising people

“So as long as it’s safe and we get the recommendation from the health department I’m all for it.”

Whitford thought North Hobart Football Club did well running the experimental day.

“North Hobart was really good in communicating nice and early about what we had to do and what was involved. It was pretty seamless,” Whitford said.

North Hobart president Craig Martin said the majority of the 621 people at the game observed the COVID-19 rules and social restrictions, but it was not perfect.

“There were aspects they [Public Health] were impressed with, but there were aspects to do with social distancing, people standing up in wet areas that they weren’t, and we will take that feedback on board and look at it in the future,” he said.

It will be back to the 500 limit for North Hobart’s match against the Tigers at North Hobart Oval at 7pm tomorrow night.