The ‘home and away’ season is now done but we have SFL, Old Scholars and potentially TSL finals coming up – so our volunteer work isn’t done yet!

Specifically, we are seeking people with “Responsible Serving of Alcohol” certificates – known as “RSAs” – to work in our game day bars at these finals events.

If you are qualified and can help out between 11.30am and 4.30pm on any of the following dates:

Saturday, 9 September
Sunday, 10 September
Saturday, 16 September

– then please send an email or SMS message to our Volunteers Coordinator, Chris Smith – csmith21@live.com.au OR call mobile 0407 049 711

Note – if you wish to help in future, you can enrol in an RSA course online and start volunteering straight away, before completing the course. NHFC will then reimburse RSA course fees once you’ve completed the course and done a few volunteer shifts at the club.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated by the Club.

Help Please
Running our club consumes a considerable amount of money each year. Player payments, coach and support staff salaries, playing equipment, ground and facility hire, physios, medical equipment, the list goes on. It is actually quite staggering to know that the bulk of the revenue that we need to operate the club is generated from our match day catering.

This involves year – long activity and it really ramps up another notch during the forthcoming community footy finals. We have a number of volunteer teams working in catering and events management and we simply need more people to help.

If you are a parent, partner or sibling of one of our players, I encourage you to donate some of your time, please, over the next few weeks. On some of the finals days we will run 3 canteens and 4 bars as well as events in our function rooms.

Please pick up the phone and give Rick Tipping (0400 246 597) or Chris Smith (0407 049 711) a call and arrange with them how you can give a bit back to the club that does so much for your loved one/s.

Our Women’s Footy are Leading the Pack
Our amazing women’s team play in the grand final this Sunday. We have arguably the best women’s footy program in the South of Tasmania and we have a significant number of players coming up through our junior programs both at NHJFC and at Sandy Bay JFC. We wish our current Grand Final team the best of luck on Sunday next and look forward to seeing further success in the coming years. Senior Coach Darren (Rocket) McConnon is looking for his second premiership. He has done an amazing job building this program over several years. e has done an amazing job

Our Women’s Reserves team struggled for player numbers most of the season but did manage to win a few games in the Div 3 competition. Chelsea, Shannon and Claire did a great job supporting and guiding the team. We are anticipating more under 18 players to graduate to this team in 2024, at which time we are anticipating the reserves team to flourish and experience more success on the field.

And with the well-deserved success of the NHJFC Under 18s girls team in the Grand Final at the weekend against Lauderdale, we are positioned very well for the future. Congratulations to the girl’s and their great coach, Jim Ransom, on their latest success.

Men’s Program on the Rise
Our senior men finished with seven wins and a couple of close losses. We narrowly missed out on playing finals and we have a solid plan to be there in 2024. Adam and his coaching and support staff have done an amazing job creating our winning culture. I am not going to say the cliché “Next Year” etc. – It’s not about next year it’s more about the significant development we are seeing each month and every week, as we move towards our goal of winning a flag.

Our Development League team finished the home and away series in 2nd position and will contest the finals with the knowledge that they are the in-form side and playing great footy currently. Brad Tilbury has coached this team really well this year, particularly in home matches where they won every time they stepped onto our home ground. Brad ensures that all his players can see their role in the bigger picture of the club as we all work on that goal of winning a senior premiership. It is an undeniable fact that there is a strong correlation to a successful Reserves team to Senior team success. However, with that said we are all thinking about the here and now and wish the Development League team the best experience and success as they move through the finals series.

Our under 18’s have had a great year winning a lot of games and with many of the boys getting games in our Development League team. Ferg has coached the side exceptionally well and on Saturday they leap-frogged North Launceston U18s, to claim the 4th place on the ladder, thereby assuring themselves of the last finals spot as they continue their charge ahead.

