The 2024 TSL season was the 132nd and final season of the Tasmanian State League (TSL), the highest-level senior Australian rules football competition in Tasmania.[1] The season began on 29 March and concluded on 21 September, comprising an 18-match home-and-away season over 21 rounds, followed by a three-week finals series.[2][3]

2024 TSL season
Date29 March − 21 September 2024
Teams7
PremiersNorth Launceston
8th premiership
Minor premiersNorth Launceston
Wooden spoonersNorth Hobart
Alistair Lynch MedallistBrad Cox-Goodyer
(North Launceston − 28 votes)
Peter Hudson MedallistHarvey Griffiths
(North Launceston − 53 goals)
← 2023

North Launceston won the TSL premiership for the eighth time, defeating Lauderdale by 20 points in the 2024 TSL Grand Final. The premiership completed a perfect season for North Launceston, which won all of its matches in 2024.[4]

Following the conclusion of the season, the TSL disbanded in preparation for the Tasmania Football Club to enter the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 2026.[5] TSL clubs are set to join the Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) or the Southern Football League (SFL) for the 2025 season.[6][7]

Background

edit

Tasmanian AFL club and TSL disbandment

edit

On 2 May 2023, the Tasmania Football Club secured a licence to enter the Australian Football League (AFL) following a unanimous vote of AFL club presidents.[8] The club is expected to enter the AFL for the 2028 season, but it is first scheduled to compete in the Victorian Football League (VFL), starting in 2026.[9][10]

Following the announcement of a licence for the club, AFL Tasmania announced on 5 May 2023 that TSL license agreements will not be extended beyond the end of the 2024 season.[11][12] This meant that the statewide league would disband at the conclusion of the 2024 season.[13][14]

A similar arrangement occurred between 2001 and 2008, when the statewide league was disbanded following the 2000 season and the Tasmanian Devils competed in the VFL.[15][16]

Premier Leagues formation

edit

On 22 March 2024, the Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) announced that Launceston and North Launceston would join the NTFA Premier League in 2025.[17][18] Despite this, the two clubs released a joint statement in April 2024, describing the establishment of an NTFA Premier League as an "ill-considered move" which "lack[ed] consultation and communication", with The Examiner reporting they were looking to establish a new northern-based breakaway league.[19][20]

In November 2024, the Southern Football League (SFL) executive formally accepted Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough, Lauderdale and North Hobart into the competition for the re-established SFL Premier League.[21][22]

Ladder

edit
Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 North Launceston (P) 18 18 0 0 1863 849 219.4 72 Finals series
2 Clarence 18 14 4 0 1574 938 167.8 56
3 Lauderdale 18 10 7 1 1414 1060 133.4 42
4 Kingborough 18 10 7 1 1406 1160 121.2 42
5 Glenorchy 18 4 14 0 929 1591 58.4 16
6 Launceston 18 3 15 0 880 1617 54.4 12
7 North Hobart 18 3 15 0 814 1665 48.9 12

Source: [23][24]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers

Finals

edit

Qualifying and elimination finals

edit
Qualifying final
Saturday, 7 September (2:00 pm) Lauderdale 8.14 (62) def. Kingborough 8.7 (55) Lauderdale Oval [25]
Elimination final
Saturday, 8 September (1:00 pm) North Launceston 13.10 (88) def. Clarence 6.5 (41) UTAS Stadium [26]

Preliminary final

edit
Preliminary final
Saturday, 14 September (1:30 pm) Clarence 11.11 (77) def. by Lauderdale 11.12 (78) Blundstone Arena [27]

Grand Final

edit
2024 TSL Grand Final
Saturday, 21 September (2:30 pm) North Launceston def. Lauderdale UTAS Stadium [28][29]
5.3 (33)
8.5 (53)
14.8 (92)
16.9 (105)
Q1
Q2
Q3
Final
4.3 (27)
6.7 (43)
7.9 (51)
12.13 (85)
Leary 7, Manshanden 2, Avent, Cox-Goodyer, Griffiths, Mitchell, Simpson, Sulzberger, Young Goals Blackburn 3, Christensen 2, Lane 2, Poland 2, Walsh 2, Bellchambers
Leary, Manshanden, Bennett, Avent, Elmer, Lee Best Phillips, Franklin, Martin, Sutton, Christensen, Lane

