Launceston refuses to commit to NTFA expansion to ten teams
Launceston Blues president Scott Stephens says the club won't back the NTFA's expansion. The expansion would grow the Premier League to ten teams in 2028.
Launceston football club may not join the restructured Northern Tasmanian Football Association's expanded league. The NTFA plans to grow its Premier League from six to ten teams in 2028.
It will add Old Scotch, St Pats, Old Launcestonians and Bridgenorth. Launceston president Scott Stephens says the expansion will spread talent too thin across more clubs.
This harms player development. He's looking at other options.
These include a Greater Northern competition with North-West teams. It would be similar to the old NTFL model.
The NTFA recently flagged player shortage issues in a memo to clubs. Stephens uses this as proof the league cannot support expansion.
Junior football clubs could struggle to find enough players for their own programs, he warned. Stephens said their priority is to give players the best chances across Northern Tasmania.
The Blues will work with the NTFA on that basis.
- 6
- Current teams
- 10
- Planned teams by 2028
- Northern Tasmania
- Location
Why it mattersOne major club's refusal threatens the NTFA's planned growth. It also signals deeper problems with player recruitment across Tasmanian football.
AustraliaTasmanian football fans face potential upheaval to their league structure as Launceston's stance may influence other clubs' decisions.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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