By: BRETT STUBBS
Blues coach Adam Sanders, in his seventh year in charge, said the move from regional to state football had come at just the right time for his players.
``Probably for our boys it has come at a good time for a challenge,'' Sanders said.
``We had three successful years which has been great but last year we had a lot of one-sided games. Out of the 18 roster games we won 10 by a hundred points.
``It will be good to have a really good challenge every week. I don't think there will be too many blow-outs. I think every side will be more than competitive and you will have to be on your game.
``That is good for the boys who are hoping to improve their footy personally as well to play on good opponents each week.''
Under Sanders and Blues president, Mark Thurlow -- who Sanders jokingly refers to as ``the Eddie McGuire of Tasmanian football'' in reference to the outspoken and sometimes controversial Collingwood president -- the Blues have re-sculptured the club from easybeats to a dominant dynasty.
``Launceston has probably been a club in the past that has taken what has been dished out,'' Sanders said.
``We might not be as popular now, but we are certainly not just taken what is thrown our way, we fight for what we think is best for the club as well.
``And this certainly extends to its second dig at a statewide competition. They [the Launceston of the last statewide league] had to virtually go out and recruit a lot of players and they went about it the wrong way.
``They ended up with a lot of recruits who just used the club to get a pay check.
``This time around we are going in with a very settled list, virtually 95 per cent local fellows who have either come up through the juniors and have got the club's best interests at heart which is a huge advantage to what they had last time.
``Hopefully it is a lot more successful than what it was last time because it was a bit of a disaster for the club the first time around.
``We would like to think we would be a leading club but there are a few variables like injuries. We are pretty confident we will be fairly successful.''
On the field it will be a pretty similar team compared to last year's premiership side, with former Devil Brennan Savage to be the defensive book-end and regular century goal-kicker Adam Derbyshire the spearhead in attack.
``It will be a good challenge for `Derba','' Sanders said.
``The last two or three years he has been terrific but he will have more quality players on him each week.
``Last year there were some games you could pencil in 10 for him before the start. He is going to have to work harder, he's got himself fit and I think he's really keen to have a good year.
``Hopefully he gets a lot out of the year, and if he does kick a hundred goals, he will know he has certainly earned them.''
The midfield will be led by co-captains, former Devils skipper Scott Stephens and his onball cohort Beau Green, a three-time premiership centreman and two time club best and fairest. With a list this talented, experienced and now primed by the new challenge of southern enemies plus their existing rivalries around Launceston and on the coast, there is little doubt the Blues are hungry for even more success.
AT A GLANCE
Coach: Adam Sanders.
Captains: Beau Green and Scott Stephens.
Last year: NTFL premiers.
GAINS
Cade Triffitt (East Devonport), Joe Robinson (Scottsdale), Gene Savage (retirement), Matt O'Donoghue (retirement).
LOSSES
Cale O'Keefe (retirement), Jake Currie (uni studies, Melbourne), Luke McCabe (year off), Kurt McCabe (year off).
THE DRAW
Season launch: Glenorchy (KGV), April 4
Rd 1: North Launceston (Aurora), April 10
Rd 2: Hobart (Windsor Park), April 18
Rd 3: Devonport (Windsor Park), April 26
Rd 4: South Launceston (Windsor Park), May 2
Rd 5: Clarence (Bellerive), May 9
Rd 6: Lauderdale (Windsor Park), May 16
Rd 7: Burnie (West Park), May 23
Rd 8: Devonport (Devonport), May 30
Rd 9: North Launceston (Windsor Park), June 13
Rd 10: North Hobart (Windsor Park), June 20
Rd 11: South Launceston (Youngtown), June 27
Rd 12: Burnie (Windsor Park), July 2
Rd 13: North Launceston (Aurora), July 18
Rd 14: Devonport (Devonport), July 25
Rd 15: South Launceston (Windsor Park), August 1
Rd 16: Lauderdale (Lauderdale), August 8
Rd 17: Bye
Rd 18: Burnie (Windsor Park), August 22
PLAYER LIST
1. Sonny Whiting
2. Sam O'Keefe
3. Will Campbell
4. Daniel Ellis
5. Adrian Finch
6. Scott Stephens
7. Brennan Savage
8. Shannon Bakes
9. Jordan Harris
10. Adam Derbyshire
11. Gary Shipton
12. Kyron Ebdon
13. Brian Finch
14. Cade Triffit
15. Tim Curwen
16. Joe Groenewegen
17. Tim Bristow
18. Luke French
19. Michael Sinclair
20. Tom Claridge
21. Beau Green
22. Jason Edwards
23. Gene Savage
24. Joe Robinson
25. Nathan O'Donoghue
26. Seth McCrimmon
27. Nick Beams
28. Shaun Pennefather
29. Andrea Miar
30. Matthew Bellinger
31. Daniel Cox
32. Corey Shephard
33. Cameron Downie
34. Nathan Pendergast
35. Nick Blackberry
36. Matthew O'Donoghue
37. Alex Cadman
38. Tyler Reeves
39. Jamie Johnson
40. Alex Webb
41. Nathan Gregory
42. Josh Bellchambers
43. Cameron West
44. Brady McIntyre
45. Kurt Petterwood
46. Dan Cooke
47. Jon Hammond
48. Josh Waldie
50. Eric Izbicki
51. Jarrod Phillips
52. Adrian Bassett
53. John Harmey
54. Stephen Goldfinch
55. Anthony Brown
Last Modified on 17/04/2009 14:34