Tasmanian Devils coach Adrian Fletcher wasted no time in handpicking a number of promising teenagers that are expected to drive the state's rookie under-18 program.
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Under Fletcher's watchful eye, some of the standout performers in the preseason have been from Launceston and North Launceston.
The Devils' training squad of 70 players have been split into two training camps in the North and South, coming together in recent weekends at Campbell Town.
But Fletcher felt 17-year-olds William Harper from Launceston and Issac Chugg from Longford, and North Launceston pair Ben Simpson, 18, and 19-year-old Rhyan Mansfield, were among the most impressive.
"There's some real good quality right through the different age brackets," Fletcher said of the quartet.
"So we have some good kids coming through in the North of the state.
"We'll keep adding to this program as we find them too.
"We do need more talls and we'll target that as a key objective as well."
There's some real good quality right through the different age brackets
- Tasmania Devils under-18 coach Adrian Fletcher
Fletcher was full of praise for the two Northern State League clubs for their part in creating players capable of having an impact in the new under-18 NAB League that replaces the Victorian-based TAC Cup competition.
"The clubs have done a fantastic job and we're here to create volume into their programs as well," he said.
"If they're not playing for the Devils as there is only 23 playing week in, week out, we're going to have possibly 10 go back to Launceston, 10 go back to North Launceston in the long term.
"That just creates a better brand right across the state."
Fletcher is a big supporter of exposing teenagers against the rigours of men in the TSL.
The 231-game AFL centreman debuted for Glenorchy as a 16-year-old back in 1985.
He thinks the Devils' program will lift the State League to those halcyon days.
"Hopefully we'll give a lot of kids opportunity, but we'll also close the door on our 19-year-olds going to South Australia or in the NEAFL," Fletcher said.
"If you play against men, it happens in South Australia, it happens in Queensland, in the NEAFL or the VFL, it's a good path to take."
The final Devils squad to be cut to 50 players will be announced later this week.
The Devils will have a bye in the opening round of the competition before beginning their campaign against the Swans Academy at Blacktown on Saturday, March 30.
Their first home match is against Calder Cannons at Penguin on Sunday, April 14.