North Hobart F.C. – University of Tasmania Scholarship 2024
In 2024 we will recommence our UTAS scholarship by providing $5,000 to a student moving to Hobart in 2024 to commence study and to play at the club. This scholarship will shortly be advertised via the UTAS website and relevant social media outlets. You can let people know to look out for this opportunity. The North Hobart UTAS scholarship was offered for a number of years previously and we are pleased that we are now in a position to reinstate it. Former recipients of the UTAS scholarship include player life member Hugh Williams, Julian Dobosz, Charlie Rae, Jordan Lovell and Tom Arnold.

This new scholarship adds to our current scholarship program, whereby each year we provide a scholarship to current players at the club to support study costs at University or TAFE. This scholarship is provided through joint donations by the Brewer Family and NHFC’s Tridents Coterie Group. The list of recent award recipients includes players Jake Dixon, Chelsea Thomas, Emma Upton and Lachie Payne.

Dave Kilpatrick
NHFC President

Pictured below (top): The NHFC Men’s Senior Team, coaches and support crew get together to mark the end of season 2023, as they look to further strong improvement ahead.
Pictured below (bottom): NHJFC Under 16.5 player, Jack Miller, made his senior debut with NHFC on Saturday against North Launceston, marking the occasion with a great, early goal. Jack is pictured with Mum, Rachael, and sister (and NHJFC Under 14 player), Lucy, as he receives his first senior jumper. This year Jack has notched up games with Seniors, Development League, Under 18s and Under 16.5s along with 3 matches for Tassie at the AFL U16 National Development Championships. We look forward to seeing a lot more of Jack at the Dees!

The North Hobart FC family is both excited and proud to see their SFLW player Elise Barwick join the AFLW this week, with the Gold Coast Suns.

Elise starred with the Demons in 2022 as part of our first-ever women’s Division 1 premiership team. As an athletic, running mid-fielder Elise had a huge impact on the Demons play in 2022. Her performances resulted in Elise winning the SFLW competition Best & Fairest award, along with the medal for B.O.G. in the resounding Grand Final win at North Hobart Oval.

Moving to the South Adelaide FC in 2023 to further her footy development, Elise’s aim was always to make it to the AFLW, something she has now proudly achieved. Elise replaces SUNS Academy player Kaylee Kimber, who was moved to the inactive list following a foot injury.

Also check out the detailed news on Elise at the Gold Coast Suns web site at Gold Coast Suns draft Elise Barwick

A big congratulations to the NHJFC Under 18 girls who completed an excellent season by being crowned STJFL Premiers for season 2023.
Coached by the renowned Jim Ransom, the girls dug deep at Blundstone Arena on Sunday 3 September, to defeat Lauderdale 6.6.42 to 4.3.27.

This brings Jim’s outstanding coaching record to 4 premierships from 7 attempts……and we don’t think Jim is finished yet!

A great team effort with Ava Read, Amelia Bannerman, Charlotte B Barnes, Mia Anderson, Heidi Preshaw and Natasha Furjanic named among best players. Goalkickers were Ava Read with 4 majors while Lily McConnon and Charlotte B Barnes kicked 1 each.

NHFC looks forward to welcoming all 2023 Under 18 girls who will be graduating to senior club ranks in season 2024.

Pics below: A happy Under 18 Premier Team

Last week the final sessions of the North Hobart Junior Football Academy wrapped up for season 2023.

Now in its third year, the Academy predominately focused on the Under 13, 14 & 15 boy’s teams from both the North Hobart Junior and Sandy Bay Lions Junior Football Clubs.

Initial sessions kicked off in November 2022 for the older players and recommenced early in the new year with a mix of football plus strength and conditioning sessions. The in-season sessions had more of a skills-based focus and incorporated baseline testing in readiness for next season.

A big highlight of this year’s program were the games for our boys and girls teams against the visiting Mornington Peninsula representative sides from Victoria, across the March long weekend.

A big thank you to our Academy Coach, Richard ‘Bear’ Robinson, NHFC High Performance Manager, Sammy Yee, our many senior players plus junior club coaches and player parents, for their continued and outstanding support of the program across the year.

