Two TSL clubs are on the hunt for new coaches after two bombshell moves interstate

Tassie football has lost its best two coaches with North Launceston premiership mastermind Taylor Whitford and Lauderdale’s most successful coach Darren Winter headed for Victoria.

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TASMANIAN football has lost its best two coaches with North Launceston premiership mastermind Taylor Whitford and Lauderdale’s most successful coach Darren Winter headed for careers in Victoria.

Whitford is off to Melbourne to be assistant-coach at VFL club Casey Demons and Winter is now senior coach at Geelong Football League club North Shore Seagulls, with former Essendon VFL midfielder Nick Dixon as his co-coach.

It leaves a gaping hole in the coaching talent pool in the state’s top competition, the Tasmanian State League, with the exit of the respected pair.

North Shore co-coaches Nick Dixon and Darren Winter. Picture: Alan Barber

Whitford played in seven TSL grand finals and five premierships for the Northern Bombers, including as playing-coach of the club’s past two flags, while Winter racked up 246 games and eight premierships with Clarence before taking on beachside Lauderdale for 11 seasons, including taking the southern Bombers to three of the past four TSL grand finals.

Only the paperwork has to go through to make the Whitford move signed, sealed and delivered, while Winter had a cook’s tour of North Shore yesterday.

Tasmanian State League, Glenorchy v North Launceston. Taylor Whitford, North Launceston’s playing coach. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Originally from Geelong, and after 30 years in Tasmania, Winter will remain in Tasmania and become a fly-in fly-out coach.

“I will do the pre-season – Monday to Wednesday – and fly back to Tassie, so I will be a fly-in coach through the season,” Winter said.

“I’ve got a young fellow, Nick Dixon, who has just come off a VFL list and he will be co-coach.

“During the week we will work together to put the plan together but come Saturday he will go more into playing and I will handle the coaching part of it.

“Nick will go into a succession plan for him to take over at some stage.”

Originally from Geelong, Winter played for four years with North Shore before he moved to Hobart to play for Clarence.

“Coming home to be nearer to family was an attractive option,” Winter said.

“It came about when I ran into a couple of friends, who are now president and director of the club played footy with.

“It went from there. I spent pretty much my whole football life at North Shore before Tassie.

“It was 17 years in juniors and four years at senior level, so it’s a good feel to go back to North Shore.

“I’m looking forward to the new challenge.”