South Launceston takes hall of fame honour

South will be officially inducted as a ‘great club’ at a presentation ceremony in June, when AFL Tasmania honours the 140-year history of a club which formed from a 1986 merger between City-South and East Launceston. 

“We’re really proud of the award, it’s a true credit to the people that have been a part of this football club for what’s nearly 140 years,” president Felicity Viney said. 

“It’s a credit to the people who are part of this football club at moment, but more importantly it’s a credit to those who have been through the journey of East Launceston and City-South and there’s been some instrumental people along the way.”

Past president Rod Patterson said the club had done well to work through two “emotional” stints in the State League, as well as the 1986 merger. 

“That was a really tough period for our football club because those two great football clubs had their own identity and when we merged them into one football club… there was a lot of mixed feelings,” Patterson said.

“So over the years we’ve worked really hard to honour the East Launceston and City-South football clubs and we’ve started to get some of those old players and committee members back which we’re really proud of.”

City-South won 30 league flags between 1883 and and 1974, while East Launceston won its sole premiership in 1967.

South Launceston has won five flags including three of the past four NTFA division 1 titles.

The Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at Hobart’s Wrest Point Casino on June 23.