Offseason Tracker: Player movement at every club

Ahead of the 2023 Tasmanian State League season, keep up to date with the player signings and re-signings at every club.

Launceston

• The 2022 premiers have announced a swag of re-signings following their third consecutive premiership. Headlining those returning in 2023 are captain Jobi Harper, fellow Team of the Year representatives Brodie Palfreyman and Jake Hinds, and two-time Hudson Medallist Dylan Riley. After booting ten goals in a game in 2022, Ryan Tyrrell has also recommitted to the club, as has 2021 Darrel Baldock Medallist Joe Groenewegen.
• Alongside those experienced senior campaigners, the Blues have confirmed their bright future with plenty of young talent also re-signing. Regular senior players Bailey Gillow, Jayden Hinds and Zach Morris have all inked new deals, as has 2022 Rodney Eade Medallist Sam Foley. Emerging talents Liam Canny and Josh Gillow will remain with the club and look to lock down a place in the senior side.
• A huge loss for the Blues will be Team of the Year defender Alec Wright, who has signed with Norwood in the SANFL. One of the best intercept marks in the competition, wright averaged 19.6 disposals, 2.6 intercept marks and 4.1 rebound 50s last year, earning his second TOTY selection. He will now try to break into a talented Redlegs side that won the 2022 SANFL premiership.
• TSL games record holder Jay Blackberry announced his retirement following a stellar 234-game career for the Blues. After four premierships, two TOTY selections and one McAuley Medal, he ends his career on top after the club’s third straight grand final win. Fellow premiership stars Michael Musicka and Josh Woolley have also retired after long and successful careers.
• The Blues have seen several prominent senior players depart in the months since their grand final win. 2022 McAuley Medallist and Darrel Baldock Medallist Fletcher Seymour departs for Old Scotch in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association, two-time premiership player Miller Hodge has signed with Bracknell, and small forward Brendan Taylor joins South Launceston. Jake Smith (Rocherlea) will also play in the NTFA, with Jameson House (Wynyard) and Jonty McIvor (Wynyard) moving to the North West Football League. Casey Brown is the latest player to depart, heading to Longford in the NTFA.

Kingborough

• Kingborough has enjoyed plenty of success recruiting from the Southern Football League in recent years, and they have again looked there ahead of the 2023 season. Forward James Zeitzen joins the Tigers from Cygnet, where he won a senior premiership in 2021 and booted 42 goals in 2022. He is joined by Nic Baker, who was an Allies selection during his time with the Tasmania Devils before winning back-to-back best and fairest awards with Sorell.
• A further two signings from Cygnet have since been announced, with Reece Scotland and Ryan Clark crossing over from The Port. Both played for Kingborough’s Development League side during their SFL bye, and they will now look to develop in the program full-time.
• The Tigers have suffered a major blow to their list with 2022 Matthew Richardson Medal and TSL Team of the Year selection Jordan Lane departing the club. Lane was crowned the league’s best young player after booting 48 goals from 21 games, and he will now test himself in the VFL with Port Melbourne.
• Lane will be joined at the Borough by a familiar face, with Tigers winger Zach Adams also crossing over to the VFL club. An elite runner and ball user on the wing, Adams averaged 19.7 disposals, 5.8 marks and 3.8 inside 50s per game in 2022, earning selection in the TSL 22 Under 22 at season’s end.
• Former TSL TOTY selection Luke Graham will be another loss in the Tigers forward line, as he has signed with University in the Old Scholars Football Association. The crafty small forward enjoyed another solid season for Kingborough in 2022, kicking 26 goals in 20 games.

Clarence

• Former Roo Noah Holmes will return to the club in 2023 after a year spent in the Old Scholars Football Association. After representing the Tasmania Devils in NAB League competition in 2021, Holmes played for DOSA in the OSFA last season and enjoyed plenty of success, kicking 38 goals from 15 games including a bag of ten in one game.
• The club confirmed in August that their entire leadership group had re-signed for 2023, along with head coach Peter Ryan signing a two-year extension.
• It was confirmed prior to the end of the season 2023 Hudson Medallist Colin Garland would hang up the boots at year’s end. The former AFL forward went out on top, leading the TSL’s goalkicking through the home and away season with 59 goals from just 17 games.
• The Roos will also lose TSL regular Keren Howlett, who played 19 senior games last season, as he will join Claremont in the SFL along with brother and fellow Roo Dylan Howlett.

Lauderdale

• The Southern Bombers will welcome back a star of the club next season, with two-time Mitch Robinson Medallist Phil Bellchambers signing on for 2023. Bellchambers has spent the past two seasons with North Shore in the AFL Barwon FNL, finishing third in the club’s best and fairest count this season. A strong inside midfielder with the versatility to play across the field, he will be a valuable addition for the 2o22 finalists.

North Launceston

• Former Richardson Medallist Michael Stingel will depart North Launceston after signing with Norwood in the SANFL. At just 19 years of age, Stingel averaged 21.8 disposals and four clearances per game last season, continuing to rapidly develop his game. He will now join the reigning SANFL premiers and join their growing Tasmanian contingent.

North Hobart

• North Hobart’s biggest move of the offseason has come off the field, with Adam Bester named as senior coach for 2023. A senior assistant coach with the Demons for the past two seasons, Bester is a five-time premiership player with Burnie and brings coaching experience from Victoria in the Eastern Football/Netball League.
• Young key forward Will Splann will depart North Hobart after signing with Central District in the SANFL. After a strong season for the Tasmania Devils where he booted 32 goals from 14 games, as well as 12 goals in his five TSL appearances, Splann will now chase a new challenge with a Central District side that finished second-last in the 2022 SANFL season.

Glenorchy

• The Magpies have swooped on an interstate recruit early in the offseason, with ruck Dominic Phillips joining the club from Fitzroy in the VAFA. The 25-year-old is relocating to Tasmania for work and study, and he will give the Magpies some extra size around the stoppages.
• Glenorchy will lose a key component of their midfield next season, with Ben Kamaric departing for Brighton in the Southern Football League. A three-time TSL TOTY selection and two-time club best and fairest winner, he averaged 26.1 disposals and 6.6 clearances per game last season.