With 2020's NTFA Shield kicking off on Saturday, The Examiner sat down with the nine participating senior men's coaches and asked two key questions.
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They were:
- What is the expectation for your side this season?
- Who will be a "player to watch" within your team?
Bracknell: Andrew Philpott
Expectations: "As long as my players are learning and growing as a unit, I think that's the important part of this season," he said.
"The end result will take care of itself in terms of the Shield but pretty much, the boys have gone through a bit of a phase of learning.
"We've done a big pre-season, we've been going since November and that's why I didn't want to let it go and when the NTFA pulled the pin, we were as disappointed as anyone.
"We continued to train in our pairs and then 10s and 20s and it's paid off because they are up and about and I can see the improvement from November to now has been pretty big."
Player to watch: "I think Corry Goodluck is as fit as I have seen him so he will be looking for a big season to lead him into next year."
Bridgenorth: Gary Shipton
Expectations: "Obviously we've lost a lot of experienced players from last year, so we will be putting a few younger blokes through. I think it's going to be a fairly good competition to be perfectly honest," Shipton said.
Player to watch: "We've got a few young blokes who have come from other clubs - a few young Launnie blokes and Prospect - young Tom Boucher and Will Robinson, who came from Launnie, they are two off the top of my head."
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Deloraine: Lochy Dornauf
Expectations: "We are pretty excited," Dornauf said.
"We've got a very good young list, we've got some experienced bodies as well that we've recruited and also have from last year as well.
"In terms of our expectations, we are pretty confident of where we are at.
"Game day obviously brings around a different feel so we will have to re-evaluate every couple of weeks but right now, our confidence is up and we are excited to watch."
Player to watch: "It would be James Carpenter.
"He is a young man from Burnie, he won our unders best and fairest last year, he had 54 touches in a game and he's really transferred into senior football now.
"His body's gotten a lot stronger, his confidence is right up now and he's starting to dominate games. I see him being a very, very handy footballer in our league in a couple of years as well."
Meander Valley: Damien Rhind
Expectations: "We are just happy to get out there and have a kick of the footy," he said.
"There's been quite a few of us who have been starved of socialising with each other at training and getting around each other and having a bit of a chat and an update of what's been happening through the week.
"So we aren't really focused too heavily on a lot of wins, it's just about getting out there and having a go."
Player to watch: "Matty Nicholson has been really, really keen and been training really, really well. He'd be the one that's going to have a good crack and step up a little bit."
Old Scotch: Brayley Coombes
Expectations: "It's unknown really but the boys are really looking forward to the challenge and it's quite exciting," he said.
"We don't know really what to expect from clubs within our normal division let alone playing against sides up a division, so we will soon know come five o'clock Saturday."
Player to watch: "I reckon we will have a number of players that could surprise.
"We've had an influx of 20-23-year-olds that have returned to the state because of what's going on who have been studying in Melbourne predominantly and they all have strong connections to the club.
"Either their parents played there or they are ex-schoolboys who have played a bit over the last few years, so I think we will have a handful of players that could surprise opposition teams."
Old Launcestonians: Laine Cleaver
Expectations: "I'd like to be the strongest division one team and would love to take one of the premier league scalps," he said.
"A pass mark for us would be to be the best division one team in this comp."
Player to watch: "Brady Willes and Sam Rawlings are both going to be nice and quick through the midfield.
"Even Darren Crawford, who has overcome an injury and had an operation at the end of last year, he's been moving really well the last couple of weeks and I'm really pumped to see him playing again and he's really excited about being back involved with footy so he will be dangerous up forward."
Rocherlea: Andrew Cox-Goodyer
Expectations: "We've jumped on the NTFA Shield and it's more of a learning curve for our group," he said.
"Having a young group last year and making finals towards the end of the year, we just want to build on that.
"It's not so much about the result, just how we go about our footy and the players willing to play their structures ready for next year.
Player to watch: "Brayden Claridge - he only gets better every year and I think you'll see the best of him in the next two to three years.
"That's why we've put him into a captain's role this year to further his leadership around the group."
ORIGINAL 2020 SEASON PREVIEWS
Scottsdale: Ethan Petterwood
Expectations: "We've got a few new blokes at the club and being my first year back here, I don't really know what to expect," he said.
"We are all keen to have a kick and it is good that we can get a kick in."
Player to watch: "We've got a few young blokes coming through the under-18s but Brad Whish-Wilson and Jacob Singline both had good years last year and have kept pretty fit."
University of Tasmania: Brodie Tiernan
Expectations: "Be competitive and be consistent," he said.
"It's going to obviously be pretty tough, there are some good sides out there but as long as we learn and apply what we've been working on and be effective in that, hopefully we can be competitive and maybe sneak a win."
Player to watch: "I reckon Will Geysing's going to have a really good year.
"He's really fit and running really well and has got some pretty good skills so I reckon he'll go well."
- Throughout this week, interviews with men's and women's captains and coaches will feature in The Examiner.
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