Former Tigers coach takes reins of SFL representative side; has buy in from players for clash with NFWL

SFL clubs were put on notice prior to the season about making players available for representative football — and they’ve responded with coach Adam Henley armed with talent.

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SFL representative coach Adam Henley believes he has the talent — and more importantly commitment — from his squad to give the powerful NWFL a shake this weekend.

Former Kingborough head coach and Glenorchy assistant Henley will take the reins of the side for this weekend’s trip to Ulverstone, which will be missing stars Brady Jones (back) and Alex Gilmour (shoulder) after both went down last Saturday.

However with buy-in from all the clubs for representative football, after being put on notice from league president Russell Young in the pre-season, Henley is confident he has the cattle to avoid the blowout defeats of previous years to northern competitions.

“The clubs have been really supportive and in particular the club coaches, they want to see a successful SFL,” said Henley, who was only focused on his son’s underage football before receiving the call to take the job.

SFL representative coaches Nathan Harnett (colts) and Adam Henley (seniors) at North Hobart Oval. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

“We’ve had five or six that probably haven’t been available through injury or unavailability but overall it’s been really positive.

“We’re probably dealing with the minority rather than majority so most of them have put their hand up.

“We are putting together a squad of guys that really want to play rep footy and to be honest that’s what I’m most excited about.

“There is a group of players there that are keen to put their best foot forward and I’ll be able to tell at the start of the game that the guys that I have got there are there to play rep footy.

“They’re representing the competition firstly, they’re representing themselves, and most importantly they are representing their club and their community.”

A colts team guided by Brighton assistant Nathan Harnett will also make the trip to Ulverstone.

With a mixture of regular senior players and emerging talent, Harnett said his group was excited for the opportunity.

“We’re well represented at colts level, we’ve got some really good young kids that are likely to make the 22 that are around that 16, 17 year mark that play predominantly at 18s level.

“I’m also lucky enough to have some guys that are playing senior footy, there could be upwards of around 10 in the final 22 once that’s decided that have experience at senior level.”

SFL SQUAD: Jye Bearman, Tim Butterworth (New Norfolk), Michael Blackburn, Jack Gleeson, (Lindisfarne), Thor Boscott, Toby Cowen, Bailey Gordon, Jordan Lane, Lachlan Watt, Ryan Wiggins, James Zeitzen (Cygnet), Tim Castle, Jeremiah Perkins, Joel Poke (Sorell)

Ethan Conway (Claremont), Cameron Johns, James McIndoe, Jack Philp, Matthew Schenk, Liam Ward, Rhys Ward (Huonville), Sam Lewis Johnson (Brighton), Jack Siggins (Dodges Ferry)

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