NTFA Premier League: How every club is shaping up before new era
Northern football’s new era begins with five new coaching set ups, and plenty of player movement, across the six teams in the inaugural NTFA Premier League. We chat to every coach and analyse their player ins and outs before round one on Saturday.
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Northern football is preparing to enter a new era, with a new league filled with new coaches preparing to begin the inaugural NTFA Premier League this Saturday.
Five of the six competing clubs have fresh coaching set ups, and the chasing pack will be keen to prove a point as they look to rival former TSL heavyweights North Launceston and Launceston for the cup.
We’ve taken a look at each team’s prospects, and their key player ins and outs.
LAUNCESTON
Last year: Sixth in TSL (3-15)
Coach: Jake Hinds
Captain: Brodie Palfreyman
Round one: South Launceston (away, 12.40pm)
Overview:The Blues have a new coach, and Hinds is one of many familiar faces returning to Windsor Park this season.
After a season at Bridgenorth, where he won the NTFA premier division’s best and fairest, Hinds takes over from triple premiership winner Mitch Thorp in his first head coaching role.
A handful of players who joining Hinds in leaving the Blues for the Parrots last year are back, while the return of former AFL star Jackson Thurlow and former Hudson medallist Sonny Whiting adds valuable leadership.
The acquisition of club juniors Zac Morris and Archie Wilkinson are also major signings. Wilkinson won the NTFA’s goalkicking at Hillwood the past two years, while former SANFL player Morris adds class after a year at Longford.
This season the club, one of the oldest in the country, is celebrating its 150th birthday. Windsor Park will be unavailable for the opening rounds as it undergoes major renovations.
The coach says: “It’s not going to happen overnight. I think there’s a high expectation on the club because we’ve recruited well that we’re just going to bounce out and beat teams by 100 points, but that’s not the case.
“It takes a bit of time to get used to each other with a new coach, new system and new players.
“We know internally it won’t happen overnight, it’s not worrying about the outside noise. It might take half a year, it might take until the last round, we don’t know.
“We’re trying to get people like Sonny (Whiting) back at the club, who have played in senior premierships and played a lot of footy.
“We’ve got a young list, so anything those guys can add will go a long way for the young fellas.”
Key ins: Ryan Tyrrell (Bridgenorth), Zac Morris (Longford), Archie Wilkinson (Hillwood), Jake and Jayden Hinds (Bridgenorth), Ryan and Jordan Shipp (Bridgenorth), Jacob Boyd (Hillwood), Dylan Farquhar (Bridgenorth), Miller Hodge (returning), Jackson Thurlow (returning), Sam Rawlings (South Launceston), Jesse Price (Bridgenorth), Sonny Whiting (Lilydale), Angus Jefferies (Hillwood)
Key outs: Liam Jones (Glenelg), Isaac Hyatt (Glenelg), Sam Foley (South Adelaide), Rocky Barron (Perth), Josiah Burling (Perth), Dylan Riley (St Pats)
SOUTH LAUNCESTON
Last year: NTFA premier division premiers. Regular season: Minor premiers (15-1)
Coaches: Tom Foon and Grant Holt
Captains: Lachie Cocker and Harry Charlesworth
Round one: Launceston (home, 12.40pm)
Overview: Key players Tom Foon and Grant Holt are new to coaching, but they’ve brought plenty of enthusiasm to the post as the Bulldogs look to build on last year’s NTFA premier division flag.
They have an immediate opportunity to prove a point when they host former TSL side Launceston in Saturday’s season opener.
The loss of Cody Lowe, runner up in the NTFA premier division best and fairest the past two seasons and best on ground in last year’s grand final, is a significant blow.
Lowe has followed last year’s premiership coach Jack Maher to South Adelaide. Maher has taken up an assistant role at the Panthers.
The Bulldogs are building good depth under their senior side after winning the under-18 flag last year, and also made the reserves decider.
On paper, they look clearly the best side in the league outside of big guns North Launceston and Launceston.
Co-coach Tom Foon says: “Grant (Holt) is a massive player for us and the way he conducts himself off the field, he was born to be a coach. His leadership is terrific.
