NTFA: Bombers, Blues deliver contest Premier League craved
It was the willing contest the NTFA Premier League badly needed, with North Launceston forced to dig deep against Launceston to remain unbeaten. Get the latest from the NTFA here.
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The NTFA Premier League received the energy boost it desperately needed after North Launceston were forced to dig deep to remain unbeaten after a 15-point win over Launceston at Windsor Park on Saturday.
Yet to lose since the 2023 TSL grand final and entering the local rivalry with a percentage of around 800, the Bombers built an early lead and were forced to dig deep to hold off the Blues in the 9.16 (70) to 7.13 (55) win.
After they lost the first match-up by 80 points on Good Friday, it was the quality close contest the six-team league was craving.
North Launceston built an early four goal lead and effectively sat on that margin for much of the game, before a classy running goal from Lockie Presnell got the hosts within 13 points midway through the last term.
But the Bombers’ stoic defence held firm for the rest of the game to improve their record to 8-0, and realistically seal the minor premiership.
Although the Bombers’ goal kicking wasn’t great on the scoreboard, the Blues missed more set shots they should have nabbed, with Zach Morris missing four times.
Launceston dominated possession and territory for the first half of the third quarter, but couldn’t build the scoreboard pressure required to put the heat on the Bombers.
Bombers co-captain Declen Chugg welcomed an overdue challenge and said it was a timely reminder they can’t expect to cruise to the flag.
“It was good to have a hard contest. Obviously with the new league we haven’t had many tough battles, but there’s always a big rivalry with Launceston and we knew they’d bring the heat,” Chugg said.
“It was a bit of a wake up call, we’ve been cruising a bit the last few weeks and banking on the other teams to turn it over, whereas Launceston are a much more skilled side.
“You see a lot of comments on Facebook with people saying Tassie footy’s dead, but when you get contests like that it just brings a bit of life to the league.
“They really took it up to us physically. They’ve got a good side and once we got used to the contest again we haven’t had for a while, it was good.”
After playing mostly up forward last year, Chugg kicked two goals and also alternated with Brandon Leary for midfield time.
“It’s good to run through the midfield and hopefully when I go forward I can put some scores on the board,” he said.
Blues coach Jake Hinds said the effort gave his side belief they can push the Bombers later in the year.
Most of the key statistics were relatively even, but the Bombers took their moments better and were cleaner around the ball when it counted.
“I said to the boys I’m one of the most competitive blokes getting around, but it’s probably the best I’ve felt after a loss in my career,” Hinds said.
There was plenty of good signs, and plenty to take away from that. We got our pants pulled down on Good Friday by 80 points, but the last few weeks the boys have been heads down, bums up trying to learn.
“Today we went in more relaxed and to get that enjoyment factor, and that showed in the game.
“They’re on top of the ladder for a reason, they haven’t lost a game for close to two years now and have been in the position of closing out games before, and that showed.
“We probably left some goals out there with missed opportunities, but you live and learn.
“In games like this it’s about taking your moments and they took theirs more than us. Kicking for goal and around the ground when the ball was there to be won, they were a little cleaner than us.
“I think it was good for the group to see that we can actually match it with the best.”
NTFA PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND EIGHT
NORTH LAUNCESTON 5.2 7.6 9.10 9.16 (70) def LAUNCESTON .1 4.5 6.7 7.13 (55)
Goals: North Launceston - Connor Young 2, Declen Chugg 2, Brad Cox-Goodyer, Brandon Leary, Bailey Mitchell, Oscar Mansell, Tyane Thomas; Launceston - Zach Morris 2, Lockie Presnell, Lucas Wootton, Archie Wilkinson, Lucas Sullivan, Dane Plakalovic
Best: North Launceston - Brandon Leary, David Summers, Rylee McHenry, Tyane Thomas, Sam Simpson, Beau Nash; Launceston - Dylan Farquhar, Lucas Wootton, Zachary Morris, Jacob Boyd, Jayden Hinds, Avery Thomas
LONGFORD 4.2 7.4 9.7 13.14 (92) def DELORAINE 0.1 1.3 5.4 6.5 (41)
Goals: Longford - Jett Maloney 6, Haish Sytsma 2, Oliver Chugg 2, Deagan Madden, Casey Brown, Ben Chugg; Deloraine - Alex Luttrell 2, Waylon Tatnell, Jaylen Chilcott, Joseph Griffin, Darcy Huett
Best: Longford - Cody Brinckman, Casey Brown, Joel Lloyd, Joshua Gray, Jett Maloney, Ethan Hubbard; Deloraine - William Richards, Kye Chilcott, Laiden Bloomfield, Liam Taylor, Benjamin Atkins
SOUTH LAUNCESTON 7.5 14.11 23.15 30.17 (197) def SCOTTSDALE 1.1 3.2 4.4 4.4 (28)
Goals: South Launceston - Matthew Lee 10, Tom Foon 3, Ethan Arnott 3, Oliver Freeland 3, Brendan Taylor 2, Hunter Farrelly 2, Tom Graham, Grant Holt, Harry Charlesworth, Brock Kenney, Seb Page, Nikolaus Kruger, Lucas Freestone; Scottsdale - George Davies, Jamieson Nunn, Joseph Krushka, Joseph Phillips
Best: South Launceston - Matthew Lee, Grant Holt, Brendan Taylor, Olly Alexander, Harry Charlesworth, Oliver Freeland; Scottsdale - Jacob Singline, William Burr, Julian Rattray, Bradley Whish-Wilson, Elliot Tyson, Lachlan Gladwin
NTFA: Hawks, Parrots put icing on cake of 100th celebrations
In cricket notching a ton is always reason to celebrate, and Hawthorn and Bridgenorth combined to do just that before the Hawks training run at Launceston on Thursday night.
