ANALYSIS: Every player movement and new coach in SFL clubs for 2021
A host of big name recruits has Hobart’s coach setting the bar high in 2021 — and he’s not afraid to declare his intentions. See the FULL club by club player movements + coaches’ comments >>
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IN an environment where most coaches roll out the usual cliches and avoid upsetting the apple cart, Hobart coach Alex Gilmour provides a breath of fresh air.
Gilmour — who took the reins at the Tigers last year and took the club from a winless 2019 to an SFL elimination final — has set the bar high for the upcoming season.
And he hasn’t kept the lofty ambitions behind closed doors, even with the competition set to go up another gear based on some of the recruiting.
“To make an elimination final was excellent but we certainly identified a few key areas around the ground we were lacking,” Gilmour said.
“One being height, and a couple of classy players in different positions. We have gone out and addressed that.
“We head into the season with pretty high expectations on how we want to go throughout the year.
“We don’t want to hide that, I’ve said to the coaching group I think a lot sides just say they want to improve in general, we are not going to shy away from the fact we finished in an elimination final last year and we think we’ve added four or five really good recruits.
“Anything outside the top three is a complete failure I think. We need to be pushing for a top three spot to get a double chance and I think we’ve got the list to be able to do it.”
Headlining Hobart’s additions is former Essendon, Burnie and New Norfolk ruckman Jason Laycock, who has been lured out of retirement to lace up the boots again.
Laycock has not played since putting in a best afield effort in New Norfolk’s 2017 grand final win, but Gilmour believes the 36-year-old will be far from a spent force.
“We know as a group the one thing we were lacking last year to go any further than we did was a ruckman who was able to tap the ball to our midfielders.
“We have gone and got one of the best, whether he can still do it and his body can hold up remains to be seen but all the signs are great so far.
“He is really keen to ruck and he’s lifted his intensity around our match simulation stuff the last three or four sessions.”
Elsewhere reigning premier Huonville has been bolstered by the addition of former Clarence skipper Brady Jones and the returning Jack Philp, while the loss of spearhead Josh Fox at Cygnet is softened by Ryan Wiggins joining his former Lauderdale teammate Thor Boscott.
New Norfolk will see several familiar faces back in an Eagles top as it looks to regain its throne, while Lindisfarne is also expected to be firmly in the mix again.
The SFL season kicks off Godd Friday with Huonville hosting Dodges Ferry, Brighton heading to Sorell, Hobart and Cygnet meeting at the TCA and New Norfolk welcoming Claremont to Boyer.
SFL 2021 CLUB BY CLUB GUIDE
BRIGHTON
Coach: Jacob Howard
Captains: Connor Salter & Joel Millhouse
2020 finish: 7th
Gains: Sam Lewis-Johnston, Ryan Bailey (Clarence), Ben Howe (Queensland), Jayson Hart, James McGee, Luke Arbuckle (Hobart), Dean Jetson (Claremont), Shaun Atkinson (returning), Sam Deverall (Glenorchy), Jye Nichols (Oatlands), Callum Jackson, Luke Howard (North Hobart), Bevan Britton (St Virgil’s), Bradleigh Shaw (University), Luke Phillips (soccer)
Losses: Joseph Bangura, Austin Hollingsworth, Ross Randle, Dylan Ford, Baxter Lewis, Julian Pangrazzi
Coach’s Comment: “I’m really happy with what we have been able to bring into our list, we are still very young but we are going to be picking 22 each week that will come out with a bit of pride. We are hoping we are putting in place the right stepping stones for something special.”
CLAREMONT
Coach: Paul Allison
Captain: Jake Williams
2020 finish: 9th
Gains: Ethan Conway (Glenorchy), Jake Williams (Perth), James Gambell (South Australia), Jack Taylor Evans (Dodges Ferry)
Losses: Phil Ashlin, Ryan Bosworth, Kayden Salter, Jack Crossin, Nick Davis, Luke Potter, Mitch Walker, Josh Grant, Bayley Bester, Jake Harris
Coach’s Comment: “I am happy with the group’s commitment and the values and behaviours of the club and us as a team have been great. That’s at the forefront for us moving forward, getting the dynamics right.”
