- GROUND: Prospect Park
- PRESIDENT: Danny Linger (seniors)
- NC: Coach Justin Dyer; last season 6th (W5, D1, L8; F27 A36), top scorers Josh Bula, Stefan Tantari (5). First game Devonport (h) 2.15pm Saturday
- NC1 RESERVES: Coach Marcel Braetigan; last season 5th (W3, D2, L7; F25 A30), top scorer Wayne Wager (8). First game Devonport (h) 12pm Saturday
- NC WOMEN: Coach Barry Baker; last season 6th (W4, D2, L8; F23 A39), top scorer Sarah Campbell (4). First game Devonport (h) 12pm Saturday
- UNDER-18s: Coach Dan Smith
NPL TASMANIA
- COACH: Lino Sciulli
- DEPARTURES: Sam Ridgard, Rob Gerrard (both Rochedale Rovers), Noah Mies (Newcastle Olympic), Gedi Krusa (Queensland), Dan Nash (Riverside)
- ARRIVALS: Will Compagne, Will Rodman, Shane Egan (all Launceston United)
- LAST SEASON: 8th (W1, D1, L12; F13, A32, Pts 4), top scorer Sam Ridgard (6)
- PRE-SEASON: L 0-9 v Olympia (a); W 3-2 v Zebras (a); L 0-3 v Kingborough (h)
- ROUND 1: Devonport (h) 4.30pm Saturday
LINO Sciulli is looking on the bright side of his appointment as interim coach following the resignation of Roger Hardwicke.
"It's not ideal preparation but I hate coaching pre-season anyway so it's worked out well," joked the experienced NPL Tasmania tactician.
"I've got a really good bunch of boys that are going to lose some games and hopefully win some but they'll be getting in, having a go and playing some good football."
Having lost the experience of Sam Ridgard, Rob Gerrard, Gedi Krusa, Dan Nash and Noah Mies, with Charlie Dyer likely to be playing under his dad, Justin, in the Northern Championship, Sciulli will be heavily reliant on the returning Shane Egan, Will Rodman and Will Compagne from Launceston United.
How's the squad?
It's as good as it can get until we find more players. That's just the reality of it. We don't have any money, there are no players around and the league we are playing in is governed by how much money you can get.
The reality is, the sponsorship is just not there with COVID and we cannot attract people because we don't have the money other clubs have, so we need to make good players out of our juniors.
It's a really tough gig to be in the NPL at the moment but we'll do our best to be competitive and see how things go.
Shane (Egan) went right through the junior ranks at City and is black and white through and through.
Will Compagne was our under-18s' winning captain a couple of years ago so is a big part of this club. He's a very good player and developed in bulk as well so is getting to be a good shape to play NPL.
Season aim?
I want to win every game, but realistically we just want to make some good kids play some good football.
Player to watch?
Will Rodman played two or three seasons of NPL under me and is a very under-rated player. I rate him as one of the best in the competition and I think people will probably see that this year.
Then there's Stef Tantari and James Hawes, plus it's nice to see young players like Mason Gardner and Jacob Horton in defence getting better every week.
Top goal-scorer?
Will Fleming, Dan Smith and hopefully we'll get some goals from Stef Tantari who came through the junior ranks and sat on the bench in the NPL at Devonport quite a bit. He is now more than capable of going through the rigours of the NPL. He's very good on the ball going forward, although we maybe need to work on his defence.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
