SPECTATORS saw Carlton claim an impressive win against Hawthorn in the JLT Community Series, while the TSL season was officially launched amid calls for a public figure in Tasmanian football this week.

Attacking Blues outgun Hawks at UTAS Stadium

In the state’s second and final JLT Community Series Game, Carlton produced a stirring second-half comeback against Hawthorn to finish the preseason competition undefeated. After a poor first half, the Blues pilled on eight goals in the third quarter to take a two-point lead going into the last and eventually finished the game as victors, 16.6 (102) to 13.19 (97), and registering their first triple-figure score since 2016.

Led strongly again by their younger brigade, the Blues stood tall until the final seconds when new Hawk Jarmen Impey‘s shot in the dying seconds was touched on the line by Jacob Weitering and homegrown talent Liam Jones. Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson rued the Hawks wayward kicking in front of goal, with veteran Shaun Burgoyne the main culprit, kicking five behinds.

Both sides now kick off their premiership seasons next week when Carlton tackles 2017 premiers Richmond in the season opener on Thursday, 22 March, while the Hawks host Collingwood two days later at the MCG. The state will next host an AFL game in Round 4 when North Melbourne take on Carlton at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

AFL great calls for Tasmanian football public leader

Former Melbourne champion Garry Lyon has urged one of Tasmanian football’s biggest exports to lead the charge in a bid to get the state an AFL side. Speaking on Melbourne’s SEN Breakfast, Lyon named Matthew Richardson as the perfect person to be the public face of Tasmanian football.

“The push for Tasmanian football is in desperate need of a figure head,” Lyon said. “There are few more charismatic people in football than Matthew Richardson, his bona-fides are beyond dispute and he is the face of Tasmanian football.”

The Richmond great has become a prominent media figure since his retirement and has been a strong advocate for Tasmanian football over recent years. Richardson regular returns home to Tasmania and has declared in the past that Tasmanians would love their own team.

2018 Bupa TSL Season officially launched in Hobart

A week after Bupa were announced as the naming rights sponsors for the 2018 TSL season, AFL Tasmania officially launched this year’s competition on Thursday. The launch was held at Bupa’s Hobart office and was attended by AFL Tasmania officials along with the competing team’s coaches and captains while Tasmanian football icon and current Bupa Head of Market Development, Peter Hudson, spoke to the media and those in attendance.

After formal proceedings were over, club captains took to North Hobart for a group photo shoot with the 2018 Bupa TSL Premiership Cup.