Greater Northern League women's 2021 season preview

Last year: Premiers

Outs: Kiah Williams (South Launceston), Romani Kenworthy.

Coach says: "It's going to be a little bit harder with a couple of key players missing but it's a good opportunity for some others and young ones to step up.

"We don't really set any expectations and we just follow it as it comes.

"Zayna Jackson is the main one who is looking to step up in their absence as well as Lillian Gates."

Coach: Rick Webb

Last year: Runners-up

Ins: Isabelle Sharman (Canterbury), Madi Clark (Premier League/City Marians), Elise Watson, Zarleena McIvor, Danielle Emmett.

Outs: Morgan West, Samantha Lawrence, Sue Gibson.

Coach says: "Expectation for us is definitely a top-four finish - that's the first priority. I've said to others we can't control what happens to others so if we work on our game, top-four priority and see where we rank come finals time.

"Number two is just to improve on the basics of the groups so we can get more team-orientated play going and build on that as the young ones come through and take over.

"They are starting to combine really well at this time of the year. Obviously the more game time we have, the more that they will start to gel."

ELSEWHERE IN SPORT

Coach: Lisa Griffiths

Last year: Third, defeated in semi-finals

Ins: Allison Duncombe, Kim Skene, Jenna Grice, Chloe Leary, Macey Wolfe.

Outs: Jen Phillips (Queensland University), Eve Taylor (Hobart), Leah Denny.

Coach says: "Definitely a top-four finish at the minimum [is the expectation this season].

"We had a practice match the other day against our men and everyone found it very warm given we are still getting beautiful days so it will be interesting how the first couple of rounds go when we've got weather like this but we will largely be taking a full complement into the games.

"We've been lucky to have a few come back so we've been able to field a full complement of three women's teams this year and I think we are one of the few. We've got more depth than we've had in the past few years."

Coach: Nic Duffy

Last year: Fourth, defeated in preliminary finals

Ins: Laura Tuson

Outs: Emma Kremerskothen

Coach says: "We want to play in the state club cup, so that means we need to be in the top four to enable that to happen when the first round occurs.

"Like everybody, we want to play finals. Obviously last year we made the prelim and lost and we'd obviously like to go one better and make the grand final.

"It is realistic, we've got the group to do it and the group is fit, fast, young and certainly our younger players have another year under their belt which definitely helps in this competition.

"The core group have played together for a while now so I think that's to our advantage as well."

Coach: Andrew Lancaster

Last year: Fifth

Ins: Kiah Williams (City Marians), Shelley Spencer, Alison Baker.

Coach says: "We've done some goal-setting and our big one is to finish in the top four. Obviously once we get there we are obviously then looking to work through finals the best that we can.

"I think we've got a really solid team this year with a lot of flexibility across the field and a strong bench.

"Hayley Johns put a few goals away and surprised everyone towards the end of the season so we are looking at big things from her. We've got Nicole Symonds in the middle of the field who will also help control the game."

Coach: Alissia Pearson

Last year: Sixth

Ins: Andrea Pearson, Ellie Fearn, Erin Axton.

Outs: Hayley Vimpany, Isabel Partridge, Alissia Pearson (injury).

Coach says: "We are just looking to develop as a young group and utilise the strength that we have with our older girls.

"I feel like we have a good balance at the moment, we've got some strong experienced players as well as some good up-and-coming juniors, so it should prove to be a good combination.

"Chloe White's been quite impressive with both fitness and her ability in preparation for the under-15s as well as the regulars in Lynette Stebbings and Lucy Murgatroyd."

Coach: Nick Stokes

Last year: Seventh

Ins: Leah House, Laura Korpershoek, Connie Perry, Demi Littlejohn.

Outs: Emma Spinks

Coach says: "[The returning players] all add experience and leadership without labelling it as leadership, they are all handy players and good role models for the younger players.

"Last year we had some really close games that just didn't go our way through lack of experience so the expectation this year is going to be to score the points when we've earned them.

"There were a few games last year where we thought we deserved a win or a draw and just didn't quite get over the line. If things go our way, we would like to start climbing the ladder."

Coach: Yvette Lee

Ins: Kaylah Rataj, Jess Bailey.

Coach says: "The majority were in the Coastal team that won the grand final last year so they've continued.

"This is our 40th year celebration so it was important to make sure we got a team.

"We know it's going to be really tough, we've got a lot of young kids but you've got to put them up there and get the experience.

"We've got West Devonport straight up, so can you get any harder? Then we back it up with South Burnie. We can't worry about them, we've just got to worry about what we can do and try and do that really well.

"We know that we are going to lose games but we don't want to get thrashed, so as long as we are prepared to put in that second and third effort, we've got a minimum that we expect."