Deloraine coach Lochy Dornauf has called for the return of representative football as his Roos gear towards backing up a successful 2020. After a five-year rep footy hiatus, the NTFA thrashed disappointing SFL senior and under-18 outfits in 2018 before dropping all three games against the NWFL and the SFLW in 2019. The concept was given a miss in 2020 despite all three major regional competitions getting off the ground, but retains the support of players and coaches. "I'd love to see the rep footy come back again this year," Dornauf said. "We're super keen for that and I know [South Launceston coach] Ant Taylor is a big advocate after speaking with him at the start of the year. "We're keen to get that back and keen to feature a fair few of our players in that team as well." RELATED: NTFA bolts away as SFL fails to fire 2019 NTFA representative squads named SFL too strong for NTFA's rep team Deloraine snapped a 41-year title drought in September by outmuscling Rocherlea in the NTFA Shield grand final. Two months on, the celebrations are winding up as the Roos set about defending their flag in a full-length season with Hillwood, South Launceston and George Town returning to the senior stage. "It's been incredible - a tale of two stages," he said. "You've got the highs of winning but then we've come back a little bit later - we still haven't formally come back to training despite having optional training. "We want to give our players a bit more of a break - both the physical side but also the mental side of things as well. "When you're training for almost 11 months during the COVID and pre-COVID area ... it was pretty draining overall so we're looking to rebuild a couple of weeks before Christmas." MORE SPORT: TSLW needs more support, says Smith Grandson of NTFA star could be AFL's no.1 draft pick Kolodjashnij reveals toll of repeated concussions Clubs have been busy recruiting ahead of the new season with South Launceston among the most active. Dornauf said the Roos were unlikely to be major players in off-season movements this year. "We've got a very similar team to last year - we've retained the top seven in our best and fairest and a couple of boys have headed back home for personal reasons," Dornauf said. "Matty O'Donoghue obviously has retired after giving a long part of his career and services to Deloraine Football Club so we're going to be blooding a fair few more junior and younger boys. "[Recruiting-wise] we've got a couple of irons in the fire - we haven't put pen to paper with the ones we've wanted as yet, they're ongoing. "We've noticed a few others in the league have gone to other clubs as well which we're excited about - if they're not coming to us we certainly want them to come to our competition in the NTFA and continue to build."
SET: Roos president Don Tracey and coaches Brad Powe, Lochy Dornauf, Craig Lovell, Stewart Nankervis and Adam Robinson. Picture: Hamish Geale
Deloraine coach Lochy Dornauf has called for the return of representative football as his Roos gear towards backing up a successful 2020.
After a five-year rep footy hiatus, the NTFA thrashed disappointing SFL senior and under-18 outfits in 2018 before dropping all three games against the NWFL and the SFLW in 2019.
The concept was given a miss in 2020 despite all three major regional competitions getting off the ground, but retains the support of players and coaches.
"I'd love to see the rep footy come back again this year," Dornauf said.
"We're super keen for that and I know [South Launceston coach] Ant Taylor is a big advocate after speaking with him at the start of the year.
"We're keen to get that back and keen to feature a fair few of our players in that team as well."
Deloraine snapped a 41-year title drought in September by outmuscling Rocherlea in the NTFA Shield grand final.
Two months on, the celebrations are winding up as the Roos set about defending their flag in a full-length season with Hillwood, South Launceston and George Town returning to the senior stage.
"It's been incredible - a tale of two stages," he said.
"You've got the highs of winning but then we've come back a little bit later - we still haven't formally come back to training despite having optional training.
"We want to give our players a bit more of a break - both the physical side but also the mental side of things as well.
"When you're training for almost 11 months during the COVID and pre-COVID area ... it was pretty draining overall so we're looking to rebuild a couple of weeks before Christmas."
Clubs have been busy recruiting ahead of the new season with South Launceston among the most active.
Dornauf said the Roos were unlikely to be major players in off-season movements this year.
"We've got a very similar team to last year - we've retained the top seven in our best and fairest and a couple of boys have headed back home for personal reasons," Dornauf said.
"Matty O'Donoghue obviously has retired after giving a long part of his career and services to Deloraine Football Club so we're going to be blooding a fair few more junior and younger boys.
"[Recruiting-wise] we've got a couple of irons in the fire - we haven't put pen to paper with the ones we've wanted as yet, they're ongoing.
"We've noticed a few others in the league have gone to other clubs as well which we're excited about - if they're not coming to us we certainly want them to come to our competition in the NTFA and continue to build."
Follow us
Ad blocker issue
Your ad blocker may be preventing you from
being able to log in or subscribe.
