Nickname(s) Bulldogs Home-and-away season 2nd Coach Aaron Viney Date founded 29 May 1986 | After finals 3rd President Felicity Viney Ground Windsor Park, Tasmania | |
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Full name South Launceston Football Club Competition | ||
The South Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club currently competing in the Northern Tasmanian Football Association. They were formed through a merger between City-South and East Launceston in 1986, clubs in the former Northern Tasmanian Football Association (which is not related to the current NTFA). South Launceston was in the TFL Statewide League from 1986 to 1997, then the Northern Tasmanian Football League until 2008, then in the Tasmanian Football League until 2013.
Contents
- The Statewide League Era
- Northern Tasmanian Football League
- Tasmanian State League
- Northern Tasmanian Football Association
- Club
- Individual
- East Launceston
- South Launceston
- Records
- Team of the Century
- References
The club is nicknamed The Bulldogs, a name which was adopted upon the merger. City-South were the Redlegs and East Launceston had been known as the Demons. For their club colours they took City-South's red and white as well as the blue from East Launceston's guernsey to give them their current royal blue, red and white club colours.
The Statewide League Era
South Launceston's first taste of statewide football could be described as a failure. In 12 seasons in the Statewide Competition the Bulldog's never contested the finals with a highest finish of 6th in 1992. During these 12 years South Launceston managed to collect 3 wooden spoons, this feat has only been matched by New Norfolk who have spent a longer period in the statewide league.
Northern Tasmanian Football League
In 1998 South Launceston pre-empted the collapse of the statewide league in 2000 when they decided to join the NTFL. This move greeted them with success with them winning the 1998 and 1999 NTFL Premierships. South Launceston remained competitive while they were in this competition.
Tasmanian State League
In 2008 the South Launceston Football Club accepted an invitation to leave the Northern Tasmanian Football League (NTFL) and join the new Tasmanian Football League in 2009. After three seasons of very poor on-field performance, which included two wooden spoons and a win-loss record of 8–46 across the three years, the club appointed Mitch Thorp as playing coach for 2012. Under Thorp, the club rose to the minor premiership in 2013, with a record of 17–3, and went on to defeat Burnie in the Grand Final to win its first statewide premiership.
However, while its premiership season was ongoing, on 3 July 2013, a meeting of club members determined in a split vote to not pursue a further license in the Tasmanian State League beyond the season. The club rejected an opportunity to have a joint venture with the Prospect Senior Football Club for a 10-year license in the TSL.
The Prospect Senior Football Club and the Prospect Junior Football Club subsequently took up a 100% share of the TSL license and formed the Prospect State Football Club t/a Western Storm.
Northern Tasmanian Football Association
In late 2013 the South Launceston Football Club was successful in being accepted into the Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) and will play the first division against pre-merger rivals Longford and Scottsdale as well as previously amateur and country teams that make up the competition. The South Launceston team that first contested the NTFA in 2014 was successful in winning the senior premiership with a victory over Deloraine in the Grand Final.
Club
Individual
Tasman Shields Trophy winners
Hec Smith Memorial Medalists
All Australians
NTFA Leading Goalkickers
East Launceston
NTFA Premierships (1)
Tasman Shields Trophy winners
Hec Smith Memorial Medalists
NTFA Leading Goalkickers
South Launceston
Northern Tasmanian Football League Premierships (2)
Darrel Baldock Medalists
Tasmanian State League Premierships (1)
Tassie Medalists
Northern Tasmanian Football Association Premierships (2)
Records
Highest score - Regional Football
Highest score - State Football
Most games
Team of the Century
An official 'Team of the Century' for City-South was announced in 2002, which took into account the period from 1886 until 1986, when they merged with East Launceston