While the NTFA season will see no football played before at least May 31, teams are still mentally preparing for their shots at glory.
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In the sixth of a series of previews on the NTFA's division one, The Examiner looks at 2018 premiers East Coast, who come into the season under the leadership of Gene Savage.
Coach: Gene Savage
Captain: Lewis Ritchie
2019 finish: Third - 11 wins and five losses. Eliminated by St Pats in preliminary final.
Ins: Majak Miar (Bracknell), Cam Upton, Chae Evans, Liam McCarroll, Beau Callow, Shayne Goldfinch (all returning. Evans from illness, McCarroll from a year off and Callow from Victoria), Gary Worker (Perth), Andrew Zammit (Prospect), Matthew McConnon, Luke Graham (both Swansea), Ethan Crossingham, Ross Fleming, Liam Davern (all returning from North Launceston), Michael O'Keefe, Justin Barnett (both Mole Creek), Hunter Robinson, Brayden Singline, Byron Johnson, Zaymond Curtis (all East Coast Giants, the club's junior program), Adam Marland (Longford).
Outs: Michael Musicka (Launceston), Corey Bosworth (retired), Michael Murfett (Rocherlea), Nick Denholm (South Launceston), Gene Savage (retired)
Who's impressed: "Young Ethan Crossingham has been a standout," Savage said.
"Gary Worker has been solid and some of the young guys like Beau Callow, Adam Marland, Liam Davern have been fantastic so just to have that energy around the club - a really good mix of youth and experience."
Coach says: "We are aiming to continue being at the top of the field and remaining relevant in the league.
"We've obviously lost some talent at the top end, we think we've done a really good job of trying to fulfill that with some recruiting and just to try and develop the young guys to transition through the next couple of seasons for the future.
OTHER PREVIEWS
"The recruits have fitted in absolutely amazing. They've brought a really good energy to the club and some fresh faces and some quite talented players that have the older guys especially up on their toes again which is really good and a good way for the young guys to follow.
"The guys are training in pairs at the moment and keeping their fitness levels up - obviously kicking the footballs and stuff.
"The main thing is we've tried to continue to communicate as a group and just keep everyone connected through what is a really uncertain time.
"We are all looking forward to some sort of official direction from the league and the government as to whether we can get this season underway because there are a lot of guys keen to get out there.
"Having played my last couple of years with the club has really helped me identify some future players and build really good relationships with the current guys who are looking to try and continue some success."