Administrators are happy that after an “arduous process” next year’s Tasmanian State League fixture will please clubs and its fans.
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The 2018 home and away roster unveiled on Tuesday will begin with three rivalry matches on Good Friday, including a North Launceston and Launceston game at UTAS Stadium.
The annual league-wide bye has been done away with and the grand final will be played a week earlier on Saturday, September 15 at Bellerive Oval – whichever teams are lining up because of planned upgrades to UTAS Stadium’s surface.
Burnie’s first home match will not take place until round 6, with upgrades to West Park also taking place.
Tasmania will not take part in any senior representative football after the North East Australian Football League pulled out of annual fixtures.
TSL general manager Carl Saunder said starting and finishing the season with rivalry matches had been a conscious decision.
“We have brought our finals series forward, which will see us avoid AFL preliminary final day and will help to maximise our grand final attendance,” he said.
“It also assists Tasmanian Football Awards to take place prior to the AFL grand final.”
“Unfortunately, there won’t be representative football next year with the NEAFL opting not to participate. We are disappointed as we see a lot of value in representing the competition and the map but we will continue dialogue with the NEAFL for future years.”
Saunder said the TSL will also avoid directly clashing with Tasmanian AFL games, with no head-to-head regional matches fixtured.
The Northern Bombers, under new coach Taylor Whitford, who will unfurl the premiership flag in round 1 against Launceston, play their first three games at home and return for a one-off, round 14 fixture at Invermay Park against Devonport.
The grand final re-match between North and Lauderdale will be at UTAS Stadium in round 6. North Launceston president Thane Brady said the roster process was “fair and reasonable”.
“It’s so difficult to balance things out – it’s our turn to host Launceston twice in 2018 – however, it wasn't possible to make it work so we’ve agreed Launceston can host us twice and then we will host them twice in 2019 and 2020,” he said.
Launceston coach Sam Lonergan was also happy with the Blues’ path towards possible flag glory.
“I have no issue; it’s the best they can do with the scheduling of AFL games in the state,” Lonergan said.
“As long as you get nine home and nine away games, that’s probably as good as it gets.”
TSLW and development league fixtures will be released in the coming days.