“We maybe do havea point to prove. There’s probably a few people out there who have written us off already and it’ll turn us into the underdog, but at the end of the day it’s not a bad thing.
“We won’t shy away from the fact they (Launceston) are a quality side with some really good players.
“The best thing we can do is stick to our system and play the way we want to, and trust in what we’re doing.”
Key ins: Logan Smith (Wynyard), Tom Munting (Devils)
Key outs: Luke McCarty (St Helens), Cody Lowe (South Adelaide) and Leigh Harding (retired), Harry Summers (Scottsdale),
NORTH LAUNCESTON
Last year: TSL premiers. Regular season: Minor premiers (18-0)
Coach: Adrian Smith
Captains: Alex Lee, Fletcher Bennett and Declen Chugg
Round one: Longford (home, 6.30pm)
Overview: The Bombers made it clear from the outset that last year was about earning respect from the wider football community. And they did that in spades by winning the swan song TSL flag after an unbeaten campaign.
The scary prospect for their rivals is they have retained the vast majority of their core, and added some handy youngsters to the incumbents who will be banging the door down for a regular spot.
There are some good raps on young South Australian recruit Oscar Morgan, and the big names like reigning Alastair Lynch medallist Brad Cox-Goodyer, Michael Stingel, Harry Bayles, Fletcher Bennett and Alex Lee are all back.
They are clear premiership favourites and if they play to their potential, they’ll lift another cup in 2025.
The coach says: “We’re just really excited to get back into footy. It’s nice to reconnect everyone together as a club, and there’s so much unknown with the competition and not much exposed form.
“We’re really keen to focus on our key indicators and what makes us a good footy team, and try and get our game in good order.
“We want to maintain our standards, we’ve got key indicators we want to tick off and same ways we want to play.
“I wanted to build the capacity of our young leaders and I’m still investing a lot of time in investing their footy understanding and knowledge and ability to lead young people.”
Key ins: Ryder Bugg (South Launceston), Isaac Smedley (Launceston), Sam Husband (Prospect), Oscar Mansell (Bracknell), Will Gibson (returning), Oscar Morgan (Ironbank Cherry Gardens, SA)
Key outs: Mitch Nicholas (Norwood), Jack Aherne (Norwood), Harvey Griffiths (West Adelaide), Blade Sulzberger (Northern Bullants), Will Manshanden (Queensland), Harry Elmer (Devonport), Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (Ulverstone)
LONGFORD
Last year: NTFA premier division grand finalists. Regular season: Third (13-3)
Coach: Kacey Curtis
Captain: Connor Alexander
Round one: North Launceston (away, 6.30pm)
Overview: The Tigers have lost a number of key players but Kacey Curtis, who replaces Mitch Stagg as coach after being skipper in recent years, is excited by the prospect of blooding some young talent.
Longford are expected to field around seven debutants in round one against North Launceston.
They’ve lost some class after the departures of the likes of Jack Donnellan, Luke Murfitt-Cowen and Zac Morris, but the return of club junior and former Collingwood AFL player Isaac Chugg is a huge boost. Chugg is dual registered with Gippsland League club Wonthaggi, and will travel back to his junior club to play when the roster permits. Given he can only be eligible for one finals campaign, the Tigers will play that situation by ear.
The coach says: “It’s hard when you rip eight to ten of your best players out of your side and go up a level against North Launnie and Launnie, but at the same time it creates opportunities for young boys to really develop.
“We hope to look back at then end of the year and if we can get 12 to 18 games into these kids, they’ll be ahead of the curve.
“Some are involved with the Devils and we’re starting to look to the future. We start at UTAS Stadium against the biggest club in the north, but regardless of the result it’s something they’ll remember forever. some of them are 16 or 17 years old.
“As a first year coach I get a chance to help develop these kids, we’ve got nothing to lose and have a crack with the boys coming through.
“Arion (Richter-Salter, new strength and conditioning coach) has been fantastic in terms of the fitness levels and standards we’ve got to.
