Crisis time: Roo fury over NTFA demotion bid

The Deloraine Kangaroos are hopping mad after a failed bid to demote them from the inaugural NTFA Premier League has left league officials scrambling for answers.

Deloraine players celebrate a goal during their round one win over Bridgenorth in 2023. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

The inaugural NTFA Premier League is already facing its first crisis after an attempt by the NTFA to boot Deloraine out of the top flight competition in favour of Bridgenorth fell flat.

A letter from Kangaroos president Don Tracey sent to his players on Monday, leaked in a Facebook post on Tuesday which has since been deleted, alleged the club had been booted out of the league, and Bridgenorth had been approached without their knowledge.

This masthead has confirmed Bridgenorth, considered unlucky by most to have their application denied to play in the six-team league, held a meeting on Monday night to gauge interest in being elevated from division one.

Bridgenorth was allegedly approached by the NTFA, and it was in no way instigated by the Parrots.

The vote result was narrowly in favour of remaining in the second tier. Many players have come to terms with playing in division one since the Parrots publicly expressed their disappointment they were left out.

Concerns were raised about the lack of clarity of how the extra funding allocated by the governing body to play in the top league would be spent.

It is understood Deloraine has now been reinstated to the Premier League. The club was informed of the initial decision to remove them from the competition at a meeting last Thursday with the NTFA.

Some Premier League clubs also had a marathon meeting with NTFA and AFL Tasmania officials in Launceston on Tuesday night to address some concerns they have with transparency, and how to work on the obstacles the league is facing.

Tracey’s letter confirmed the club’s intent to fight the decision and their disappointment a rival club had been approached, allegedly without their knowledge, to replace them.

The feasibility of the northern-based Premier League has been heavily questioned by the local media and football community since its make-up was first announced.

TSL heavyweights North Launceston and Launceston, in particular the Bombers, have been heavily opposed to the dissolution of the state league in favour of the regional model.

Deloraine Kangaroos president Don Tracey, Hawthorn's head of Tasmanian operations David Cox and Bridgenorth president Bobby Beams before the two clubs played in a fundraiser in 2023. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

They believe the league, which also features Longford, South Launceston and Scottsdale, will be uncompetitive, and of inadequate quality for the development of their young players.

Tracey confirmed they remain committed to competing in the Premier League, as they have through the entire process.

“I know some people are questioning whether we are the right fit, but there was a five person selection panel and they chose us ahead of the others, and we are still going to go down that path,” he told this masthead on Wednesday.

“We’ve always been committed to the Premier division, and the rumours that have been circulated haven’t been coming from Deloraine.”

Deloraine is still searching for a new coach to lead them into a new era, and Scottsdale is in the same situation.

Both teams won just one game in this year’s premier division, and are fully aware some quality recruits will be needed to be competitive in the top flight.

The Magpies’ number one ticket holder, former premier Peter Gutwein, boldly declared to media in June the club’s intention to win the NTFA Premier League flag “within five years”.

Nine different criteria was used to assess applications for the Premier League including committee personnel, financial resources, capacity to field teams in proposed premier competitions, boys’ and girls’ junior pathways, infrastructure and sustainability.

NTFA president Damien Rhind has been contacted for comment.