The NTFA will have a new-look division 2 this season with two additional clubs joining and a revised finals format.
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Former NEFU clubs Bridport and East Coast will join making a 12-team competition with a final six implemented to accommodate the extra teams.
“We’ve released our rosters and both divisions kick off on Saturday, April 1,” NTFA director Damian Jones said.
“The difference this year with two new clubs coming in, is that we have changed division 2 to fall into line with division 1 where they play 16 games instead of 18 and we are excited about the new clubs who are working hard in their communities to provide a pathway for kids who want to play footy.
“We’ve adopted the McIntyre final six system for div 2 which will give an extra opportunity for a club to make the finals which will still run over a four week period but with three finals in the first week.”
Jones said the other major change was the implementation of an under-18 competition in division 1 to align with AFL Tasmania’s development pathway.
“The NTJFA have re-aligned their age groups for 2017 to under-12, 14s and 16s, so with that two-year buffer it prompted us to make the change to go to under-18s to align with the national structure in other states and all the clubs have embraced it and are working hard on recruitment,” he said.
An NTFA Lightning Premiership will also be re-introduced this season.
“For the first time in about 20 years we will hold a combined Lightning Premiership for division 1 and division 2 clubs at Hillwood on Saturday, March 18,” Jones explained.
“Games will be played with two 15-minute halves but not with clubs going out if they lose their first game.
“Winners and losers will progress into another pool so you keep playing during the day with two grand finals at the end.
“Clubs have normally done their own practice matches over the past few years so not all clubs are available this year because of pre-arranged games but our plan for 2018 is to have a separate division 1 and division 2 Lightning Premiership.”
Jones said NTFA clubs were now in year two of the player points system which the majority of other leagues were adopting for 2017.
