Former Premier Peter Gutwein sets sights on northern football dominance unde rregional restructure

Former Premier Peter Gutwein aims to transform Tasmania’s North into football powerhouse. Here’s what we know.

Lockie Mitchell and Fletcher Bennett North Launceston. TSL grand final 2024 - North Launceston V Lauderdale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The man who stared down the AFL and won as Premier of Tasmania is now planning to make the state’s north the powerhouse of Tasmanian football.

Former Liberal Leader Peter Gutwein says the NTFA will get its chance to prove itself the yardstick of state football when it clashes with the Southern Football League in two representative games in 2025.

Gutwein has gone from Premier to president, and he has grand plans for football in the state’s north after being appointed boss of the Northern Tasmania Football Association.

Relive the Rivalry co ordinator Jaimes Wiggins, former Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Foodbank deputy chair Rob Higgins at Derwent Park. Picture: Chris Kidd

Gutwein made an indelible mark on Tasmanian football when he stood up to the AFL as Premier until it granted Tasmania a licence to join the big league _ the licence being secured in 2023 and the Devils to debut in 2028.

As newly-minted president of the NTFA, Gutwein has a clear agenda.

“I would like the NTFA to be regarded as the best competition out of the three regions,” he said.

“Importantly, we have to continue to grow the base, because participation is really important.

“Those are the two things I will be focused on.”

The NTFA will work on raising the standards of all clubs on and off the field, particularly the development of it Next-Gen players.

“I want to ensure we have opportunities for boys and girls to play the game of football,” Gutwein said.

Re-live the Rivalry Charity Match between Tasmania and Victoria at North Hobart Oval on Saturday 7th October 2023. Former Premier, Peter Gutwein runs out for Tasmania. Picture: Linda Higginson

“More importantly, for them to have a pathway to the VFL and AFL for those who want to play in a highest level and more importunely our Premier League is the best level in the state,” Gutwein said.

Blade Sulzberger and Declen Chugg North Launceston. TSL grand final 2024 - North Launceston V Lauderdale. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Next year’s intrastate games would stand testimony to that.

“The representative games will be a litmus test,” he said.

“The structure of the NTFA is very interesting, particularly with North Launceston, not doubt the best team in the state in the past five years.

“It’s important they keep they standard at that level and that we float everyone else’s boat in the Premier League up to that level in northern Tasmania.”

A man with an already full plate was happy to add another important role to his CV.

“I’ve always been a football person and the next three to five years football in this state is going through its most important moment,” Gutwein said.

“The NTFA, the association that has had the largest amount of structural change in the establishment of the three regional competitions, I felt I should put up my hand a do what I can to ensure we get the best possible outcome.”