THE TSL roster is out but the Christmas Grinch has struck with no interstate game scheduled for 2018

TASMANIA’S best TSL football players have been stripped of an interstate game next season and here’s why.

TASMANIA’S best TSL football players have been stripped of an interstate game next season and here’s why.

The NEAFL does not want to play Tasmania next year.

That means the full-round bye mid-season has disappeared from the TSL roster, released today, and the season will finish a week earlier than normal, now two weeks before the AFL grand final.

AFL Tasmania said it was left with no other options for an interstate rival.

“Unfortunately there won’t be representative football next year with the NEAFL opting not to participate,” said TSL Manager Carl Saunder.

“We are disappointed as we see a lot of value in representing the competition and the map.

“But we will continue dialogue with the NEAFL for future years.”

TSL fans were given early Christmas present with the delivery of next year’s roster packed with gifts.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE 2018 TSL FIXTURE

Good Friday will be a great Friday, with three games scheduled to kick off the 2018 season.

Former North Hobart assistant-coach Trent Baumeler faces as baptism of fire as the Tigers’ new coach, facing the Demons in the opening round.

North Launceston will unfurl the premiership flag with a home game against cross-town rival Launceston.

It is the first of three meetings between the cross-town rivals with both clubs expected to be right in the premiership reckoning, in 2018.

There will be no Silent Night for the first four rounds, with six games scheduled to be played under lights.

The Anzac Day tradition continues for the Tigers and Glenorchy on Anzac Day to kick off round five, the next week TSL fans will see the Grand Final rematch between North Launceston and Lauderdale.

Old enemies Clarence and Glenorchy meet three times, with their second clash in Round 13 for the Bingley-Linton Cup.

North Launceston will again play a game to Invermay Park, hosting Devonport at the venue for the second consecutive season, in round 14.

Glenorchy has a later start to the season with a bye first up and Lauderdale finish their season with the bye for the second year in a row.

Just as the season starts with rivalry it finishes with it, with four fierce rivalries in round 21.

“Rivalry is a big thing in football and we kick the season off with strong rivalry and we finish the home and away season the same way,” Saunder said.

“Night footy takes centre stage early in the season, which is fantastic, and we have the continuation of tradition with Tigers and Glenorchy on Anzac Day and the Stay Chatty Cup between the Eastern shore rivals in round 10.”

The finals series will take place a week earlier than 2017, with the preliminary final and grand final to be hosted at Blundstone Arena, with UTAS Stadium out of action for resurfacing.

“We have brought our finals series forward which will see us avoid AFL preliminary pinal day and will help to maximise our grand final attendance. It also assists Tasmanian Football Awards to take place prior to the AFL Grand Final,” Saunder said.

The TSL fixture avoids AFL games in the south and north of the state with no head to head, in-region clashes.

“Pleasingly we have avoided direct clashes with AFL matches in-region, which sounds easier than it is to co-ordinate. It is a fantastic outcome for the competition and the two AFL clubs in the state as it enables everyone to get along and enjoy both competitions,” Sauder said.

The fixtures for the Wrest Point TSL Women’s and Mercury Cup competitions will also be released in the coming days.