“I can see the silver lining. Yes it’s a lot of experience (to lose) and I’ve stepping up as coach I would have loved those boys on and off the field. But it gives opportunities for the guys coming through.”
Keys ins: Charlie Taylor (returning), Cody Brinckman (Launceston), Isaac Chugg (returning)
Key outs: Luke Murfitt-Cowen (Ulverstone), Liam Davies (Circular Head), Jack Donnellan (Bracknell), Lachie Dakin (Evandale), Zac Morris (Launceston), Connor Riethoff (Maroochydore), Jaidyn Harris (Hillwood)
DELORAINE
Last year: Eighth in NTFA premier division (1-15)
Coach: Nick Milbourne
Captains: Kye Chilcott and Laiden Bloomfield
Round one: Scottsdale (away, 2.30pm)
Overview: New coach Nick Milbourne has been pleased with his squad’s appetite to work hard as they look to improve their fitness levels for a higher quality league.
The Kangaroos are under no illusions they have a lot of work to do to bridge the sizeable gap between themselves and North Launceston/Launceston. But a number of former players have returned to help mentor the youngsters, and Milbourne wants to build a list around players willing to put in the hard yards to achieve success in the longer term.
The coach says: “When we first got underway it (player numbers) was a bit light on, but as the pre season has gone on it’s panned out really well. We’ve got a lot of numbers back to the club and our senior side is starting to come together really nicely the last month or so.
“We’ll look to find our feet and drive that extra professionalism into the club, and eventually get up to that Premier League standard.
“Since I got involved I couldn’t be happier. They’re a fantastic club and we have had a pretty tough pre season. Everyone has taken it in their stride and we’re excited for the next challenge of taking the next step into the Premier League.
“Hopefully (in coming years) we get these Deloraine people back in the door and also people who want to play top level footy who don’t have to go to North Launnie or Launnie. we can “It’ll take a couple of years before we work out who wants to do the work.
“I was a bit reluctant to see how hard we go (at start of pre season). You didn’t want to belt them add lose a couple more, but we had a real solid pre season and the more (work) I gave them to do, the more they wanted it.
“I’ve inherited a group who want to be here for the right reasons.”
Key ins: Josh Cameron (returning), Dylan and Lucas Bakes, Brad Crowden (returning), John Elmer, Ben Blacklow
Key outs: Jordan Talbot, Sam Talbot, Jordan Loone, Shannon Brough, Alex Diprose
SCOTTSDALE
Last year: Ninth in NTFA premier division (1-15)
Coach: Rickie Dolliver
Captain: Joe Krushka
Round one: Deloraine (home, 2.30pm)
Overview: Like Deloraine, Scottsdale won just one game last year and finished with a percentage of 27. But new coach Rickie Dolliver is in it for the long haul and is already talking to the club about extending his current deal into a third year to fully oversee the rebuild.
Dolliver arrives with a strong background in junior development at Canberra powerhouse Belconnen, and is excited at the quality of the club’s under-16s and under-18s.
A handful of youngsters are expected to debut in round one against Deloraine.
Kyle Lanham has moved to Cranbourne but will still return for a handful of games, as will former player Ethan Petterwood.
The coach says: “We’re under no illusions coming into the premier division it’s going to be pretty difficult, but the boys are certainly looking forward to it.
“We’re looking at a lot of 16s and 18 year old kids coming through. they’re a good group. We’re looking high and low for bigger body players we’re a bit short on at the moment, but we’ll certainly be in for the fight.
“We’re going to need a bit of time, there’s no doubt about that. I certainly think towards the end of this season and next year we’ll be up to being competitive.
“Our one and only big fella (Julian Rattray) nearly lost his thumb in a work accident last week so he’s going to be missing for a couple of months,
“I think it’s pretty good the way the league has done it (scheduling us against Deloraine in round one) to be honest, to give both teams an opportunity to feel each other out and not be put up against the old TSL sides straight away.”
Key ins: Tom Itter (Belconnen), Lachie Gladwin (Belconnen), Harry Summers (South Launceston)
Key outs: Kyle Lanham (Cranbourne), Brad Tuffin (retired)
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