Good Sports – 2025 – Tasmanian Club of the Year
Last Thursday at Parliament House, Canberra – the Hobart Football Club, was recognised as the 2025 Good Sports Club of the Year for Tasmania.

Our entire focus since then has been on recruiting good people, as players, volunteers and board members. Weβve worked really hard to create a positive environment and to grow. We’ve made some tough choices to move some players on who’s values and behaviours don’t align with our desired culture.
We’ve now grown to incorporate senior mens, reserves, u18s. Masters mens and womens, and a senior womens side returning for this year. We’ve worked hard to get into schools and grow our juniors, with limited success so far but more to come.
This award is a real recognition of the work of our board, coaches and our players who have bought into our vision and have created a fantastic place to be. All of them can be proud of this award.
2026 Junior Training

Auskick 2026
An intro to Australian Football and invaluable life skills.
With game-based activities kids love, learning is disguised as playing. You donβt need Aussie Rules experience β children can start Auskick in the calendar year they turn 5!
And the best part is, Auskick isnβt just for kids. Parents have plenty of options to participate.
If Auskick is more your jam, joint us on Saturday 14 March for the opener!
Register at: https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/bf0b2b
Vale Burnie Payne
President’s Report 2025
The 2025 season was one of steady rebuilding and renewed optimism. After a period of consolidation, the Club focused on player retention and recruitment, strengthening governance, and re-engaging our community. Volunteers, coaches and players demonstrated resilience and commitment, and the board continued to prioritise a sustainable platform for future success. This was built on the back of the work done over the past two seasons in our journey to βRestore The Roarβ.
Season 2025 commenced with the appointment of former Brisbane Lion and Geelong Cat Allen βBundyβ Christensen as Senior Playing Coach and Junior Development Officer. Unfortunately, due to a spinal infection during a back operation Bundy was hospitalised for a couple of months and fulfilled duties as a non-playing coach in Season 2025.
The announcement coincided with significant sponsorship investment in the Club, introducing our naming rights partner βBlumers Lawyersβ as well as new sponsors in Wellington Orthodontics, Slate Estate Agents, TotalPos/CompleteIS and Bolton Financial Services.
The appointment of Bundy resulted in an influx of young players joining the Tigers including several former North Hobart and Sandy Bay Juniors, the majority joining the club from the Old Scholars competition. Others from across the river joined, looking to turn their experience at TSL Development League level into consistent senior football. The majority of these players are in their early 20s and will serve the club well across many years. Four wins, and a significant lift in the back end of the season saw the club finishing sixth, although with a significant gap still ahead of playing finals. Bundyβs focus on player development and his professionalism in his roles is second to none, and he was aptly supported by Matthew Ferguson and Playing Assistant Oscar Shaw.
Throughout the season, our best football as a club matched it with the likes of Sorell, Lindisfarne and Dodges Ferry for consistent patches, and we are excited ahead of season 2026 with some additional young players joining the Tigers.
A real highlight for the club in 2025 was the return of the Under 18s program, led by former player Hudson Arkley who has shown in his first year he will be a long-term coach. The boys improved each week, notching up a few wins and being unlucky in their elimination final at Sorell. A real highlight to see former Hobart Junior Noah Smith return to play Under 18s, going on to make his Senior Debut in the win at Boyer Oval and to see the growth each week.
Our Reserves stepped up to, led by former Hobart Player Shaun Groves notching up three wins, and improving significantly on a winless 2024 season.

Special thank you to our outgoing coach Trey Ramritu for his work in supporting the Womens program. Our Men had a competitive season, continuing our positive culture and perhaps deserving to go further into βB Finalsβ. The work of Coach Ben Machin was appreciated as always.
This season saw the club grow its membership base to in excess of 140 financial members (the most it has been for some time). We have continued to tick off goals in our Strategic Plan 2024-2027, including the delivery of upgraded Changeroom Amenities to support our increase in female participation across the club. Special thank you to the Tasmanian Government, City of Hobart and AFL Tasmania for supporting these upgrades in excess of $300,000.

More members as players, volunteers, and supporters is the only way we will continue to grow our club, and the board recognises womenβs footy is a huge part of this. I urge our new members to get involved behind the scenes, helping in the bar, the canteen, running water or whatever. Donβt underestimate the enjoyment you will find and the friendships you will make.
In conclusion, Iβd like to thank the board, our members, players, volunteers and supporters β without each of you this club wouldnβt be what it is today. To be even more candid, without many of you it simply wouldnβt exist.
Thanks always for your ongoing passion and support of the club β Eat βem Alive Tigers.
Shortlisted – Good Sports Award
Weβre excited to announce that our club has been shortlisted for a 2025 Good Sports Award! This shows that our club has gone above and beyond to create a safer, more welcoming sporting environment. The winners will be announced in early 2026, watch this space to find out if we won! #theultimatetrophy #goodsportsclubs
Annual General Meeting 2025
Notice – Annual General Meeting Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is on Friday 30 January 2026 at 6.30pm – The Den, TCA Ground. Business includes presentation of financial reports, election of office bearers (including President, 3 x Directors) for two year terms.
Nominations must be in writing on official nomination forms signed by the candidate and two members of the Club who must also be qualified to vote, and must be delivered to the Secretary at least seven days before the Annual General Meeting (23 January 2026). For more information or to get a copy of the nomination form contact the Secretary Kelly Broughton on admin@hobartfc.com.au



















