Tigers not done roaring
The final TSL season kicks off on Good Friday and The Mercury has spoken with every coach across the league to discuss all things pre-season and the expectations for season 2024.
Our club-by-club previews conclude with Kingborough, which will be looking to make its third consecutive grand final and win a second straight premiership after claiming its maiden TSL flag in 2023.
KINGBOROUGH COACH: Trent Baumeler
CAPTAIN: Lachlan Clifford
VICE-CAPTAIN: Ben Donnelly
2023 FINISH: Premiers wins, three losses (H & A)
INS: Mitch Brouwer (Donvale), Colin Skeen (Dampier Sharks), Lukas Ford (Cygnet), Locke Carmichael (Cygnet), Kayne Wouters (Cygnet), Riley Ashlin (returning)
OUTS: Elijah Reardon (Southport), Will Campbell (retired), Blake McCulloch (Western Australia), George O’Neil (Cygnet), Jake Williams (Bracknell)
PREDICTED FINISH: 1st-3rd
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PRE-SEASON
After being the TSL’s best side across the past two seasons, Kingborough was finally able to secure its maiden state league premiership last September. It was a hell of a 2023 campaign from the Tigers, losing just three games, and going 6-0 to start the year.
They have retained the majority of their list but the losses do come in the form of important names. Elijah Reardon and Will Campbell’s absences both hurt from an experience and ball-winning aspect while proven role players Blake McCulloch, George O’Neil and Jake Williams were all important factors in the premiership win.
A proven midfield group of
ASSESSMENT skipper Lachie Clifford, Kieran Lovell and Eddie Cole will again be a driver while Lochie Griggs will return from the injury that cost him the chance to be a premiership player.
THREE TO WATCH
1. Nic Baker – After a finger injury wiped out half of his 2023 campaign, Baker looks set to explode this season. Returned for finals and played a crucial role on grand final day. Has the ability to play in multiple positions and could potentially cover the loss of Reardon on halfback when he isn’t deployed into the midfield.
2. Will Clifford – Produced a starring role on grand final day in defence that provides the young star a solid launching pad for a strong 2024. Clifford will provide the Tigers with a no fuss attitude each week and could end the season as one of the competition’s best defenders should his improvement continue.
3. James Webb – Became a two-time TSL premiership player in his first season at the Twin Ovals. The former Glenorchy premiership player provided another outlet for the
Tigers inside the engine room with Webb’s season among the best on their list in a premiership year.
COACH’S COMMENT
“As with every year and every club in the competition we have had a solid pre-season and put a body of work together that we feel will put us in a position to be a competitive team again for season 2024.
“Our leaders do the job every pre-season around setting strong standards for how training unfolds and the work required and that has been a consistent area for us over the last three seasons and we are looking forward to attacking season 2024. Fresh faces like Mitch Brouwer and Colin Skeen have given the group excitement and are great additions to our club.”
PRE-SEASON
RILEY ASHLIN
Ashlin has returned from travelling and working overseas in 2023 back into the Tigers group and has had an outstanding pre-season flowing into strong performances in match simulation and practice
BOLTER: games. Ashlin gives flexibility to their system in that he can play inside but also hold down a key position post in front of the ball. He was a part of the 2022 grand final side but missed the 2023 triumph.
COACH EXPECTATIONS “We go into every season with the simple expectation of improving our program and working hard to maintain or exceed our performance of the season prior. The players have worked hard over the summer which gives them that opportunity.”
North Launceston will unleash young gun Oscar Vandam into a midfield that shapes as one of the TSL’s best in Good Friday’s derby match with Launceston at Windsor Park.
Vandam has had an impact as a key defender at the Bombers and Tasmania Devils, but will play on the ball after opting against playing in the VFL under former North Launceston coach Taylor Whitford.
The 188cm Vandam, who turns 19 next month, was considered by many to be an outside hope of being taken in last year’s AFL draft.
New Bombers coach Adrian Smith said he believed Vandam could add another dimension to their midfield, but is also mindful of expanding his game so he’s ready for the next level.
North Launceston will also play Brad Cox-Goodyer on the ball more this season after he played mostly forward last year, when he led the league’s goalkicking.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Oscar is in our best four or five players by the end of the year,” Smith said. “He’s a really good kick, he’s got Brad to learn off and Alex (Lee, ruck) to get hitouts off, so that’s not a bad position to be in.
“He’ll play inside mid, and he’s really good inside with clean hands. He’s got good speed over the first couple and makes good decisions.
“He trained with Casey and was offered a contract, and also played in one of Melbourne’s practice games.
“Oscar’s keen to progress to VFL footy and hopefully further, but at the moment it’s a lifestyle choice to be in Tassie.
“Part of the challenge for us is to give him more strings to his bow. He’s only 18, so he’s got plenty of time over the next 12 to 18 months to make some choices.
“I think he’ll progress to VFL-SANFL level next year, and be a much better footballer for it. (Richmond’s) Rhyan
Mansell played SANFL and he’s a good senior footballer now. Jay Lockhart (former Demon) did the same thing, they were both 19-20 when they did it and got their AFL opportunity.”
Launceston has named 13 debutants and the Bombers have four in north-west-based Devils Lenny Douglas, Harry Elmer and Beau Nash, plus former Longford forward-ruck Tony Aganas.
Two other Devils recruits – Geordie Payne and Oliver Depaoli-Kubank – are being managed after last week’s Coates Talent League defeat to Murray Bushrangers.
The Bombers also have the luxury of leaving out the underdone Connor Young, Will Manshanden and Jack
Aherne for the season opener.
Big things are tipped for the returning Michael Stingel, but Smith is confident Blade Sulzberger will go to another level after his strong 2023.
“The forgotten one of our group is Blade Sulzberger. He’s played nearly 50 games and his footy understanding has gone through the roof,” Smith said.
“I think he’s being underestimated in our competition. There’s probably guys around him at the moment who get talked about a bit more, but he’s vice-captain for a reason.
“Blade plays like Brad in some respect, he’s hard at the ball and can break lines.”
The Bombers were overrun in last year’s round 1 defeat to the Blues, but went on to make the grand final.