A massive shout out to Bennett’s Petroleum Supplies and Banjo’s Bakery Cafe (Claremont, Moonah and Salamanca) for their outstanding support of the NHFC Junior Academy program.

We see the Academy as a key initiative to support the development, enjoyment and retainment of players with the Sandy Bay and North Hobart junior footy clubs. Its also a key focus of NHFC’s strategic plan moving forward.

Planning for the 2024 NHFC Academy has already commenced – and we look forward to sharing news about this with you in the coming weeks. We also look forward to seeing our junior players return to continue their development at North Hobart Oval in 2024 and beyond.

The club has scheduled a morning tea function for Thursday 21 September 2023 to celebrate the contribution of John Devine to our famous footy club.

As you would be aware, one of our club greats, John Devine, passed away earlier this year. John impacted all of our lives in so many ways. As this year’s football season draws to an end its time for us to recognize and celebrate John’s contribution.

To this end, NHFC is conducting a morning tea for everyone who knew John, to gather and recall his past deeds.

The arrangements are:

WHEN: Thursday 21 September 2023, from 10:30am
WHERE: NHFC ‘Hisense Room’, Level 2 of the Plaister Stand. Lift access is available.
TIME: 10:30am to 12 noon(ish)
COST: $10 per head (pay at the door)
PARKING: In the grounds (entry via Argyle St or Letitia St entrances). Please advise if there is a need for disabled parking facilities.

This event has been kindly organised by former NHFC premiership player and William Leitch medallist, Mick Hawkins.
Mick has organised for several people, including John Bingley and Trevor Leo, to tell some stories and there will be ample opportunity for others to share their memories as well.

Catering covers a light snack and hot drink for attendees. Beverages will be available from the bar. Partners and friends are most welcome to attend.

Please RSVP to Mick Hawkins at mobile 0438 746 409 or email mhawkins@internode.on.net by no later than midday on Monday 18 September 2023.

Its finals time again! Various North Hobart teams will be featuring in finals across different competitions and time slots. While North Hobart Oval will be in constant use for various Grand Finals. A summary of what we know so far follows:

Friday 8 September – STJFL Under 15 Boy’s – Grand Final – Claremont Bulldogs versus Clarence JFC at North Hobart Oval from 5:15pm.

Friday 8 September – STJFL Under 16.5 Boy’s – Grand Final – North Hobart JFC versus Clarence JFC at North Hobart Oval from 7:45pm.

Saturday 9 September – STJFL Under 18 Boy’s – Elimination Final – North Hobart FC versus Kingborough FC at Twin Ovals, Kingston from 9:30am.

Saturday 9 September – TSL Development League – Qualifying Final – North Hobart FC versus North Launceston FC at Twin Ovals, Kingston from 11:30am.

Saturday 9 September – Old Scholars FA – Reserves Grand Final – Hutchins v OHA at North Hobart Oval from 11.30am.

Saturday 9 September – Old Scholars FA – Seniors Grand Final – St Virgils v University at North Hobart Oval from 2pm.

Sunday 10 September – SFL Women’s – Division 3 Grand Final – St Virgils v Dodges Ferry at North Hobart Oval from 9.30am.

Sunday 10 September – SFL Women’s – Division 2 Grand Final – Claremont v Lauderdale at North Hobart Oval from 12 noon.

Sunday 10 September – SFL Women’s – Division 1 Grand Final – North Hobart v Kingborough at North Hobart Oval from 2.30pm.

SFL – Men’s Grand Finals – from 9.30am to 5pm, Saturday 16th September 2023 at North Hobart Oval.

Note – should Kingborough defeat North Launceston in the TSL Senior Qualifying final on Saturday 9 September, then North Hobart Oval will host the TSL Grand Final on Saturday 23 September 2023.

Breaking news – overnight!

The following excerpt from The Mercury of Saturday 1 September 1923 previews the ‘D’s” next game against bitter rivals, Lefroy, in season 1923.

What a great period it’s been for the Under 18s since the last newsletter.