Notable events

edit

Awards

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Tasmanian State League". TasmaniaSport.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2024. Retrieved 25 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Fixture released for bumper final TSL season". Tasmanian State League. 7 February 2024. Archived from the original on 23 June 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  3. ^ "TSL 2024". Flashscore. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  4. ^ Partridge, Josh (21 September 2024). "North Launceston finish the TSL as kings of the jungle after perfect season". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  5. ^ Partridge, Josh (29 June 2024). "AFL Tasmania 'still finalising' 2025 elite plan but 'fulfilling' news ahead". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  6. ^ Bresnehan, James (4 July 2024). "North Launceston president opens up on NTFA acceptance". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 4 July 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  7. ^ "New era for the Southern Football League". Southern Football League. 20 November 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  8. ^ "AFL presidents approve Tasmania for 19th team licence after decades of campaigning". ABC News. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  9. ^ Cellini, Aidan (13 March 2024). "Star signings, a senior coach and the CEO: What will the Tasmanian AFL team look like in 2028?". ZeroHanger. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  10. ^ Tuxworth, Jon (25 October 2024). "VFL: The northern talents who could wear 'The Map' in 2026". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  11. ^ "AFL Tasmania Statement – TSL license agreements". Tasmanian State League. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  12. ^ "AFL Tasmania Euthanases State League Football". Tasmanian Times. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  13. ^ Partridge, Josh (5 May 2023). "Tasmanian State League to disband after 2024, with regional model preferred". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Tasmanian local footy set to undergo major restructure". The Mercury. 5 May 2023. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Profile". GameDay. South Launceston Football Club. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Devils last hurrah". ABC News. 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  17. ^ Allen, Brian (22 March 2024). "NTFA reveals six clubs for inaugural Premier League competition". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  18. ^ "NTFA Media Release". Northern Tasmanian Football Association. 9 October 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  19. ^ "NLFC & LFC Joint Statement". Launceston Football Club. 10 April 2024. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  20. ^ Partridge, Josh; Shaw, Rob (10 April 2024). "Clubs back breakaway league over AFL Tasmania's 'dictated' proposal". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  21. ^ Bresnehan, James (12 November 2024). "SFL's bright future as former TSL clubs integrate into revitalised community league". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 13 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  22. ^ "Brighton Football Club joins SFL". Brighton Community News. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  23. ^ "Tasmanian State League (TSL), 2024 ladder". PlayHQ. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  24. ^ "2024 TSL Premiership Season". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  25. ^ "Lauderdale TSL Seniors v Tigers FC TSL Seniors, 2024, FR1". PlayHQ. 7 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  26. ^ "North Launceston FC TSL Seniors v Clarence TSL Seniors, 2024, FR1". PlayHQ. 8 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  27. ^ "Clarence TSL Seniors v Lauderdale TSL Seniors, 2024, PF". PlayHQ. 14 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  28. ^ "The Teams: 2024 TSL Grand Final". Tasmanian State League. 20 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  29. ^ "North Launceston FC TSL Seniors v Lauderdale TSL Seniors, 2024, GF". PlayHQ. 21 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  30. ^ Rowbottom, Chris (26 January 2023). "Once a footy giant, the Glenorchy Magpies Football Club is struggling to attract players". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  31. ^ Rosendale, Ryan (6 April 2024). "Glenorchy defeat North Hobart to secure first TSL win in 1,015 days". The Mercury. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  32. ^ "North Hobart TSL Seniors v Glenorchy TSL Seniors, 2024, R2". PlayHQ. 6 April 2024. Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  33. ^ Partridge, Josh (21 September 2024). "Cox-Goodyer becomes TSL's undisputed GOAT with third Lynch Medal win". The Examiner. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  34. ^ "Brad Cox-Goodyer wins 2024 Alastair Lynch Medal". Tasmanian State League. 21 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  35. ^ "Cox-Goodyer wins fan vote to be named TSL GOAT". Tasmanian State League. 20 September 2024. Archived from the original on 23 November 2024. Retrieved 23 November 2024.