TSL: Bombers meet with members to decide future

North Launceston still holds out hope a fully-fledged northern league can be established after voting against their will to play in next year’s NTFA Premier League if no other options present themselves.

North Launceston celebrate their premiership win in 2019. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

North Launceston coach Adrian Smith still holds out hope a fully-fledged northern competition featuring the best clubs from the north and north-west regions can still be established after the Bombers voted against their will to play in next year’s new NTFA Premier League.

While it’s understood the prospect of going into recess was never a serious consideration, club powerbrokers met with members at UTAS Stadium before the win over Clarence on Saturday.

The Bombers, and fellow TSL club Launceston, both refused to sign affiliation agreements to play in the NTFA Premier League - which features Deloraine, Scottsdale, South Launceston and Longford - after the TSL winds up this year.

The Blues and Bombers have sought feedback from north-west clubs on the desire for a northern league to be established in its place, which hasn’t come to fruition.

Smith said presenting AFL Tasmania’s vision to members today was to ensure everyone was informed about what is required to be prepared.

“Our footy club has been fighting hard to maintain the best standard of football we can possibly play in, and finding that balance between supporting our players’ drive to play at the highest level,” he said after his side’s 11th win from as many games this season.

“Today was a really important conversation with our members to update them on what’s happening behind the scenes.

“The mood was upbeat. There’s some frustration about things, but as a footy club it’s about galvanising it now.

“I didn’t think a recess was really (possible), today was more about making sure our members know what’s happening, what our position is as a club, what our off field needs are and the political based decisions we need to work through.”

Smith is still hopeful a full northern league can be established in the future.

“In the short term there’s been a lot of work done (by the Bombers and Blues) to try and capture a different style (of league) in the north,” he said.

“I’m hopeful we can find a balance in the coming years, whether that’s two or three years away.

“I think we need to find a balance where it’s a northern competition that’s supported by our juniors, and we look at that as the best way to give our kids the opportunities to play at the highest level.

“For us it’s about our system, our structure, our high performance, that’s our point of difference and we don’t want to lose that.”