TSL: Josh Ponting re-signs with North Launceston

Two-time reigning Alastair Lynch Medallist Josh Ponting will play out season 2020 with the Northern Bombers after completing a move from Rocherlea this week.

In doing so he became the first player signed under the new transfer by-law which allows players whose clubs are not competing in 2020 to make a season-long switch to another club.

The 25-year-old, who plans to return to Rocherlea when the TSL season wraps up on October 18, said he was raring to play footy after teammates gave his return the tick of approval.

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"It was just a conversation between me and [coach Taylor Whitford] touching base and I said as long as it was ok with the boys at the club I'd be happy to come back and have a kick," he said.

"I'm pretty happy to be back having a kick with the boys and I think they're pretty excited to have me back as well.

"It's sort of like I never left to be honest - I rolled back in [to training] and it was the same sort of conversations and all that stuff.

"That's what its always been like at North, you can go for a period of time and come back and it's like you never left, it's one of the good things about the club."

A four-time TSL premiership player, Ponting enjoyed an incredible season with the Northern Bombers in 2019.

After winning a Darrel Baldock Medal for best on ground in the grand final win over Lauderdale, the classy ball-winner edged out Launceston and Kingborough midfielders Jobi Harper and Kieran Lovell to claim a second straight Alastair Lynch Medal.

He announced a return to boyhood club Rocherlea in December.

Josh Ponting's relocation to North Launceston comes with a desire to fast-track his own replacement.

The state's best player two years running, Ponting made an unexpected return to UTAS Stadium earlier this month after the NTFA season was called off.

With four months between his arrival and the end of the season, Ponting hopes to put as much time as possible into the likes of Sherrin Egger, Jack Rushton and Hillwood recruit Dan Withers to solidify North's list moving forward.

"I've sort of taken a bit more of a different role at North this year," he said.

"I just want to work with a few younger boys, help them out and fast-track them a little bit and give something back to the club instead of just going down there and playing footy.

"It'll be nice to get down there, work with them and watch those boys grow and hopefully they can slot into the role I've been playing the last couple of years.

"If they can pick one or two things up from me this year that they can take away and work on that'll be really good I reckon."

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Ponting's decision to step away from the demanding nature of TSL football came as he and wife Claudia welcomed the arrival of their first daughter Mila.

The coronavirus outbreak has since cut this year's TSL season to just 12 home and away games - meaning just five Hobart trips - and two rounds of finals, making committing to a season much more achievable.

"It was a good time for footy to stop, I got to spend a bit more time at home," Ponting said.

"I've really enjoyed being at home and it's been a really different experience being a father.

"The late nights definitely throw a curveball in - probably for my wife more than me - but it's been really exciting and it's been really great to become a dad and watch Claudia become a mother.

"Part of the reason I stopped playing State League was to take a step back and spend a bit of time with Claudia and Mila, but with a shortened season it's only three months of footy and we don't have to do a whole lot of travelling.

"It'll be an interesting season but it'll be a good one I reckon."