Before the city’s first-ever Friday night game against Adelaide, the Hawks invited the Parrots to the UTAS Stadium session to reflect on the 100th birthday celebrations both clubs are enjoying this season.
A cake with both club’s logos was made for the occasion and Parrots player Thomas Lilly said the club appreciated Hawthorn making the effort to involve them.
“It’s pretty cool both teams celebrating 100 years, and we’re the last standing club from our original competition. I’m a Hawks fan as well so it’s pretty special,” Lilly said.
“We’ve got a team of the century (to be named) towards the end of the year, and we had a retro round where we wore our old sash jerseys, and another jersey the seniors wore in the very first game Bridgenorth ever played.
“Our club has a lot of history and a lot of us probably didn’t know a lot about it (before this year’s celebrations). We’re a club without a town, it’s pretty special.
“Our club is a very family oriented club and it’s a good community. Everyone now everyone around there.”
Earlier this year Hawthorn extended its deal to play four games per season at Launceston, until the end of 2027.
Hawks CEO Ashley Klein said it’s important the club also gives back to the Tasmanian football community.
“It is always fantastic for us to give back and connect with the brilliant Tasmanian community, especially when our shared connection is so special,” Klein said.
“With our club celebrating its centenary and Bridgenorth Football Club also commemorating 100 years in 2025, it was a fantastic opportunity to link up on the eve of the first ever Friday night game in Launceston to celebrate together.
“We hope the celebrations can continue on the field under lights and that the Tassie locals fill the stands for such a momentous occasion.”
Bombers, Blues tune up for tough rep schedule
North Launceston and Launceston believe Saturday’s blockbuster clash at a revamped Windsor Park is the ideal lead-in to a jam-packed representative schedule.
After racking up some lopsided NTFA Premier League wins recently, the two sides made up the bulk of the NTFA outfit which beat NWFL for the first time in about two decades last weekend.
It sets up a virtual regional series ‘grand final against the SFL in Hobart next weekend, with some Blues and Bombers stars also set to represent Tasmania against Queensland at Latrobe on July 5.
The former TSL sides are clearly the benchmark in the revamped NTFA Premier League, with the Bombers unbeaten after seven games with a percentage of nearly 800. The Blues’ 80-point defeat to North Launceston in round two is their only defeat thus far.
Bombers coach Adrian Smith, who also coaches the NTFA outfit, said it’s an exciting patch of the season to motivate the region’s best players.
“Between our two teams there’s a fair bit of talent, to get together and watch each other (in the representative scene) is a different feeling, but obviously this weekend is more about our system against theirs,” Smith said.
“It shows we have some quality players in our region, they’re able to gel together and play a brand that suits UTAS (Stadium).
“The SFL will be another big challenge for us. They’ve got some real quality players down there and having five (former) TSL teams combining into a rep team is a strong outfit.”
“It (Saturday’s clash with Launceston) is a great build up for us, because it’s a contest for both teams.
“With the majority of the NTFA team being in Saturday’s game, it’s a chance to finetune the standard of footy we want, but also we’ve got state games coming up at the end of the month and making sure they’re ready for that level of football.”
The Blues played their first home game on a revamped Windsor Park a fortnight ago against Scottsdale.
The near $2 million in upgrades have improved a playing surface renowned for degenerating into a mudpit during the winter rain, as well as lighting, irrigation and draining.
“Windsor Park was definitely overdue for a revamp,” Palfreyman said.
“The deck’s really good at the moment, it’s held up quite well through the rain and we haven’t trained on it too much to look after it while it’s still maturing.
“In previous years Windsor Park has been known for once it gets a bit of rain and traffic on it, it turns into a mudpit. But it’s good to train on big, fast grounds similar to UTAS as well, because finals are there.”
Palfreyman was part of the NTFA’s win over the NWFL, and said Smith has helped bring relevance to the concept.
“The rep game was really enjoyable. I know previously speaking to some of the guys in the NTFA, some of the guys didn’t take it too seriously,” he said.
“But with Adrian coaching, all the players bought into it.”
The Blues are also encouraging any of their premiership players to converge on Windsor Park for their games, with seniors to begin at 1.40pm.
NTFA PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND EIGHT - SATURDAY
Launceston v North Launceston at Windsor Park (1.40pm); Longford v Deloraine at Longford Recreation Ground (2.30pm); Scottsdale v South Launceston at Scottsdale Recreation Ground (2.30pm)
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