South Launceston
Coach: Al McBain
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Ins: Felix Peel, Scott Higgins (New Zealand), Stuart Withington (Queechy Penguins).
Outs: Sam Beckett (Melbourne), Jack Foley (University)
Coach says: "Expectation is still in the top two playing in that grand final and anything short of a grand final win is probably a loss for us this year because we've got the core group of guys and we've added well and are shaping up alright.
"They've fitted in really well, it's been a smooth transition. We've got a good core group of players who are pretty easy to play with, so they are excited to play and we are keen to see them in action coming next week.
"Last year was a funny year, we were at a point where we almost dropped our team because we were struggling for numbers, so everyone rallied and we obviously got the goods."
Burnie Baptist
Coach: Khan Riley
Last year: Runners-up
Ins: Henry Wright (Smithton)
Outs: Rick Webb, Jason Lynch (retired), Connor Poke (South Burnie), Braden Johnson.
Coach says: "We will still be pretty competitive, I anticipate being in the top four again.
"Numbers will be our biggest issue this year but the numbers that we will have will be good quality so we will still be in the mix there.
"[The grand final loss] has put a bit of fire in the belly of some of the guys so we are pretty keen to get up and about again - everyone has returned in pretty good nick."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Smithton
Coach: Andrew Ollington
Last year: Third, defeated in semi-finals
Ins: Alexander Walter (West Devonport)
Outs: Harry Lester (mainland)
Coach says: "We've still got quite a young group, we are still going to develop a few players so we hope to continue to build our style of play going forward and be around the four there somewhere.
"[Making finals] has given a few of our younger guys confidence in their game, that they can match it with the better teams going around so it's just bridging the gap to the top two and I think most of the teams will be trying to do that as well.
"I think Baptist will come back a bit but the Suns will be hard to beat again.
"We've just got to have confidence on the ball and the simple basic skills that you take for granted. If you get them right, it helps developing your game even further after that."
Queechy
Coach: Eric Gubesch
Last year: Fourth, defeated by Burnie Baptist in preliminary finals
Ins: Siebe van Oorschot, Shannon Weedon.
Outs: Jeremy Tuson, Heath Edwards, Matthew Franklin.
Coach says: "We are hoping to continue to improve our fundamentals skills and develop our game strategy.
"This will mean scoring more goals while conceding less and developing our junior players so they become strong seniors."
Gubesch named Jakeb Morris, Rob Partridge, Justin Ockerby and Elliot French as players who have trained strongly so far, tipping Morris to be his young gun of the season.
Anything short of a grand final win is probably a loss for us.
- South Launceston coach Al McBain
South Burnie
Coach: Tom Trevarthen
Last year: Fifth
Ins: Connor Poke (Burnie Baptist), Kyle Wescombe (City Marians), Lachlan Barry (City Marians), Jayden Taylor (returning).
Coach says: "We started pre-season training in November with running and Connor, Kyle and Lachie were some of the first ones there, so they've been pretty keen to hit the track hard.
"With the inclusions that we have brought in and hopefully with some consistency, I'm hoping for a top-three finish before finals.
"We are a team that will play Burnie Baptist or South Launceston and for half, three quarters of the game we can put it right through them and then just fade.
"Then when we go to play a lower side, we tend to not go so well and only just scrape over the line or get a draw, so consistency with our efforts will be a main focus this year."
Launceston City
Coaches: Jayden Pearson and Jeremy Stebbings
Last year: Sixth
Ins: Isaac Van Winden, Harry Winch, Jeremy Stebbings, David Fish, Adam Lamprey (City Marians).
Outs: Kaleb Nielsen
Coach says: "For us this year is really about developing our brand of hockey, building on last year. And to try and keep getting some development into our juniors to strengthen our group up," Pearson said.
"With Jeremy and Fishy coming back, it adds some depth to our squad, a bit of experience with some guys who have played in the GNL competition for a number of years.
"It's been good so far with Jeremy and I in the role to get in and work on a few things with the guys. We've got a really good group to work with and the boys have been really receptive to feedback.
"Hopefully we get some good outcomes out of it."
WOMEN'S PREVIEW: Greater Northern League women's 2021 season preview
Devonport
Coach: TBC
Last year: Seventh
Outs: Daniel Hinds, Derek Henry.
Coach says: "What we are looking to do is work out the best way for us to play as a team," Mick Williams said.
"I think we have struggled with having consistent line-ups from year to year but also from week to week over the last three or four years so we are looking to get as much consistency as possible in our team.
"Also we are looking to bring a game style that suits the players that we've got and we will have to work that out as we go.
"[Playing juniors] is the only way all clubs can continue to compete in the competition, it's really based on the strength and depth of their juniors.
"To be honest, we're a little bit light on in that department but the group that we have brought through this year will be pretty good, it's just going to take time.
"It's our club's 40th anniversary this year so we're really looking to put in some good performances to help celebrate that."
City Marians
Coach: Iain Cameron
Last year: Eighth
Outs: Kyle Wescombe (South Burnie), Jono Hawkins (mainland)
Coach says: "Those guys that have already had a senior season at the top level, I'd expect they've learned from that and will improve and gain some solid results this year.
"Rather than the big blowouts we had last year, it would be good to see us reducing those goals conceded.
"[Playing our kids] is important for not only the club but the competition going forward as well. It's not just hockey, it's sport on the North-West Coast especially, people are really struggling to field sides so I believe kids are the way to go.
"If you don't have them, you don't have clubs so we have a real big emphasis this year on playing kids who probably aren't even up to that level yet but give them a taste for it and something to aspire to."
West Devonport
Coach: Nathan Dart
Last year: Ninth
Ins: Craig Emmett (returning), Simon Cooper (South Launceston)
Outs: Alexander Walter (Smithton)
Coach says: "Coming into this season we are working on a foundation and a platform that have been put in place over the previous season or two.
"We are just looking to implement that on a more competitive and consistent level and play a more modern style of hockey as we all know West Dev had a tough season last year and the year before.
"With the mixture and the youth we now have, that's what we are hoping to do - some more consistent and competitive hockey.
"I haven't coached a GNL side for a number of years, mainly due to focusing on rep and state coaching and development, so it's been great.
"The club is going in a strong direction, the culture is there to improve the club, not just to get results on the field but to build a good club culture that can be in place for numerous years."