Returning to the state's top-flight after two years in the NWFL, the 24-year-old was named in North Launceston's round one side and was not just comfortable, but dominant, from the get-go.

In 19 games he would be named in his side's best on 10 occasions - not bad considering the wealth of match-winners at North Launceston's disposal - and looked every bit as assured as multi-premiership defenders Jay Foon and Jack Avent.

His ability to settle in quickly can be traced all the way back to his teenage years.

Van Buuren didn't play junior football until under-15s, but by under-16s he was already a member of the state academy.

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"I didn't play too much juniors until I was in grade nine - all of my mates played footy up at St Brendan [Shaw College] on the North-West Coast," van Buuren said.

"I jumped out to play at Devonport in the colts so that was a good experience.

"I played there for a few years in the TSL and then after a few years I was up at uni so I dropped back a couple of years just to focus on uni."

Finishing his physical education degree at the end of 2018, van Buuren began his first year of teaching last year and found himself working at Port Dalrymple School alongside Northern Bombers coach Taylor Whitford.

If it was a big deal to juggle learning a new job, new teammates and a new system at the same time, van Buuren didn't show it.

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Except for an unfortunate injury in the semi-final, the ex-Magpie would have finished his first year with a premiership medal to go with TSL team of the year selection and two club awards.

"Obviously that past [TSL] experience helped, but I guess with North Launceston you don't have to be a star player or anything to play there, you just have to play your role within the side," van Buuren said.

"You've got such a great group of blokes and players around you that help you along the way so it was an easy transition into North Launceston - there's no pressure on you to go out there and dominate."

With all football on hold until at least May 31 due to the coronavirus epidemic, van Buuren faces a new challenge in negotiating the uncertainty of when and if the TSL season will get under way.

Yet if past history is anything to go by, North Launceston's backline ball-winner will adapt to the circumstances quicker than most.

"We had a pretty good pre-season - we had good numbers but obviously now it's a little bit different with the restrictions in place," van Buuren said.

"When we first weren't allowed to train we got into our small groups and did a little bit of stuff and now we cant do that either, so it's a lot different and a lot harder to do stuff by yourself or with a partner.

"I suppose we're trying to hold fitness but not peak too early either in case we do play later on in the year - you don't want to run yourself into the ground now.

"We've just got to put a bit of perspective on it knowing that there might not be that opportunity to play this year, but if we do [get to play] our goals are still the same."

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