Tasmanian Football League

Probably the most significant decision to emerge from the Australian Football Council (AFC) conference was that it recognised the TFL as being the controlling body for football in Tasmania, which in turn gave the TFL a right to have two delegates to the AFC conferences. There was however, a stipulation that one of the two Tasmanian Delegates be appointed from the NTFA.

Mr. W. H. Gill was elected as the TFL’s representative to its Executive Committee.

When the TFL was formed there would be only three clubs competing, Lefroy, North Hobart and Derwent Football Clubs. The Derwent Club had replaced Wellington Football Club that disbanded at the end of the 1905 season. 

TFL club changes

Wellington Football Club became defunct and was replaced by the Derwent Football Club.

TFL Premier

No grand-final played. Derwent Football Club was declared Premier.

STFA change of name

A new resolution was written into the constitution this year to change the name Southern Tasmanian Football Association to the Tasmanian Football League. 

Intra-State matches

There were two games played between the TFL and NTFA, the first in Launceston on 3rd June, where the League 10.14 (74) defeated the Northerners 7.9 (51).

The return match was also won by the TFL 8.13 (61) defeated NTFA 6.11 (47).

Inter-State matches

Top VFL clubs Melbourne and St. Kilda visited the State for two games against the TFL. In the match against Melbourne, the League scored 4.6 (30) to Melbourne 14.14 (98) and in the other game against St. Kilda (which at the time was the leading club in the VFL competition) the TFL scored 8.11 (59) to the Saints 17.15 (117).

TFL Premier

No grand-final played. Lefroy Football Club was declared Premier.

TFL State Premiership

The official State Premiership commenced in 1909 between premiers of the TFL and NTFA, and the State final was played between the two. 

It wasn’t until 1950 when Premiers of the NWFU joined, thus created a rotational format, ie one League would host and automatically qualify for the final, and the other two Leagues would play-off in a preliminary final, with the winner progressing to the final.

During the course of the competition there were several interruptions, mainly caused through disputes. Falling patronage became a serious concern and eventually, the State Premiership series came to an end in 1978. 

Turmoil on North West coast

At a special ‘Disputes’ meeting of the North Western Football Association (controlling body on North West Coast) the Ulverstone club was disqualified and Latrobe, which supported Ulverstone in the dispute, withdrew from the competition. When no reconciliation was possible, Ulverstone and Latrobe combined with Penguin to form the North Western Football League.

The NWFA continued with its member clubs from the Western end of the coast.

On 17th April, both the NWFA and NWFL applied to the TFL for affiliation. The NWFA was accepted, but the NWFL was refused because Ulverstone and Latrobe were disqualified clubs.

After the TFL had sent a delegate to the coast to help resolve the dispute. The TFL finally recognised the NWFL only for the purpose of transfers and clearances and not as the controlling body of football on the coast.

TFL delegates heard appeals from both clubs and the Association and after several weeks made the following decision, (a) Appeal from Ulverstone was upheld on the grounds that the disqualification was imposed after the resignation had been accepted by the NWFA. (b) Latrobe: That the TFL considers that the fine imposed on the Latrobe club, having been paid, such club disqualification should upon application to the NWFA, be forthwith withdrawn by such Association and failing removal, the appeal be upheld and the disqualification be removed by the TFL.

Following this, the TFL advised both the NWFA and NWFL to get together and form a new strong Union. In 1910 the North Western Football Union was formed as the governing body of football on the North West Coast.

TFL Triangular Series

Matches once again were played between the NTFA, TFL and the NWFU, in what became known as the TFL Triangular Series.

TFL Premier

No grand-final played. Cananore Football Club was declared Premier.

Norwood and Melbourne visit

Norwood (SA) and VFL club Melbourne arrived to play matches against the TFL. Victory was attained by the League in the match against Norwood, but the TFL had to concede to Melbourne.

Inter-State visits

Three Inter-State clubs came to Hobart to play one game each against the League.

The result of which, was a morale boosting year for the TFL when its combined League team defeated VFL club Melbourne in Hobart. On the deficit side, Port Adelaide (SA) and Richmond (VFL) won their respective games. Scores were : TFL 11.14 (80) defeated Melbourne 9.8 (62), Port Adelaide 7.13 (55) defeated TFL 6.6 (42) and Richmond 11.11 (77) defeated TFL 8.9 (57)

State premiership abandoned

This years State premiership was abandoned when NTFA premiers Launceston, caused a sensation by refusing to take the field against TFL premiers Cananore, following a dispute with the League over the appointment of the central umpire for the match. The League endeavoured to replace the original umpire engaged, but no avail. This did not suit Launceston and the match was cancelled. The action of Launceston was reported to the NTFA, which took up the position of supporting the offending players in their action.

Finally, the League, as controlling body of football in the State, took action and disqualified the Launceston players, until such time as the League thought that such disqualification should be lifted.

World War 1 caused mayhem for Tasmanian Football

The three TFL clubs found it very difficult to field reasonable teams on a weekly basis. Mainland clubs were unable to visit Tasmania. The TFL and NTFA officials decided not to play a State premiership in 1915.

