Former Launceston premiership coach Anthony Taylor is hoping the honour of representing the NTFA will shine through as he coaches the side set to take on the NWFL.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a gala day of representative matches to be played on Saturday at Invermay Park, the seniors aim for a repeat result of last year's SFL clash, but Taylor concedes this unit will be a much tougher task.
"Any representative footy is all the same, you're up against quality opponents," Taylor said.
"You've got the best from the relative competitions all in the one team, so we expect it's going to be a tough challenge but we'll certainly be tough ourselves so we look forward to it."
It's going to be a tough challenge but we'll certainly be tough ourselves
- NTFA representative coach, Anthony Taylor
Boasting stars such as captain Leigh Harding, George Town coach Allan O'Sign and Tom Bennett, Taylor hopes Isaac Thompson and Jackson Blair can replicate their NTFA form with an even spread across his players the priority.
"The side have been enthusiastic at training and their commitment to the game has been second-to-none, so we expect on the weekend to have a good four-quarter effort."
Coach of last year's South Launceston premiership side, Harding will take control of the on-field captaincy for the game, but with the amount of experience in the side, downplayed his impending involvement in the match.
"It's a real honour to be captaining this side," Harding said.
"Obviously this group is full of leaders, either blokes who have captained their own club or player-coach, so my role probably isn't going to be too different to anyone else's in the group but obviously it's a real honour to lead the boys out."
With South Launceston a former member of the Northern Tasmanian Football League that has since moved to the NWFL name, Harding is well aware of several of his opponents, having played many seasons against some of his combatants come Saturday.
"I'm probably one of the older guys in the side so there's a few names there that I do recognise through playing against in the old NTFL days when we were involved there, so really excited to rub shoulders with those guys again and obviously to get the big 'w' and have a few beers and catch up with them afterwards."
The representative encounters are set for an 11am start with Bridgenorth's Jack de Wit leading out the under-18s in their clash, followed by Harding and Taylor's seniors taking on the North West at 12:50pm before Letitia Johnson takes control of the NTFAW side, who face the SFL at 3:15pm.
Entry and programs for the gala day will be free.