Final four in new season
One team trimmed from playoffs
A TEAM has been eliminated from the TSL finals even before the ball has been bounce for the 2020 State League series.
AFL Tasmania announced that next year the finals had been reduced from five teams to four, with a three-week finals series and a Sunday grand final.
With Blundstone Arena unavailable for ICC T20 World Cup preparations, should a southern club qualify first for the grand final, it will be played at North Hobart Oval, which now has upgraded public facilities.
The sweeping changes took the clubs by surprise.
“We think it is appropriate for our seven-team competition to have a four-team finals series, particularly as only two fifth-placed teams have won an elimination final since 2009,” said state league manager Carl Saunder.
A move to a Sunday grand final, Saunder said, would move the TSAL into line with state league’s interstate. “The Sunday time slot will provide our competition’s biggest day with some clean air, ensuring we don’t clash with other community competitions or the AFL’s now-traditional Saturday twilight Preliminary Final,” Saunder said.
The marquee slots of Good Friday and Anzac Day will also take on a fresh look in 2020, with three matches to be played on both days.
“Providing more clubs with the opportunity to play on those days is really exciting and something that has fallen nicely into place due to Anzac Day being on a Saturday,” Saunder said.
Two Bupa TSL and NAB League Boys double-headers will be played North Hobart Oval “These days will be a great chance for footy fans to see the state’s best talent — both established and emerging — on the same day at the same venue,” he said. The TSL season kicks off on April 4 with clashes between the Tigers and Lauderdale at the Twin Ovals, Launceston and North Hobart at Windsor Park, and Glenorchy and Clarence at KGV, with the latter to get underway at 5pm as a twilight fixture.
“The 2019 Bupa Tasmanian State League season was full of twists and turns, and footy fans should again be excited,” Saunder said.
“Our competition is full of exceptional talent, and I’m sure we will see emerging players put their names up in lights and continue to drive the League forward.”