At the end of the season the following players had enlisted for the Armed Service:

Lefroy: Bailey, I. Margetts, N. Allison, C. Abey, T. W. Simpson. W. Abel, F. Burton, B. Kilmartin, R. Totham, D. Nichols, F. Green, L. Barnett, Newman, E. Smith, Townley

Cananore: Randall, Clennett, Hope (killed in action), Lipscombe, Turner, Freeman, Brownell, C. Hannigan (killed in action), Westwood, Shaw, Pennyquick, Bowen.

North Hobart: A. Aulsebrook (killed in action), L. Chambers, E. Russell, A. Bucirde, K. Moore, W. Jack, K. Mackey, Ward (killed in action), V. Shirley, A. Stanton, H. Brain, Mahoney, W. D. Leitch.

1916 - 1918 World War 1 – intervenes

The three major football bodies in Tasmania attended a meeting to discuss the future of the game. The result was a resolution that football be discontinued until the end of the War.

Football resumed after the war under difficult conditions

The resumption of football in Hobart and most other centres after the War, followed a three year lapse of the game. But if that wasn’t enough, the population had to contend with an epidemic of Influenza that swept Australia and rage throughout Tasmania later in the season, football had to be cancelled according to health authorities advice, which applied to all forms of sport that attracted crowds.

Visiting teams from South Australia

Two clubs from South Australia visited Tasmania, the first was West Torrens that played the TFL in a close encounter with the TFL winning by three points 10.13 (73) to 9.16 (70). The other match also went to the TFL beating West Adelaide 12.17 (89) to 10.9 (69).

1920 War and epidemic recovery

The recovery process was a prosperous one for the game as most clubs around the State had survived well under the circumstance. A ‘remarkable resilience’ is probably the most apt description to describe the rebound by the peoples of Tasmania to the incredible impost of War and an epidemic.

TFL adds fourth team

The TFL include a fourth club, New Town Football Club, into its ranks to complete an even competition, that automatically alleviated the bye of the previous three team competition.

A highlight was the positive result for first comer to the TFL where New Town Football Club won the opening match of the season.

Interstate visting teams

During the season matches were played against three visiting mainland teams, with the TFL winning one game. Results were: South Adelaide 12.9 (81) defeated TFL 8.13 (61), TFL 14.9 (93) defeated Glenelg (SA) 10.19 (79), Richmond (VFL) 10.9 (69) defeated TFL 9.12 (66).

North Hobart Oval

Finally, the TFL received approval for the usage of the North Hobart Oval, for its headquarters and roster matches. On the basis of 20% of gross takings, plus 71/4% of all members tickets, with a minimum amount payable of £100 per season.

Re-introduction of the Triangular Series

Saw the re-introduction of the Triangular Series between the three major bodies : TFL. NTFA and NWFU.

North Hobart forfeits game against Cananore

On 11th August the North Hobart club failed to appear for its match against Cananore, claiming the TFL had been unreasonable in imposing a penalty on captain Percy Martyn, after declaring himself unfit for the North verses South match the previous week. He was suspended for two roster matches. North Hobart was fined £15 ($30) and the match was awarded to Cananore.

Tasmania selection issue for carnival team

Highlight of the season was the staging of the fifth AFL Carnival in Hobart – the first in Tasmania.

When the final Tasmanian team was being chosen, the League sent an invitation to through to the NWFU for Ivor Warne-Smith to join the team at the League’s expense.

The Union refused to endorse the application and as a result Warne-Smith was lost to the carnival team.

New Town Oval

The TFL secured the New Town Oval for the season on the same rental basis as North Hobart Oval.

W. H. Gill memorial Medal

This was the first year a ‘Best & Fairest’ award was presented, known as the W. H. Gill memorial Medal. The gold medal was donated by News Ltd. The first player to win the award was ‘Leisha’ Smith, of the Lefroy Club.

Cananore TFL & State Premiers

Cananore won the TFL premiership and then defeated NTFA premiers Launceston for State honours.

Interstate visits

Two VFL Clubs, Essendon and Carlton came to Hobart in 1926. Essendon played one match against the TFL. Carlton played local TFL club New Town. Game results were : TFL 6.12 (48) defeated Essendon 4.9 (33). After one of the best games seen in recent years Carlton ran out winners 16.10 (106) to New Town 12.8 (80)

South Australian club Norwood also arrived, but did not play a match.

New Tasmanian goalkicking record

J. Brain from Cananore Football Club set a new Tasmanian goalkicking record of 71 for the season.

ANFC National Conference

During the 1927 ANFC Carnival conducted in Melbourne, the ANFC held a National Conference for all States, to consider several constitutional changes on rules and regulations. Representing Tasmania at the Conference was Mr. William Leitch. Among other matters, and at the behest of the ANFC, the States were required to include into their respective names, the words ‘Australian National’.

From that point onwards the TFL became Tasmanian Australian National Football League (TANFL).