After the atrocity of 2020, a full season of footy came back with a bang through the TSL and NTFA.
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A major premiership drought was broken but for the most part, the winning sides picked up where they left off in either 2019 or the shortened 2020 season.
TSL: Launceston 12.5 (77) d North Launceston 6.7 (43)
LAUNCESTON
- Goal Kickers: B. Taylor 3, J. Groenewegen 2, M. Thorp 2, M. Musicka 2, J. Donnellan, J. Blackberry, Z. Morris
- Best Players: J. Groenewegen, M. Hodge, J. Harper, J. Hinds, J. Blackberry, B. Taylor
NORTH LAUNCESTON
- Goal Kickers: T. Bennett, J. Rushton, B. Leary, M. Walsh, O. Sanders, B. Cox-Goodyer
- Best Players: M. Stingel, M. Walsh, T. Donnelly, B. Simpson, R. Whitney, B. Van Buuren
Darrel Baldock Medallist: Joe Groenewegen
Winning their second consecutive Tasmanian State League flag, Launceston were pushed to their limit for three quarters.
Despite the Blues leading all day and winning by 34 points, it was far from an easy contest, with North almost hitting the front late in the third term before the Blues stormed home.
Coming into the contest, the hype surrounded the suspension of team of the year member Cody Thorp for rough conduct on Clarence's Lachlan Borsboom in the preliminary final.
Brother and coach Mitch Thorp would eventually replace him in the line-up, kicking two of his side's first three goals in just his fourth TSL game for the season.
Joe Groenewegen was named the Darrel Baldock Medallist for best on ground, an award he never thought he would win, for his 23 disposals and two vital goals in the big moments - starting the third and fourth quarters off strong.
NTFA premier division: Bracknell 9.13 (67) d South Launceston 7.6 (48)
BRACKNELL
- Goal Kickers: J. Huett 3, C. Mulder 3, S. Goodluck, S. Douglas, J. Holland
- Best Players: T. Page, J. Holland, M. Dennis, G. Dawson, J. Huett, N. Mitchell
SOUTH LAUNCESTON
- Goal Kickers: L. Harding 3, J. Tepper, T. Beaumont, J. Laskey, L. McCarty
- Best Players: K. Hibbs, J. Perkins, B. Webb, L. McCarty, T. Foon, T. Beaumont
Clarrie Boon Medallist: Josh Holland
It took 24 years but the Redlegs' premiership breakthrough was worth the wait.
Bringing in high-quality players like Matty Dennis, Nick Mitchell, Sam Borlini, Sam Douglas and Clarrie Boon Medallist Josh Holland, Bracknell won the premiership from fourth on the ladder in one of the most even competitions in recent memory.
Keeping South scoreless in the first quarter of the grand final, the Redlegs kept them at an arm's length all day, leading by 28, 22 and 19 at the breaks before the last term saw both sides kick 3.3.
Holland's best-on-ground showing marked the NTFA as the fourth association that the dynamic midfielder has won the award in, taking out the honour in the TSL, NWFA and NWFL previously.
He also picked up his eighth senior premiership, winning four with Latrobe, two with Wesley Vale and one each with North Launceston and Bracknell.
NTFA division one: Lilydale 12.11 (83) d Old Launcestonians 9.12 (66)
LILYDALE
- Goal Kickers: S. Whiting 5, T. Griggs 3, Z. Cooke 2, M. McKinnon, B. Tuckerman
- Best Players: S. Whiting, L. Reynolds, C. Lockett, T. Bardenhagen, B. Tuckerman, Z. Cooke
OLD LAUNCESTONIANS
- Goal Kickers: T. Chugg 5, C. Fraser, J. Goodyer, A. Downie, J. Cullen
- Best Players: C. Fraser, D. Hall, T. Chugg, A. Sciulli, A. Downie, M. Spohn
David O'Keefe Medallist: Daniel Viney
With Lilydale having lost only one game in their past two seasons, the eight coaches not in the grand final unanimously selected a Demons win.
While they weren't wrong, Old Launcestonians certainly provided more of a fight than expected, leading at the first two breaks to momentarily scare the Demons.
Sonny Whiting's five goals and Trent Griggs' marking power shone through while Daniel Viney was named the David O'Keefe Medallist despite not featuring in the side's best players.
The win marked three of the last four NTFA division one premierships for the Demons, with 2018's preliminary final loss to eventual premiers East Coast the only blemish.
NTFA women's: Launceston 4.5 (29) to 0.5 (5)
LAUNCESTON
- Goal Kickers: M. Shaw 2, B. Rattray, M. Clark
- Best Players: D. Taylor, M. Brazendale, K. Hill, G. Hill, M. Clark, M. Radford
OLD LAUNCESTONIANS
- Best Players: J. Astbury, M. Lloyd, M. Fry, T. Ronken, J. Jamieson, D. Lester
Best on ground: Dearne Taylor
Making the jump from the dissolved Tasmanian State League women's competition to the NTFA, many assumed Launceston would automatically take home the title.
While they did so, undefeated throughout the season, the premiership victory wasn't as straight forward as imagined, starved of goal-scoring opportunities by a resilient Old Launcestonians side.
The premiers scored two goals in the opening minutes, creating ominous signs for a big margin but OLs rallied and shut down the victors' goalkicking avenues while unable to hit the scoreboard themselves.
Predicted by several coaches to take out the medal, Dearne Taylor proved them right in a fantastic display of football that wouldn't look out of place at a higher level.
OLs garnered plenty of respect from their late finals run, coming from eighth on the ladder midway through the year.
- Pick up a copy of The Examiner on Friday, September 24 to receive premiership posters from all four grand finals
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.
