TSL grand final day is the backdrop as Ollie and Ryley Sanders write the next chapter of their family's long association with North Launceston.
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OLLIE
A development league premiership player with North last year, the 18-year-old has enjoyed a breakout senior season in 2020.
Playing across wing and half-back, the St Patrick's College student has played every game save for the weekend of the SATIS grand final.
"It's been a good year personally and for the club, I've just come out and given my best effort every week and played with a bit of confidence," he said ahead of his first senior grand final.
"It's been a long year starting back in November but it's just good to make it to the end and give it everything we've got."
Having played his first senior game in 2018, Sanders enjoyed a proud moment last month when he lined up alongside younger brother Ryley in the 15-year-old's senior debut.
"That was pretty surreal really - coming into the year I would never have thought it would have happened this early," he said.
"It's always been a dream of mine personally to play with him and I got the chance to play with him in school footy as well, so that was unreal - a pretty special day for not only me and him but for the family as well."
RYLEY
North's senior playing group got creative in telling the youngest Sanders he'd been picked for a debut.
The 15-year-old was called out the front at Thursday night training ahead of round 12's trip to Kingborough.
"Because I collect footy cards there was a bit of a joke going around that a few boys would buy me a few packets," he said.
"I got out there in front of all the senior group and Taylor [Whitford] gave me a pack of footy cards and he said 'you have to open them all and then show the boys'.
"The last one said that I was debuting so that was very special - I've got to keep the cards."
After two games in seniors, Sanders returned to kick a goal in last weekend's development league preliminary final win over Kingborough.
He will be at least one year younger than every other player in Saturday's grand final clash with Launceston.
"I'm very excited and very lucky to be able to do it at a young age, so just really keen and excited to hopefully get a win," he said.
"[Playing senior footy] was a lot faster and more physical, but it was very good to learn and have that higher standard to get me better."
ADAM
The Sanders brothers weren't always destined to wind up at North Launceston.
Father Adam was a 150-gamer and life member at North but proved equally as successful at Windsor Park, coaching the Blues to three flags between 2006-08.
The ex-Tassie Mariners coach said he was grateful for how his sons have been welcomed into the club.
"We've always lived right next door to York Park so when it's come to them playing it just happened that their mates [were here] and we live close by and that's why we ended up at North," he said.
"With Ollie he was more a soccer player, but Ozzie Young and Taylor Whitford were keen to get him to play here and it's just been good - it's been good for me to reconnect with the club."
Sanders said Ryley's debut had been a "really special" day for he, wife Angelique and grandparents Rob and Maree.
"It was quite emotional actually because they're two and a half years difference in age so they haven't played much together," he said.
"With Ryley we weren't sure he'd play this year - he's still bottom-age under-16s so he's developed pretty quickly and Ollie's had a bit of a breakout year.
"I just like to see them doing well and making their own little mark."
ROB
Adam's father Rob was made a North Launceston legend in 2017 and boasts 55 years' worth of friendships and history with the club.
A 10-year playing career evolved into a 10-year coaching stint and he has since served in a multitude of roles including football manager.
"We're actually fourth generation, Dad [Maxwell] was a committee man during my time here," he said.
"I started in the thirds and continued through the seniors and I'm fortunate enough to have met a lot of great people and we're still good friends.
"It's fantastic - I was lucky enough to watch Adam through his career and now the boys are cycling through again.
"They've both been so far quite successful in their pursuits so I'm very proud of them."
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