Premiers hit fever pitch to defend crown

THE moment Tasmania’s best women’s players have been waiting for is here, and no one is more excited than North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroo defender Nicole Bresnehan.

The TSLW season kicks off in earnest today with a full round of matches, following a “prequel” between Launceston and North Launceston last weekend.

Clarence opens its premiership defence with a clash against Glenorchy (3.45pm at Richmond Oval) and Kingborough Tigers host Launceston (4pm at Twin Ovals), while Lauderdale’s hiatus means North Launceston has a bye.

One of North Melbourne’s nine talented Tasmanian AFLW players, Bresnehan, 23, said anticipation was palpable among her Clarence teammates about the TSLW.

“We are so excited to be able to play,” she said.

“Whatever it was going to look like, whether it was only a couple of games here and there, I think everyone was just keen to get out there and play some footy.

“We’re keen to see how we sit among the rest of the clubs.

“I know a couple of the teams have changed this year but we were glad to get enough girls back to be able to have a really competitive side.”

Bresnehan has fond memories of Clarence’s stunning three-point grand final victory over Launceston.

“That was one of the best days,” she said.

“I’d been with Clarence for four years and played in three losing grand finals, so to be able to win that one was special.

“We took the pressure off ourselves going in, playing an undefeated side, so we were to just going to have a crack. We all did that and we came away with the win.”

Normally, the Tasmanian AFLW players would play a game for North Melbourne’s VFL affiliate, and be flown to Melbourne for group training from November.

However, the second outbreak of coronavirus in Victoria has thrown doubt over AFLW timelines.

“It’s going to be great when things settle down at the back half of the year and we will be able to hopefully go back to things as usual,” Bresnehan said.

“Whenever that happens, it will be exciting to able to see all of those girls again and get back to training in that highperformance environment.”