As the NTFA's top-flight division goes into its first week of finals, the coaches whose sides didn't make it look back at their seasons.
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DIVISION ONE REVIEW: Coaches look back on their 2021 seasons
Bridgenorth
Season: Sixth - Six wins, 10 losses
Coach: Phil Lethborg
What's worked: "Getting games into younger fellas and the best thing about our group is their brotherhood, they care for one another.
"We are a pretty tight group and I think we've all stuck together which is pretty pleasing, it bodes well for building on that.
What hasn't: "Injuries to key guys have knocked us about but that's a bit of an excuse.
"We still need to maintain pressure and defence for four quarters, we are just not consistent enough.
"We need to close the gap between our good and our bad."
Scottsdale
Season: Seventh - Five wins, 11 losses
Coach: Ethan Petterwood
What's worked: "The positives are that we have shown at times we can match it with the best teams and our ability to fend and move the ball quickly from a turnover was really good through the year," assistant coach Lochie Young said.
"But for a group playing together for the first time, we knew it was going to take some time to gel and realistically it has.
"The wins against South and Rocherlea gave us some confidence that we've got the group there, we just need to improve as a club as a whole.
"Next year we are looking at getting on the recruiting table and bringing in some key players who we think are going to help our team.
What hasn't: "The common theme for us towards the end of the year was not being able to put four quarters together.
"A lack of depth and a few injuries really hurt us, even though I'm not here to make excuses."
George Town
Season: Eighth - Three wins, 13 losses
Coach: Adam Zanevra
What's worked: "Just getting games into the young guys, it's fast-tracked their development a bit and we are going to be better off in the future for the year they've had.
What hasn't: "For us it's just player numbers, it's been a bit of a stress that we've had so hopefully we can address that over the summer and just get some more depth to the club."
Hillwood
Season: Ninth - One win, 15 losses
Coach: Jake Pearce
What's worked: "We came in at the start of the year and we lost a lot of players so the biggest thing was trying to build a team from scratch.
"I've been really happy with the kids off-field, the culture we've tried to build within the group.
"Especially, as young kids, we've been on the end of a few hidings and we haven't dropped our heads and gone individually, we've stuck together as a group and there's been plenty of banter off-field which has been good.
"All we need to do, hopefully in years to come, is put that effort on the field.
What hasn't: "Obviously we had some injuries to our older bodies, our more experienced players, that's really hurt us.
"The youth as well, not saying it's a bad thing, but we just need that balance and I think we need to obviously look for some experienced players.
"As I've said, the kids are there, we just need to start playing four quarters of football."
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
