Tough pre-season prepares Magpies
• Twenty-three-year-old Elliot Tyson in action against North Launceston in a recent practice match. Tyson has already notched up 77 senior games with the club, and he will be one of the young veterans lining up for the Magpies this season.
By Peter Fish
March 11, 2020
Scottsdale completed its final intra-club practice match with a road trip to St Helens last Saturday where they defeated East Coast Swans.
Senior coach Ethan Petterwood took a list of more than 30 to the seaside town and was pleased with the outcome.
“We won but they had a lot of senior players missing, so we can’t take too much out of the result,” Petterwood said.
Teenagers Healey Mather and Jai Lette were two players to impress, and Petterwood again tried players in different positions.
“It was a good weekend in terms of playing together, and the number of players on the track continues to grow as we near the opening match,” Petterwood said.
Tomorrow the club will be having another intra-club match at Ringarooma, and another at Scottsdale on March 19th before preparing for its first roster match under lights at Rocherlea on Saturday March 28. The senior side will be bolstered by the inclusion of former Fremantle Dockers player Jesse Crichton and North Launceston premiership captain Mitch Vandenberg.
Newcomers Josh Rockliff from Wesley Vale, Jack Berry from Longford, and George Town recruits Shane Baker and Chev Deacon will all be pressing for inclusion, as well as a number of Under 18 players.
Off the field the club has been successful in gaining a grant from the Sport & Recreation Tasmania for $40,600 towards an upgrade to the ground lights which currently no longer meet the required standards for playing night matches. The total cost of the upgrade is in excess of $70,000.
This Friday evening the club will be conducting its season launch at the Bunker Club in Bridport where coach Petterwood and president Cameron Moore will outline the club’s direction for 2020.
NTFA MEN’S ROSTER
March 28 v Rocherlea at Rocherlea
April 4 v Deloraine at Deloraine
Easter - no games
April 18 v Longford at Scottsdale
Anzac day – no games
May 2 v Bridgenorth at Bridgenorth
May 9 v Hillwood at Scottsdale
May 16 v George Town at George Town
May 23 v Bracknell at Scottsdale
May 30 v South Launceston at Youngtown
June 6 – long weekend, no games
June 13 – Bye
June 20 v Rocherlea at Scottsdale
June 27 v Deloraine at Scottsdale
July 4 v Longford at Longford
July 11 v Scottsdale v Bridgenorth at Scottsdale
July 18 v Hillwood at Hillwood
July 25 v George Town at Scottsdale
August 1 v Bracknell at Bracknell
August 8 v South Launceston at Scottsdale
August 15 – Bye
August 22 – Qualifying Final
August 23 – Elimination Final
August 30 – 1st Semi-Final
September 5 – Preliminary Final
September 12 – Grand Final
NTFA WOMEN’S ROSTER
April 4 v Old Launcestonians
Easter – no games
April 17 v Evandale at Scottsdale
Anzac Day – no games
May 2 v Bridgenorth at Bridgenorth
May 8 v Old Launcestonians at Invermay Park
May 16 v George Town at George Town
May 22 v Bridgenorth at Scottsdale
May 30 v South Launceston at Youngtown
June 6 – long weekend, no games
June 20 v Evandale at Evandale
June 27 v South Launceston
July 4 v Meander Valley
July 18 – no games
July 25 v George Town at Scottsdale
August 1 v Old Scotch at NTCA
August 8 v Meander Valley at Scottsdale
August 15 – Qualifying Final
August 16 – Elimination Final
August 22 – 2nd Semi-Final
August 23 – 2nd Semi-Final
August 29 – Preliminary Final
September 5 – Grand Final