Media and the NWFL

The NWFL has enjoyed enormous support from the media throughout its existence. The public has been consistently kept informed about what has been happening with respect to football at our level.

There is no doubt the coverage given to the NWFL has far exceeded that given to the regional leagues based in Hobart and Launceston by their respective newspapers and other forms of media. The fact we have been the leading regional league in Tasmania for three decades is relevant.

Newspapers

Since the league’s inception, The Advocate has been superb, particularly in the days when The Examiner was deemed opposition. Terry Morris, a senior sports reporter at “The Ex.” who loved the NWFL, was always keen to beat The Advocate on any subject, particularly our league. He “hated” The Advocate – even though, for many years, his brother Rod worked for them, providing further opposition.

Back in the day, reporters (especially Terry) sat in on league Board meetings and important Tribunal hearings before tearing off to the office to file their report for the next day’s paper. No early deadlines in those days! He usually still had time for a beer before heading off – time in which the President would vet what was reportable from the meeting.

At times The Advocate also sent someone along to cover meetings and hearings.

Until recent times a reporter attended every game, from Smithton to Scottsdale in the old days, with the papers using stringers (non-journalist but football-knowledgeable people who could write a match report).

Today, many of Monday’s match reports are based on a reporter ringing the respective coaches to get their views on what transpired on match day, and then basing the report on that.

Sadly, those who rely on newspapers for their footy news are now often unable to see all the ladders or goalkickers’ lists, let alone results from other regional leagues.

Changing media patterns now mean The Examiner doesn’t want to know us, but fortunately The Advocate still provides good exposure. The Advocate also provides awards and valuable advertising of games.

Some of the journalists who have regularly reported on our activities over the years (many of whom have climbed the ladder in subsequent years) include:

• Terry Morris

• Rod Morris

• Michael Stevens

• Greg Punshon

• Sean Ford

• David Tiddy

• Julian O’Brien

• Martin Gilmour

• Kirsty Eade

• Andrew Carswell

• Mark Williams

• Nigel Tapp

• Martin Agatyn

• Emily Clooney (in very recent years)

• Jacob Bevis (in very recent years)

…and stringers, all with strong football knowledge, including:

• Jim Faulkner

• Max Brown

• Richard Lakeland

• Ian Clarke

Radio

7AD, 7BU and SeaFM (which previously included 7SD) have been great supporters throughout the entire history of the NWFL, and that remains the case today.

For many years there was a one-hour Thursday night footy show which provided fun and a few facts for our loyal listeners. Sam and Eddie on the TV Footy Show eventually put an end to that.

There were short pre-recorded segments on 7AD and 7BU on Saturday mornings and, at times, the stations broadcast the NWFL Grand Final.

In more recent times NWFL Life Member Kim Miles has provided match previews on a weekly basis, while ads promoting each game are of significant benefit to all clubs and to the league itself, especially at finals time.

Station personnel are on hand every year at the Baldock Medal count and Grand Final to present a number of player awards – further proof of the network’s continuing support of the league after more than 30 years.

Coast FM

CoastFM, the community station based in Wynyard and broadcasting along the North West Coast, has also been a great supporter of the NWFL.

CoastFM broadcasts a match every week of the football season and provides a player award (based on the weekly votes of all senior coaches – a bit like the AFL coaches’ award), which has become very relevant and prestigious.

“Doc” Hancock and Brian Paine have been the driving forces behind this support for a very long time, while in recent years former high-profile coach Dale “Ned” Perry has added further knowledge and quality to the commentary.

In 2012 both “Ned” and “Doc” were inducted into the NWFL Hall of Fame.

With very limited resources, CoastFM has been fantastic.

ABC and Television

The ABC has, historically, shown very limited interest in our league, instead concentrating on what it sees as the elite level in Tasmania, especially in the south. This is probably what is expected given the location of its HQ. We have tried over the years, but to little avail, going way back to Neville Oliver.

How lucky are we to have the support of our coastal stations?

In terms of television, ABC and WIN TV have provided little coverage of our competition. Many years ago Channel 9 Launceston (then Southern Cross, now Channel 7) showed some genuine interest with a Sunday morning sports show at times, which even included the NWFL General Manager.

Until recent times, Saturday night’s news/sport included NWFL scores and those from the two other regional competitions. Not any more. Despite NWFL results being supplied, they have not been used, except at finals time.

The sad thing for the NWFL is that the Hobart-based SFL, and to a lesser extent the NTFA, tend to get a better run.

An example of this bias: late in 2023, well after footy had finished, there was an interview with a person who had been awarded Life Membership of the SFL – our southern equivalent. Good on him, but they would not want to know about any NWFL awards, including the Baldock Medal. Years ago they used to attend the medal count function when it was held in Launceston.

It is an area which must continue to be worked on.

Social Media

Sadly for some (including this Historian), this is an area which is beyond your Historian – but it is no doubt highly relevant in the modern era for promoting the NWFL and keeping supporters up to date.

Ian Wotherspoon
NWFL Historian
October 2025