Five players have been named for a senior debut as North Launceston prepares to host Launceston in the TSL's opening round.
Meeting their Northern rivals for the first time since last year's grand final, the Blues will unveil Zach Morris as a replacement for suspended defender Jamieson House.
The Northern Bombers, meanwhile, have named Michael Stingel, Angus Jefferies, Ryan Whitney and Harry Bayles.
Both sides made exactly nine changes to their 22 from grand final day last year, with coaches Mitch Thorp and Brad Cox-Goodyer excited to get a look at their respective new faces.
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"Ryan Whitney is a tough little nugget, he can play everywhere and he's definitely ready for senior football - he's an old-fashioned footballer who gets the job done," Bombers coach Cox-Goodyer said.
"Harry Bayles is a bit of a freak of a player who can do special things - he's got a bit of wow factor about him.
"Angus Jefferies has some great leg speed and provides good pressure."
Stingel was one of the Bombers' best players in last year's development league finals series and only turned 18 late last year.
"Stinga is quite quick as well - he's very skilful and takes the game on, he's not afraid to take it on and make mistakes.
"His back end of [2020] was really good - he hasn't been playing footy that much, so his improvement last year was ridiculous.
"From the start of the year to the back of the year, he was close to playing senior footy, so he gets a crack and it's fully deserved."
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The reigning premiers have handed club debuts to Cody Thorp and James Dowling, while Josh Woolley and Brayden Pitcher return to the line-up after six and five years respectively.
Morris will play his first game at senior level after being named as an emergency for last year's grand final.
"He was right in the mix to play in the grand final even though he hadn't played a senior game all year and he's really matured, he's ready to play senior footy," Thorp said.
"It was quite an easy decision really - he's a really popular teammate so I'm really looking forward to seeing Zach become a senior player."
Jayden Hinds returns to seniors after starring in last season's development league grand final, with brother Jake to captain in Jobi Harper's absence.
ROUND ONE TEAMS
NORTH LAUNCESTON v LAUNCESTON
UTAS Stadium
Seniors: Friday, 6.30pm
North Launceston
- B: M. Cossins, C. Nankervis, B. Van Buuren
- HB: M. Walsh, W. Edmunds, J. Foon
- C: R. Sanders, B. Cox-Goodyer, B. Simpson
- HF: D. Withers, T. Bennett, N. Pearce
- F: J. Rushton, T. Donnelly, Z. Burt
- R: A. Lee, O. Sanders, J. Avent
- Int: R. Whitney, M. Stingel, H. Bayles, A. Jefferies
- Emg: A. Potter, O. Van dam , J. Kerr, D. Chugg
Launceston
- B: J. Boyd, J. Smith, Z. Morris
- HB: J. Woolley, A. Wright, M. Hodge
- C: C. Brown, J. Hinds, B. Palfreyman
- HF: B. Taylor, J. Groenewegen, J. Blackberry
- F: J. Dowling, D. Riley, M. Musicka
- R: C. Thorp, G. Holt, B. Pitcher
- Int: T. Miller, J. Tuthill, J. Hinds, B. Pearce
- Emg: C. Riethoff, J. Maloney, H. Leedham, S. Foley
Development league: Friday, 3.30pm
North Launceston
- From: L. Bryan, C. Leeflang, N. Wade, T. Ives, B. Leary, A. Bourne, A. Potter, B. Pyke, C. Chugg, J. Harris, E. Hubbard, O. Van dam , J. Kerr, J. Russell, M. Nicholas, C. Evans, J. Riley, O. Chugg, W. Manshanden, C. Plummer, J. Wallace, D. Chugg, B. Mitchell, L. Mitchell, J. Mazengarb
Launceston
- From: B. Pearce, J. Lewis, T. Aganas, T. Miller, C. Riethoff, J. Cowell, K. Lunson, A. Williams, J. Gillow, C. Warren, R. Filgate, J. Marsden, A. Schoenmaker, J. Maloney, H. Leedham, J. Tuthill, B. Gillow, L. Jones, M. Larby, K. Chilcott, C. Jones, J. Rice, B. Fellows, J. Price, D. Mclean, J. Hinds, L. Canny, A. Wilkinson, S. Foley, J. Donnellan
Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
