TSL: Stingel blossoms after SANFL stint

Luck didn’t fall his way in the SANFL, but North Launceston’s Michael Stingel has returned bigger and better after establishing himself as one of the TSL’s best on-ball bulls before Saturday’s grand final.

TSL. Michael Stingel North Launceston. North Hobart V North Launceston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

When former North Launceston coach Brad Cox-Goodyer confirmed they’d lured Michael Stingel back to the club, he warned he’d be bigger and more durable.

After two injury affected seasons at SANFL club Norwood, Stingel clearly used it to put on bulk and has transformed himself into one of the TSL’s top midfielders.

The 21-year-old won the 2021 Richardson Medal awarded to the league’s best young player, before heading to the mainland to try his luck.

Unfortunately he didn’t receive much with ankle and quad injuries hurting his chances of breaking into Norwood’s best team, and he played one senior game.

Known more as an outside runner early in his career, Stingel has morphed into a tough-as-nails ball winner.

He missed a game late in the season through soreness, but a week off after the qualifying final win over Clarence means he’s “100 per cent” for Saturday’s home ground final against Lauderdale.

TSL. Tigers V North Launceston. Michael Stingel North Launceston and Kieran Lovell Tigers. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Stingel hasn’t spoken to media after returning to the Bombers until now, and is prepared to let his eye-catching performances do the talking.

He said he’s put in the work to be part of gun Bombers engine room alongside fellow youngster Oscar Van Dam and club legend Brad Cox-Goodyer.

All three were named in the TSL team of the year this week.

“I started off half-back and that built my desperation to hunt the footy,” Stingel said.

“This pre season I did a lot of behind the scenes work and it’s helped me become the player I am now.

“Us three (midfield) boys have known each other for a few years. We know how each other plays and the best match-ups, we trust each other.”

Stingel has effectively proven to be a straight swap in the midfield for former Bombers captain Ben Simpson, who signed with Norwood for this season.

He admitted he couldn’t imagine the Bombers would be 19-0 and looking to cap a perfect season in the decider at UTAS Stadium.

“At the end of the day it’s just another game of footy really, even though the stakes are a bit higher,” he said.

“If we can just cope with that pressure, I don’t really think about the rest of the season.

“I gained a bit of knowledge (at Norwood) and it was an eye opener to the standard on the mainland.

Bomber Michael Stingel during the 2021 TSL grand final. Picture: Linda Higginson

“It didn’t really go my way and I thought I’d come back here for a year and get grounded again.

“I’ve had a few weeks off and a little niggle, it’s 100 per cent now and feels pretty good.”

Stingel said he may look at Tasmania’s looming VFL side, targeted to enter the competition in 2026, as an option.

But sealing the deal in Saturday’s grand final is the sole goal on his mind.

“I’m focused just on this week, we’ve trained all year for it so it would be pretty selfish to start thinking about the coming months,” he said.

“Potentially (Tasmania VFL is an option), like I said though we’ll focus on this weekend first, and then focus on the future.”