CYGNET
Coach: Thor Boscott
Captain: Rhys Jennings
2020 finish: Runner-up
Gains: Jake Dance, Ryan Wiggins (Lauderdale), Lochie Watt, Bailey Gordon, Nathan Duggan, Jakob Lister (Tigers), Will Ford (OHA), Lukas Ford (Queensland)
Losses: Josh Fox, Mitch Brouwer, Reece Scuth, Luke Paton, Ben Cato, Jack Brereton
Coach’s Comment: “Coming runners up last year, that will obviously have a lot of motivation for the guys to go that next step this year and everyone is on board to achieve that. We have touched on it a little bit, but it is now about focusing on going forward.”
DODGES FERRY
Coaches: Brent Dolliver & David Hunt
Captains: Jono Bullock & Cam Hooker
2020 finish: 6th
Gains: Ben McGuinness, Fletcher Hooker (Lauderdale), Dan Lewis (Darwin), Todd Kelly (year off)
Losses: Taine Sooke, Ed Stanley, Blake Anderton, Isaac Mathewson
Coach’s Comment: “We feel we have some exciting young talent and we want them to take the next step and play some consistent, exciting brand of footy in 2021,” co-coach David Hunt said.
HOBART
Coach: Alex Gilmour
Captain: Brad Joseph
2020 finish: 5th
Gains: Jayden Charlton (Hobart), Sam Reeves (Glenorchy), Jason Laycock (retirement), Brodie Johnstone (Brighton), David Monks (school football), Alex Continenza, Jason Gridley (Clarence), Jake Harris (Claremont), Ben Morrison (Melbourne), Sean Clark (University)
Losses: Angus Evans, Tim Lewinski
Coach’s Comment: “To make an elimination final was excellent but we certainly identified a few key areas around the ground we were lacking. One being height, and a couple of classy players in different positions. We have gone out and addressed that.”
HUONVILLE
Coach: Tim Lamprill
Captains: Callum Rawson & James McIndoe
2020 finish: Premiers
Gains: Jack Philp (Cairns), Brady Jones (Clarence), Mitch Walker, Connor Walker (Claremont), Aaron Grubb (DOSA), Liam Bertrand (Cranbourne)
Losses: Jarrod Lawler, Michael Chivers, Andrew Moody, Wade Booth
Coach’s Comment: “The boys were really keen to get back to training earlier than we expected, which was really good. You have always got to be looking to improve, we have changed things a bit and try and get an advantage with the personnel we have got on board.”
LINDISFARNE
Coach: Michael Cassidy
Captains: Kieran Rogers & Jack Gleeson
2020 finish: 3rd
Gains: Josh Grant (Claremont), Zac Mastrocola (year off), Aiden Webster (Tigers)
Losses: Brad Tennick, Ryan Martin, Daniel Blazley
Coach’s Comment: We were two kicks off making another grand final, we don’t think we are that far away. A few losses but we have a couple of good gains and we think we are still right in the window. We have some good kids coming through, we are going to rely on them to take that next step.”
NEW NORFOLK
Coach: Josh Clifford
Captain: Jacob Wigg
2020 finish: 4th
Gains: Tim Butterworth (University), Jack Crossin, Corey Jetson (Claremont), Tyron Bailey (Clarence), Jack Stevenson (Glenorchy), Brett Hodge (Leeton, NSW), Tyler Ford (Bothwell), Wade Burgess (Oatlands), Ashley Burgess, Josh Van Lierop (year off), Caden Wilson, Brett Booth, Josh Monks (returning)
Losses: Tyron Rainbird
Coach’s Comment: “The SFL this year is going to be a really good competition, everyone has picked up a few handy recruits. We would like to close the gap, I have won six premiership and I’m that hungry to get another and the excitement around the group, they want one as well.”
SORELL
Coach: Tim Castle
Captain: Mark Johnson
2020 finish: 8th
Gains: Nik Baker, Jeremiah Perkins, Mitch Anderton, Sam Williams (Lauderdale), James Brenner, Jordan Young, Nicholas Thornbury (Clarence), Joel Poke, Lewis Nichols (North West Coast), Jayden Wylie (Richmond), Will Pettigrew, Nick Foster (Lindisfarne), Taylor Barr
Losses: Jack Johnstone, Tim Banks
Coach’s Comment: “I am not setting expectations to be premiers or anything in 2021. To get the wins in our favour more than losses and show gradual improvement over the course of the year is the main goal.”
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