Knights in good nick

THE National Premier Leagues Tas has had a merry-go-round of player transfers this off-season as several key players have put pen to paper at new clubs ahead of the 2021 season.

The Knights finished last year on a high by claiming the Lakoseljac Cup and will look to build on their secondplace league finish with the addition of Olympia Warriors trio Adam Gorrie, Lucas Hill and Nicholas Mearns.

Oscar Thomas, Thomas Young and Harry Anderson have all left the club due to work commitments, but coach James Sherman said the off-season had “moved quite well” for his side.

“We lost a couple of lads and we brought some boys in that we think will add to the squad and they’ve settled in nicely.

“We had lots of competition for spots and that’s a good thing, the players are embracing it,” Sherman said. “We’ve got some options this year and we’ll need them for sure.”

Meanwhile, the Warriors have lost nine players from last year with the list of departees including midfielder Loic Feral, striker Ben Hamlett and wingers Callum and Declan Brown.

Feral has returned to South Hobart where he will be joined by former Clarence Zebras captain Jayden Hey, while Hamlett has signed for the Kingborough Lions. He will join former South Hobart captain Kobe Kemp as well as the returning Jack Turner at The Den.

Kingborough coach Jes Kenth said he hopes the new additions will bring a winning mentality to the club.

“These boys, they have won titles to some extent,” he said. “We’re bringing in players who know what it takes so hopefully that will make a difference, that is what we lacked last year.”

Elsewhere in the league, the Clarence Zebras will start the season under new leadership with Franco Previdi succeeding David Smith as coach.

Launceston City has added goalkeeper Lachlan Clark, but will be without star striker Noah Mies for the 2021 season after Mies announced a move to NPL side Newcastle Olympic.