Why NTFA revamp compelled Bomber to take off
A North Launceston premiership star has revealed the NTFA’s revamp led him to join a SANFL club, and he’s not the only Bomber to chase a fresh challenge. Get the latest here.
North Launceston premiership player Sam Simpson says the fact the NTFA Premier League didn’t present “too much of a challenge” compelled him to become the latest Bomber to exit the club.
The 21-year-old and youngster Toby Callow are the latest Bombers to join SANFL club Norwood, where their older brothers Ben and Jackson respectively also play.
Glenorchy also announced via social media on Thursday they had signed North Launceston dual flag winner and this year’s co-captain Declen Chugg.
After winning the last State League flag unbeaten last year, the Bombers repeated the dose by coasting to the inaugural NTFA Premier League premiership this season with an astounding percentage of 536.
North Launceston had already lost key players Alex Lee and Brad Cox-Goodyer to Latrobe, Jack Avent to Rocherlea and Michael Stingel, Brandon Leary to the Devils’ VFL squad.
“The way footy was going up north, dropping down to the country level, it seemed not too much of a challenge, and coming over here (Adelaide) was the best option for me to keep progressing with my footy,” he said.
“Going out there and having beaten the team by 200 the last time you played them, you just know you don’t have to apply yourself and are going to get the job done.”
Simpson is looking forward to the chance to prove himself again, having bounced back from the heartache of narrowly missing selection for North Launceston’s grand final team in 2024 to play a major role for them in the midfield this year.
He has spent the past fortnight training with the Redlegs.
“Just the professionalism of everything has impressed me a lot, and how the blokes over here go about it,” he said.
“You don’t get a lot of anyone taking the foot off the pedal at training and everyone’s having a good crack trying to prove themselves.
“I’m just trying to kee plying at the highest level I can and improve any aspect I can.”
His brother Ben, a former Bombers co-captain, has spent the past two seasons at Norwood, one of a number of Tasmanians who have found a home there.
“He said if feels like family to him because all the players have moved away from home,” Simpson.
“When there’s time away from the club they all spend a lot of time together and are real close off the field.
“I imagine I might slip out onto the wing again might be a good spot to me to get used to the level.”
Key forward Jackson Callow played three AFL games for Hawthorn in 2022 and is now a key figure in Norwood’s forward line.
Toby impressed this year with his athleticism and ability to take strong overhead marks. He starred up forward with three goals in the Premier League grand final win over Launceston.
He also showed versatility with a couple of standout showings for Tasmania in representative games against Queensland and Sydney/Canberra this year.
Norwood’s large Tasmanian contingent is well documented, and no doubt some would have been targets for the Devils’ inaugural VFL campaign.
But Simpson feels the doubts hanging over Tasmania’s AFL license would have made it difficult for them to make the decision to return home.
“I think all the uncertainty still around the Devils made it hard for them to commit because they’ve built lives over here now,” he said.
“It’s a big ask for them to come back over, with not everything set in stone yet for the Devils. “I imagine it would have made it hard for them to make that decision.”
