NTFA: New salary cap, player points total

A Tasmanian football competition has introduced a range of immediate measures to “close the gap” between the top and bottom sides. Here’s how it will work.

The NTFA has introduced a range of new measures.

Northern Tasmanian Football Association president Peter Gutwein has declared concessions handed down to four of the six Premier League clubs will help future proof the competition.

Deloraine, Longford, Scottsdale and South Launceston have all been handed extra salary cap room and player point totals for at least the next three seasons, from now until 2027, to help “close the gap” on the top-two.

Former Tasmanian State League clubs North Launceston and Launceston have surged well ahead of their four new rivals to start the season with margins often exceeding triple figures.

Under the changes, the current bottom two, Deloraine and Scottsdale, will have an additional $20,000 to spend on players, resulting in a salary cap of $100,000.

They have also been given 15 additional player point totals, above the 38 set at the start of the season, with a review of those totals to take place before 2027.

Longford and South Launceston can spend an additional $10,000 and have been given eight extra player points each.

The additional points are to be used on interstate recruits and additional money can’t be given to players already at the club.

“What we don’t want to see is the NTFA cannibalise its own talent,” Gutwein declared.

“We want Scottsdale and Deloraine to be looking for interstate recruits to grow the depth of talent that we have in the NTFA.

“History demonstrates over time we have been strong in recruiting players into northern Tasmania and Tasmania generally.

“There are a lot of Tasmanians that are currently playing interstate as well.”

NTFA president and former premier Peter Gutwein at Launceston's UTAS Stadium. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

Gutwein pointed to the incoming VFL and VFLW teams along with the AFL/W side as an opportunity to help develop the pathway for local players.

After the north and south regions were split in two at the end of 2024, there were significant departures from the state’s top clubs.

“Now is the opportunity to reverse that path, bring players back,” Gutwein said.

“We want to build a quality NTFA.”

Gutwein praised the work of the six club presidents at what he described as an “historic” meeting last week.

“The first time, everybody left their own self-interests at the door, sat at the table and decided to work together,” he said.

“Everyone agreed what we needed to do was keep the standard of the NTFA at the highest level.

“But importantly close the gap to bring those clubs who need additional support up to the level of North Launceston and Launceston.

“That’s where the future of the NTFA is. Having a competitive level of football but at the highest level of football.”

An NTFA media release said the competition remains in “discussion with AFLTas regarding the removal of the individual player salary cap that exists with the Total Player Payments Cap to enable clubs to manage their own player payments as long as they do not breach the overall cap”.