SFL president David O’Byrne knocks back North Launceston’s idea of joining new premier league in 2025

The northern TSL clubs want into the new look Southern Football League next season. Now the league has given their verdict.

SFL president David O'Byrne has knocked back the idea of current TSL clubs Launceston and North Launceston joining the new SFL Premier League in 2025. Picture: Chris Kidd

North Launceston’s hopes of potentially joining the new SFL Premier League in 2025 are over with SFL president David O’Byrne confirming it isn’t an option for the league.

In a statement provided to The Mercury, O’Byrne said the possibility of both Launceston and North Launceston joining the league in 2025 – originally floated by Bombers senior vice-president Adrian Hall on radio last week – wasn’t something they are interested in.

North Launceston president Thane Brady and his vice-president Adrian Hall have both been strong in their views on the state of local football beyond 2025. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The SFL is a league run by our member clubs and while we have sympathy for the northern clubs in dealing with this change to the structure of football in Tasmania the SFL member clubs, and those clubs that will be joining the SFL in the premier league in 2025, have made it very clear that we will be solely a southern based competition,” O’Byrne said.

“We have not been approached and nor will not be accepting any clubs out of our region into our competition. We acknowledge this is a big change for the football landscape and it isn’t easy for everyone, but we are supportive of the direction for the growth of football in all three regions.”

Hall was interviewed on SEN Tassie last Friday and floated the idea of both northern based TSL clubs joining the new SFL competition rather than the NTFA Premier League, given the belief that the southern equivalent will be of a higher standard with the five southern TSL clubs included alongside Brighton.

“One possible option is that North Launceston and Launceston play in the SFL,” Hall said.

“I don’t know that it’s been formally floated with AFL Tasmania because frankly we haven’t heard from AFL Tasmania or met with them for some time but, if a meeting follows these indications that we won’t sign the affiliation agreement (for the NTFA) then it will certainly be something raised by me.”

While both Launceston and North Launceston have been strong in their stance of not joining the NTFA Premier League in its proposed format for next season, it appears all other avenues for either club to explore appear dead in the water.

Along with the idea of joining the SFL Premier League alongside the five current southern TSL clubs – both clubs have suggested extending the state league for a further three years or joining a northern breakaway league that includes north west coast clubs.

But both those options are also slim to no chance of happening following Head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill’s comments that there was no interest from the north west coast on a potential super league, the current TSL licence ending and both Lauderdale and Clarence presidents’ confirming their clubs wanted a return to regional football.

Damian Gill, Head of AFL Tasmania, says he acknowledges the incoming changes are not easy. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Gill was also contacted for comment on Tuesday and provided the following statement to The Mercury.

“We are aware and understanding of the positions of the SFL, the NWFL, Clarence and Lauderdale and their region focus,” he said.

“We have been working closely with associations every step of the way and we consulted widely prior to any of these decisions taking place.

“We acknowledge and respect that these changes are not easy in isolation, we want to continue working with the football community as we work through the transition.”

Smith also said during the interview that Gill had “suggested” their stance was “disrespectful somehow to the NTFA” with his comment likely in reference to the belief in the standards between the two TSL clubs and the NTFA clubs set to join the NTFA Premier League.

“It’s not intended to be disrespectful and it’s not actually disrespectful,” Smith said.

“It’s just a matter of fact at the moment that the disparity of the competition is there and I don’t think that’s good for football. It doesn’t pass the pub test because the public are not going to be interested in those kind of margins either.”