Everything you need to know about the 2025 SFL Premier League
The new era of Tasmanian footy is only days away with the Southern Football League premier competition to get underway. Check out our season preview with all the ins and outs plus coaches comments.
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A new era in Tasmanian football kicks off this weekend when the SFL’s new-look two tier competition gets under way with the start of the newly-formed Premier League this weekend.
Gone is the 16-year-old State League and the five former southern TSL teams — Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough Tigers, Lauderdale and North Hobart — have been joined by Brighton to form the Premier League, with the Robins “elevated” to compete at southern football’s top level.
Player movements have come thick and fast in the off-season, and we detail all the coach and players moves.
BRIGHTON
Coach: Paul Kennedy
Captain: Hugh Williams
2024 best-and-fairest: Jacob Young
In: Brock Watkins (Clarence), Charlie Meadows (North Hobart), Corey Cleaver (returning, year off), David Monks (returning, North Hobart), Dylan Ford (returning, New Norfolk), Hugh Williams (returning, North Hobart), Jorden Conley (Bothwell), Josh Cleaver (returning, North Hobart), Josh Hills (Bothwell), Keren Howlett (returning, Clarence), Luke Dean (returning, Woodsdale), Tyron Bailey (returning, New Norfolk)
Out: Caleb Triffett (Bothwell), Craig Harback (Bothwell), Jacob Whitney (Mount Pleasant), Jai Read (Oatlands), Jay Webster (Mount Pleasant), Jorge Triffett (North Hobart)
Coach says: “It’s obviously a step into the unknown for our club this year so it’s hard to put a quantitative figure on expectations, but just like the past three years as we’ve built towards being a Premier League club there are key things we can control that set us up for success. Things like how connected we are as a group on and off the field, our workrate, our willingness to help each other defensively and apply pressure, and continuing our improvement in controlling the ball and making good teams defend for longer. We have a young group whose best footy is in front of them, but they’re also hungry to make a statement that Brighton belongs at this level from year one and that’s what we’ll be hell bent on doing.”
CLARENCE
Coach: Grant Fagan
Captain: Baxter Norton
2024 best-and-fairest: Noah Holmes.
In: Fraser Turner (WAFL), Ben Richmond (Wynyard), Harry Richmond (Lauderdale), Ben McGuiness (Lauderdale), Reilly Banks (Lauderdale).
Out: Noah Holmes (Lauderdale), James Bealey (Lauderdale), Mitch Rainbird (Lauderdale), Jack Dolliver (Lauderdale), Fletcher Richards (Lauderdale), Liam Howard (Glenorchy), Keegan Ryan (Glenorchy), James Holmes (Glenorchy), Keegan Wyllie (Glenorchy), Baker Smith (Glenorchy), Ryan Cowie (Glenorchy), Tom Cleary (University).
Coach says: “The club has had a reset both on and off the field and we are looking forward to this season. We have a blend of experience and plenty of youth and I would expect us to keep improving as we move through the season. It is an exciting time to be at the club and we will attack the season with lots of enthusiasm and confidence in each other. We are looking forward to the new SFL Premier League season of 2025.”
GLENORCHY
Coach: Josh Arnold
Captain: Harrison Gunther
2024 best-and-fairest: Harrison Gunther
In: K. Wylie (Clarence), J. Holmes (Clarence), K. Ryan (Clarence), B. Alomes (Clarence), L. Howard (Clarence), R. Cowie (Clarence) B. Smith (Port Melbourne VFL), J. Hilder (North Hobart), E. Hills, (North Hobart), J. Geard (St Virgil’s), C. Donaghy (Brighton), H. Cornelius (North Geelong)
Out: C. Ling (Norwood), L. Ling (Norwood), B. Waight (East Perth), Jaye Bowden (Maribyrnong Park), Kobey Phillips (Dodges Ferry), R. Oakley (moved interstate), D. Joseph (retied)
Coach says: “We’ve worked really hard over the off season on and off the field to build our list to give us the opportunity to continue to improve and be in a position to climb the ladder and contend. The commitment and drive from the playing group has been fantastic over the summer. We look forward to kicking off the season and putting our hard work into practice.”
