TSL: Launceston season preview 2022 - Blues extend their depth

In the second of a series of TSL previews, coach Mitch Thorp speaks on his team's prospects for 2022.

LAST SEASON: Premiers

COACH: Mitch Thorp - 16 wins, two losses

LEADERS: Jobi Harper (captain), Miller Hodge and Alec Wright (vice-captain)

INS: Ryan Tyrrell (Moreton Bay, returning), Jackson Thurlow (Geelong VFL, returning), Thomas Beaumont (South Launceston)

OUTS (from the grand final side): Jack Donnellan

FIRST GAME: Versus North Hobart, Windsor Park, Saturday, March 26 at 2pm.

The Blues have already announced arguably the league's biggest returnee this season, with 63-game AFL player Jackson Thurlow coming back to Windsor Park.

Joining him is 2020 premiership vice-captain Ryan Tyrrell and mutli-talented young gun Thomas Beaumont, who made headlines by scoring a Cricket North century as a 16-year-old, but is now focusing on football.

"All three are quality people and align with our list management strategy of bringing players in who have previously played at the club," Thorp said.

"Jackson brings maturity and class to our midfield group, Ryan will likely return to a position he made his own prior to his 12 months away behind the ball and Thomas will cut his teeth with the Devils program.

RELATED: North Launceston's 2022 season preview

"The squad from a holistic viewpoint are to be commended for their standards over a long and gruelling pre-season period and the three additions have fitted seamlessly into our environment."

Jack Donnellan is the sole player from last year's premiership team to depart, with several others who have played seniors in previous years seeking other opportunities.

2018 skipper Hamish Leedham is one of those, leaving the Blues having played more than 100 games and winning the 2020 Rodney Eade Medal in the development league.

"There's been that natural list management struggle of the balance between making sure there's enough opportunities for the young guys to develop their footy and guys that have been at the club for a little while and not made the finals teams over the last couple of seasons," Thorp said.

"Hamish Leedham and Grant Holt are good examples that both plied their trade really well and gave all they could but ultimately found it really hard to make our finals campaign.

"So we wish them well as they move out of the club."

Launceston have gone for two young vice-captains behind their experienced leader in Jobi Harper for the 2022 season.

Alec Wright and Miller Hodge, who have both come through the Blues' ranks, will be Harper's understudies for the season, with Thorp singing their praises.

"Jobi's hard-working, super competitive and a pretty humorous guy around the changerooms, so he heads into his fourth year as captain," he said.

"Alec Wright and Miller Hodge were voted vice-captains which is pleasing because both guys are 21 and whilst we've got an eye on this season, we've also got an eye to the future and making sure that our next crop of leader are getting that opportunity now."

With a strong mix of youth and experience, the future could continue to look bright for Thorp's side.

With four of his players - Josiah Burling, Wright, Jacob Boyd and Zach Morris - playing with North Melbourne's VFL side this season and the first two on the AFL side's COVID contingency list, Thorp likes what he sees from Burling and Bailey Gillow.

"Josiah Burling, we saw what can do at the back end of last year," Thorp said.

"I think he's got all the attributes to play at a higher level as well.

"He's already played in a practice match with North Melbourne, so he's one to watch.

"Bailey Gillow, who played in the premiership as well, has had a terrific pre-season and he's super fit."

Some strong recruiting has put the eyes of many on the Tigers and Thorp is certainly among those wary.

Last year was the second year they've made the finals since joining the competition in 2014 and Launceston's leader predicts they'll become even better, adding the likes of fellow former Hawthorn player, Kieran Lovell.

"I think the profile of the competition has significantly lifted," Thorp said.

"The competition has attracted a lot of high-quality players from interstate and from Tasmania.

"Kingborough have got a very strong midfield but now they've added three guys that are over 195cm, they are going to be a real handful."

Across their three meetings last season, the Tigers tightened the margin against the Blues each time, starting the year off with a 69-point loss in round three before a 26-point one in round 10 and only 13 points separated them in round 16.

"They gave us some grief last year, they are a side that we've kept an eye on over summer and I'd expect them to be a really difficult opposition when we play them," he said.