Dual Alastair Lynch Medallist Josh Ponting will add Rocherlea senior coach to his impressive football resume next season.
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Planning to join the Tigers in 2020, the 27-year-old went back to North Launceston as the official NTFA season was cancelled but donned the yellow and black this season.
Eliminated in the semi-final, Ponting assisted Andrew Cox-Goodyer throughout the year, with the pair to swap roles in 2022 as the latter steps down.
"I just felt it was the right time," Cox-Goodyer said.
"I've had three years at it, one of them the COVID season, which was pretty tough, but I've got a lot more commitments outside of footy and I'm starting to get on a bit so I want to take a step back and just enjoy my footy for the last few years of my career."
A level-two accredited coach, Ponting was pleased with the way the side built momentum during the season.
"Obviously we only lost by six points to the eventual grand final winners so it shows we are around the mark and our foundation is there as a club on and off the field," Ponting said.
"I think we've got the right age demographic to be able to keep contending and hopefully start to put a couple of pieces together and go a couple of steps further forward."
Calling North Launceston and Rocherlea as "two homes away from home", the Tigers superstar finished second in the club's best and fairest behind 2018 TSL premiership teammate Jordan Cousens.
Describing the difference between the TSL and NTFA, Ponting pinpointed the style and the commitment involved.
"Obviously it's not as quick, it's more contested, you play on smaller grounds, so there's not as much space out there as when you get to play out on UTAS and those sorts of decks in the TSL.
"You've got to understand when you come back to these sort of comps that you've got a little bit less commitment, it's a little more of a load off, it's more that country style footy.
"It's more the club that you invest in and the kids that you hope to stick around, [while] you [also] want to push a few to TSL level that can play there."
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.
