Tasmanian Netball League's reigning champions are carrying on business as usual despite a disrupted start to 2019.
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Ruth Tuohy's Northern Hawks took out the nine-team competition last year, securing their first title in 23 years by knocking off perennial champions Arrows in a dominant grand final performance.
But a turbulent off-season for the state's top-flight competition has resulted in two clubs dropping out and the roster beginning a month earlier than expected.
Having been originally scheduled to return on the last weekend in April, clubs were informed earlier this month that the opening round would instead take place on the last weekend in March.
An eight-team roster had been expected when OHA withdrew in November, but Netball Tasmania was forced back to the drawing board when a lack of playing numbers sentenced Burnie to the same fate as the town's men's and women's State League football sides.
Tuohy said the earlier kick-off wouldn't trouble her side, but was concerned about a fractured pathway for players on the North-West.
"I think we reassessed it about two weeks ago looking at the roster changes, but we’re pretty happy with where the girls are currently sitting," Tuohy said.
"They don't get a lot of time off - we finished in September ... we selected in October and the girls have been doing a lot of work on their fitness.
"It’s disappointing that [Burnie has] had to pull out given there’s a fair bit going on in that region with them leaving the State League football.
"Our club has discussed where the opportunities for the upcoming players in Burnie are now - that’s more what I've thought about, if the pathways will still be available for them.
"It’s sad because they’ve provided pathways and opportunities for players so it’s (a question of) will they be able to regroup from there."
Tuohy said the timing of Burnie's announcement had made it difficult for players to find new homes.
"With them having to pull out so late, any of the players that were in those teams have missed out on opportunities to come to other State League clubs - for us we’ve already selected our teams.
"They haven’t had the opportunity to come and trial for Cavs and Hawks because they’re already selected."
The Hawks have made two handy additions to their list ahead of their season opener against Karana at the Silverdome on March 30, with sisters Tessa and Lydia Coote crossing over from Cavaliers.
The Scottsdale-based pair will strengthen a side which only lost two games last season.
"They bring a lot of experience and some different dimensions to the team, so they’ve been warmly welcomed and have fitted in really well," Tuohy said.