"With seven new coaches and a host of new faces the 2008 Country Club Tasmania NTFL competition looks very different to last year’s model.
But, one thing which is certain is that the competition will not be any less fierce.
Reigning premier LAUNCESTON will be boosted by star full forward Adam Derbyshire’s decision to play in the league full-time this year, with the same decision being made by champion on-baller Scott Stephens.
South Launceston small forward Sonny Whiting has also move across and defender Gary Shipton is back with the Blues after a season in the NTFA.
Experienced Wynyard player Shannon Bakes has joined the club, which has also enticed his Cats’ teammate Kyran Ebdon.
Gone are centre half-forward Tim Mohr (Casey Scorpions), Keiran McShane (Central Districts), ruckman Tom Bellchambers (Essendon) and Anthony Taylor, which will coach his hometown club Scottsdale in the NTFA.
Runners-up ULVERSTONE will feel the losses of young guns Hamish Anderson, Sam Whish-Wilson and Darren Crawford but certainly will be more than happy with their recruiting efforts.
Former VFL and SANFL premiership player Kynan Ford and former Queensland state representative player Mark Harris head the list of new faces under coach Max Brown’s control.
Ken Vanderfeen is back at the club and has performed well in practice matches while much is expected of stringbean teenager Vin Ponsonby, who debuted last season.
Former Devonport players Sam Lovatt and Nick Leedham have also joined the Robins.
The Robins also look like enticing veteran defender Jarrod Skidmore back after he spent the summer considering his future.
Key position defenders Troy Dean and Adam Eastley and former East Devonport backman Luke Allen are the big plusses for DEVONPORT.
Callum Dell has also crossed from the Swans but Devonport must also deal with the losses of big man Matthew Langmaid to Latrobe as senior coach, Clinton Brown to Burnie, Taylor Hayley and Ryan Carroll to Queensland for employment, and Luke Licht to Queensland for study.
The NORTHERN BOMBERS have certainly been on the prowl in the off season picking up Crawford, Whish-Wilson and Latrobe’s Zane Littlejohn and Callum Newman.
Langmaid will be a big plus for LATROBE but the Demons have certainly suffered in the off-season with midfield dynamo Josh Holland and Daniel Freshney joining NWFA club Wesley Vale on top of the loss of Littlejohn.
Gun midfielder Gavin Woodcock is fully fit this year.
James Wescombe and Adam Stevenson are back after a year off and Langmaid will be looking for some members of the premiership winning under 19 side to step up.
SMITHTON finished just outside the five last season and coach Lyle Elliott is keen for the home grown Saints to go further.
Star forward Damien Medwin is interstate but Vince Elliott has returned along with Ryan Tuxworth. Zac Bransden and Adrian Philpot are other gains and talented on-baller Jarrod Watling and Scott Bryan are finally fully fit after injury troubles last season.
BURNIE, hoping to return as a power in the competition, would have been delighted to get ball magnet Brown back at the club and have also secured ex-Wynyard star Tim Macmichael and former Cats’ teammates Zeke Gardam, Harry Walters and Ben Grubb.
Plapp is a playing coach, giving the Dockers a powerful target and the return of former Western Bulldogs draftee Jesse Wells is a big plus.
After injuring his knee early last season Elijah Taylor is set to be an important forward option for the club this winter.
Best and fairest winner Robert Gilligan is not expected to front in 2008 leaving more plusses than minuses for the Dockers.
SOUTH LAUNCESTON appears to have been fairly quiet on the recruiting front and will be gauged best when the Bulldogs have their first real hit-out next weekend.
Playing coach Luke McLean would appear to be the club’s biggest signing but the Bulldogs have lost important forwards Whiting and Matthew Westfield, who is currently traveling in Europe with ex-Bombers coach Shane Wager.
Joe Cotton is the biggest loss for PENGUIN but it has picked up Leo Bell (Ararat Eagles) and Wimmera League player Matthew Smith, a former TAC Cup under 18 player with North Ballarat.
Chris McDonald, who initially signed with Mt Gravatt in the QAFL, has now decided to return to Penguin.
Negotiations are continuing with several interstate players.
WYNYARD has suffered significant losses in the off season and very few gains to crow about.
New coach Nathan Hunt has had success as a leader and will be an important cog in the club’s fortunes.
Playing coach Scott Matheson is the real addition at EAST DEVONPORT with the Swans relying on the nucleus of last year’s team (read more about Scott Matheson here)."
