A dozen of the North's best footballers have been recognised for their 2021 efforts, named in the State League's team of the year.
Selected by an assembled panel as if the side was to play a game, seven North Launceston players featured while minor premier Launceston had five players selected.
North Launceston skipper Jay Foon was selected to lead the side, with TSL player of the year, Launceston's Jay Blackberry his deputy as Michael Stingel, Jack Avent, Brandon Leary, Alec Wright and Cody Thorp earned maiden guernseys.
For Blackberry (second), Dylan Riley (third), Corey Nankervis (fourth), Foon (fifth) and Brad Cox-Goodyer (seventh), a repeat berth was earned, showing their consistency at the State League level.
Having made the team for the first time last year on the half-back flank, Foon is now deep in North Launceston's midfield and has had what he described as a career-best year.
"It's always an honour to be named in the team of the year," he said.
"I guess it's nice to get a little bit of reward for effort for the season we've had and being captain is just a bonus.
"[To have seven players] shows the direction we are going is a good, positive one, so it's nice for the boys to get a bit of reward.
"It's been well known we've debuted 19 guys this year, we are first into a grand final, we have pole position now and hopefully we can get some more success in the next couple of years."
Admitting that "people always have their own opinion", Foon said teammate Alex Lee was one who was unlucky to miss out, describing him as "the best ruckman in the comp".
The selection committee's notes agreed with the skipper that he was unlucky, opting to select Thorp instead "to provide flexibility" in the ruckman role which went to Marcus Gardner of the Tigers.
His coach, Trent Baumeler, was voted as the team's leader by his six opposing peers.
Launceston leader Mitch Thorp was pleased to see some new faces in the side.
"For a couple of those guys it's their first time in the team of the year which is nice to see," he said.
"Alec Wright and Cody Thorp have both had really strong years, one behind the footy and one in front of the the footy, so for those guys it's great.
"For Jake, Dylan and Jay, they've been in the team of the year before and they are just really strong State League footballers."
His praise for the Northern region's young guns wasn't reserved to his side of the Tamar River, crediting North Launceston's youth for their selections.
"It's nice to see North Launceston with some new younger, talented players in that team," he said.
"Stingel and Leary have been a breath of fresh air, not only for North Launceston but for the competition and I think that's really nice to see from a competition viewpoint."
Thorp's Blues are preparing for their do-or-die preliminary final clash this Sunday against Clarence, who defeated them at Bellerive Oval on August 14.
But this time, the reigning premiers have the home-ground advantage following their loss to North Launceston last weekend, which saw the Bombers qualify for an eighth-straight grand final.
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.
