Former Launceston premiership coach Anthony Taylor will slide back into full-time senior coaching in 2020 at South Launceston.
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Leading the Blues to statewide success in 2011, Taylor has juggled NTFA representative duties while an assistant coach at the Bulldogs and will take the reins from Aaron Viney, who will stay at the club as a player.
"It was an opportunity that came up when Aaron decided that he was only doing it for the one season and after speaking to the club for a couple of weeks, I decided it was time to get back into it," Taylor said.
"It's five minutes from home, the kids play junior footy up there, I've had two years there assisting Leigh and it seemed the right fit."
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Stepping into the senior role, Taylor joins a freshly-minted leadership group featuring assistant coaches Leigh Harding and Rory Mansell alongside reserves coach Paul Dodds, under-18s mentor Daniel Johnston and fitness coach Nick Denholm.
"I'm really looking forward to working with Leigh again with the roles switched now, with him being assistant coach.
"But also with Nick Denholm back as our fitness coach, Rory Mansell as our assistant, Paul Dodds as a passionate football man who will do the seconds and Dano Johnston is a heart and soul senior player at the club and I couldn't think of a better guy to lead our under-18s."
Winning four out of the last six premierships, the Bulldogs have been a dominant force in the NTFA and achieved a solid result this season - finishing fifth on the ladder before being knocked out in the elimination final.
Looking to shorten the gap between the junior and senior clubs, Taylor is looking to gradually improve his new side's playing list.
"The first thing we are working on is player retention and recruitment but at the same time we've also got a lot of work to ensure that the transition from our junior club to our senior club is a bit better.
"So there's a lot of work to do in this space and just to develop the club both on and off the field."
Combining for the NTFA representative side as captain and coach this season, Harding can't wait to have Taylor as his full-time leader.
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"I think it's a fantastic thing for the football club," Harding said.
"Obviously he is a wealth of experience and is probably the most passionate football person that I've ever struck.
"So it's a really positive move for the footy club and I'm excited to repay the favour from a couple of years ago and give him a bit of a hand wherever I can."
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