Bombers predict ‘long overdue change’ as presidents meet over NTFA issues

Frustrated at two huge blowout wins everyone saw coming, North Launceston’s president has predicted “long overdue change” as NTFA and club leaders meet over the league’s issues.

Blade Sulzberger and Declen Chugg celebrate after North Launceston won last year’s TSL grand final. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

North Launceston is “demanding” the NTFA address the woes of its Premier League, and forecast “long overdue change”, after the Bombers belted outclassed rivals Deloraine and Scottsdale the past fortnight.

In a statement posted on Facebook on Monday morning, North Launceston president Adrian Hall revealed a historic president’s meeting will be held on Monday night, with club presidents and NTFA boss Peter Gutwein in attendance.

Gutwein was appointed president after the league’s make up was set in stone, replacing Damien Rhind.

The Bombers and fellow former State League club Launceston were vocal in their opposition of scrapping the TSL in favour of the regional league, fearing it would not be competitive.

That has come to fruition after the Bombers, who went through last year’s TSL unbeaten, thrashed Scottsdale 262-0 on Saturday.

It followed a 226-point win over Deloraine the week before, who could manage just one goal.

This masthead wrote an opinion piece on the struggling league in Monday’s edition, detailing the difficult and long path to relevancy.

In April 2024, the Blues and Bombers released a strongly worded joint statement stating in no uncertain terms their reservations about the new league.

Hall reposted it on Facebook on Monday, and wrote “I wrote this approximately 14 months ago. Nobody listened.

“We have a combined total of 496 to eight in the last two weeks. Yet we are criticised for being a big fish in a small pond.

“I was personally criticised for being unfairly critical of the regional model we were being effectively forced into.

“Tonight the NTFA will host a historic president’s meeting. There will be long overdue change. I have discussed the matter with Peter Gutwein and the other presidents.

“This current situation can’t continue. We did not create this situation, but we will be at the forefront in demanding that it be addressed.

“It was not then and is not now a criticism of any other club, simply a recognition, and now a demand, that something needed to be better considered.”

The Blues and Bombers have been easily the most adversely affected club by AFL Tasmania’s scrapping of the TSL in favour of three regional Premier Leagues.

While the SFL and NWFL have experienced minimal disruption the north’s two heavyweights, the Bombers in particular, face the prospect of beating teams nowhere near their level for at least the next few years.