KINGBOROUGH
Coach: Trent Baumeler
Captain: Lachie Clifford
2024 best-and-fairest: Kieran Lovell
In: Bailey Gordon (Wilston Grange), Harry Burgess (Ulverstone), Sam Duigan (returning), Connor Salter (returning), Braeden Livingston (University).
Out: Jack Tomkinson (Central Districts), Zach Adams (Central Districts), James Webb (Aspley), Max Collidge (travelling), Marcus Gardner (travelling), Murray Bastick (South Australia), Lochie Griggs (Cygnet), James Zeitzen (Cygnet), Hamish Watt (Cygnet), Ryan Bradburn (Cygnet), Tommy Bennett (university, interstate).
Coach says: “We are looking forward to competing in the new model of football and representing our club and community. As always our programs focus is on improving every training session and bringing our best on game day to put us in a position to compete and our results, will be dictated by our preparation and work that we put in and have put in over the course of the pre-season. While we have had some player turnover we welcome back some key players and have access for a full season to some of our Devils graduates from 2024, who come into club football full-time. We have retained a critical mass of our experienced core, who will guide our young players coming through, player who will earn their opportunities at senior level across the course of the season.”
LAUDERDALE
Coach: Brent Dolliver
Captains: Sam Siggins and Phillip Bellchambers
2024 best-and-fairest: Andrew Phillips
In: James Bealey (Clarence), Jack Dolliver (Clarence), Noah Holmes (Clarence), Mitch Rainbird (Clarence), Ned Marriott (Clarence), Fletcher Richards (Clarence), Dan Lewis (Dodges Ferry), Benji Russell (Lindisfarne), Isaac Woodward (Lindisfarne), Jack Aldridge (Lindisfarne), Nick Raglione (Campania).
Out: Jason Gridley (Dodges Ferry), Max Skelly (Dodges Ferry), Will Broomhall (Dodges Ferry), Allen Christensen (Hobart), Noah Mead (Hobart), Oscar Shaw (Hobart), Thor Boscott (Retired), Will Poland (Sorell), Jeremiah Perkins (Sorell), Reiley Banks (Clarence), Tom Studley (Dodges Ferry), Nat Franklin (Interstate).
Coach says: “It is a year of change at Lauderdale in 2025. We have had a big turnover of players from last season and have been lucky enough to add some quality footballers to the group during the offseason. With a new game style and a lot of new faces, it might take some time to gel as a group, but I expect us to be playing good footy at the right time of year.”
NORTH HOBART
Coach: Adam Bester
Captain: Bailey Walker
2024 best-and-fairest: Tyler McGinniss
In: Ryan Martin (Lindisfarne), Troy Cunliffe (University), Tom Reeves (Broadbeach/Gold Coast VFL), Will Peppin (Aspley), Sam Caswell (Palm Beach), Nathan Hardy (DOSA), Fin Lapham (DOSA), Zac Mastrocola (Triabunna), Neo Butler (University), James Wilson (returning), Jed Dustan (University), Mack Evans (Bond University), Jacob Wescott (West Footscray), Lachlan Gray (Kedron).
Out: Hugh Williams (Brighton), Josh Cleaver (Brighton), Thomas Liefhebber (Wynyard), Ryan Edmondson (Lindisfarne), David Monks (Brighton), Isaac McCrimmon (University), Cohen Stephenson (Latrobe), Charlie Meadows (Brighton), Ryan Watson (Norwood), Trent Millhouse (retirement), Josh Hilder (Glenorchy), Riley Ferguson (Hobart), Angus Norton (Foster), Connor Downham (Sorell), Jack Sandric (Reservoir), Angus Cracknell (Hobart).
Coach says: “There’s been a significant turnover in our list, but we’re really happy with the talent we’ve brought in, of which many are returning players to the club.
“We’ve added a strong mix of top-end talent and experience, which will not only make us competitive in our first season at SFL Premier League level but also help fast-track the development of our younger players. While we thank those who have moved on for their contributions, we’re confident our new recruits will provide leadership and drive improvement across the group. Our focus is on playing a high-pressure, attacking brand of football and making North Hobart a tough team to beat.”
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