NPL Tasmania
Launceston United 0-3 Riverside Olympic
Devonport City 1-2 Kingborough Lions United
Clarence Zebras 0-3 Launceston City
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Chris Hey has a daunting task at Clarence Zebras
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Chris Hey has one of the most difficult jobs in the NPL Tasmania competition.
He is coach of Clarence Zebras, who have lost all eight of their league games and have scored just 2 goals.
They were also knocked out of the Lakoseljac Cup by ultimate finalist, second-tier club South East United.
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I spoke to Hey about his predicament.
Walter Pless: You've got 13 games to get out of the current situation. Are you confident you can?
Chris Hey: From our last 9 games, including the South East United game, there has been 1 blowout, that being South Hobart, who we conceded 6 goals from set pieces. I can only describe that game as a complete disaster in respect to defending set pieces. In all other games, we have performed admirably for the first 45 minutes but then been opened up by poor decisions, leading to conceding multiple goals in our second halves. We don't have a strong squad list when compared to the top 5 teams in the competition but we knew this going into the season. I believe, as the players do, we are improving in regarding to understanding our playing style, building and maintaining better possession and our movement off the ball is better. So, yes, I believe we can turn things around in the next two rounds but it will be a slow burn, especially at this moment we have significant injury numbers, and we lack experienced depth in our NPL squad.
If you exclude our 2 remaining imports from our current 22 squad, we have seven players who have played NPL football in the past 3 years. Two of those players have played little or none of the season, due to long rehab or season ending injury, so our experience at NPL level is low. In addition to this, a further 2 of those 7 players have not played in the past 4 games due to injury and will remain sidelined for several more weeks.
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WP: What seems to be the main problem with the team and how do you intend addressing this?
CH: There are two main issues.
1.Our low number of scoring opportunities and in that our inability to finish and conceding 3+ goals per game. In our first 3 league games, we were extremely limited in scoring opportunities but I put that down to the system we were playing with only one striker, who was isolated. That was down to me attempting to tighten us defensively, based on pre season results. I then changed our system to try and provide better support going forward and statistically, we have improved greatly on scoring opportunities but still struggling to put the ball away. We have hit the woodwork numerous times in the past 4 games, but 2 goals in 8 league games is simply not good enough.
2. Defensively early days, we were overcommitting, leading to penalties. This has changed, whereby we are being more patient when closing down opposition players. There have been far too many lapses in concentration and poor decision making and we continue to work hard on this part of our game. Our last game versus Kingborough, for me, probably highlights our season to date. First 45 we played some good quality football and again had some good scoring opportunities. Then to concede 4 second half goals, all of which were preventable was gut wrenching for the whole squad.
WP: Were you thrown in the deep end when the club parted ways with Mark Astley
CH: When I came on board in a mentoring role with Mark Astley, I had no personal desire to again coach at NPL level and felt comfortable in the role I was playing for the club, so I could have simply walked away, once Mark departed. Jayden [Hey] had left the club, so I was in conflict with watching and supporting him and supporting Clarence Zebras by taking over the NPL coaching role, whether on a temporary or long term basis for 2025.
My decision to stay was simply due to having worked with a motivated and committed squad of players in both the NPL and NPL21s in pre season.
Every coach has different perspectives on the game and how that should be played. When I came on board, I needed to put into place my views on the style and structure of how I want us to play so it was completely different for the players. This becomes a slow burn in terms of players starting from scratch and having to learn and understand collectively and individually, so I was honest in my opinion to the player group on our progression through the season, broken down into the three rounds.
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WP: What are the positive things about your team
CH: Attitude and commitment. People can bag-out our current situation when looking at scorelines but those watching recent games, have commented on our improvement. These players hurt when we lose, so they care deeply. They are doing their very best out on the park and I must share a huge chunk of the blame for our results to date but I can guarantee you one thing, this group want to win every game and things are improving.
WP: Do you have the support of club fans?
CH: I would say yes to that question. There is a positive vibe around the club and a massive amount of work being done at Board/Committee level for the future. I feel supporters can see the improvement and hopefully we can continue that progress moving forward. For me, the most important thing is, do the players see improvement. We have weekly group meetings where all matters are discussed openly and I feel the playing group has bought into the process.
WP: Are there plans to strengthen the squad with imports?
CH: It is common knowledge that we released two of our imports who did not meet the standards of coaching staff and the Board. If those options should arrive, then yes, the club will ensure due diligence is done with researching to ensure previous mistakes are not repeated. I am of the view, we need to strengthen our squad, as at this time, we have a large injury list, some of which look like season ending injuries, so come the transfer period, there should be a different looking list to the current. That may include mid-season local transfers and Import players, but that is an unknown as of today.
WP: Can you get the better of teams like Riverside Olympic and Launceston United
CH: Time will tell, Walter. Looking at our scorelines, I will most likely get a hammering from all the keyboard warriors however I answer the question. What I will say is this. In general play, with every team we have played other than South Hobart, we have improved steadily in our game understanding, cohesion, which has led to an increased competitive edge in our games. Do we do this for long enough? No. So that is the challenge for us moving forward.
WP: The game against Devonport was a huge improvement. What did you do differently in that game?
CH: To be honest, nothing different to what had been in place for several weeks. We had obviously spent time on defending set pieces after the South Hobart game. I felt in that game, and even the South East game, the players' understanding of our system of play both offensively and defensively improved. Players worked hard for one another and it was disappointing to see a penalty given in the dying seconds of the game to make that scoreline 2-0. When you're down, you're down, and at times I have felt we can't take a trick with some of the on-field decisions, but it's natural to feel like this when you are so desperate for a result.
WP: Are you, as the coach, going to go the distance?
CH: I will certainly go the distance for 2025, if the club decides that is the correct course. If they tap me on the shoulder to bring someone else in, then so be it, but for the time being, I believe I have full support from the club as a whole and the player group.
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WP: Does the fact there is no promotion or relegation ease the situation?
CH: Administratively, yes. Everyone talks about the NPL in Tasmania being dead and wishes to return to respective North and South competitions of old. This is like a dull broken record to me. We need NPL because without that, Tasmanian clubs winning the League and Lakoseljac Cup will not have future ability to play in these respective National Cup competition. It's that simple. Promotion and relegation?
I personally believe 8 teams is the best-balanced model for Tasmania. I will make no further comments on that, as there are so many intricate details that would need to be considered.
Getting back to your question from a personal perspective. I want Clarence Zebras to start winning games, that is my pressure as the coach.
The club is working extremely hard on structuring the future and putting into place what needs to be done to bring Clarence Zebras back into not only being a competitive club holistically but also a successful club in the future and staying in the top tier of men’s football in Tasmania.
WP: Are there any young talents waiting in the wings?
CH: There certainly are and a couple have already experienced some time in NPL. Hopefully, as we progress, we will be in a position to provide others with that same opportunity as part of their personal development.
Monday, May 26, 2025
Field starting to sort itself out
In racing parlance, the NPL field is starting to sort itself out.
South Hobart has prime position and has yet to be beaten.
They came close to drawing on Saturday against Kingborough Lions United away at Lightwood Park, but if you don’t know that South Hobart fight to the final whistle, you don’t know much about them.
They are the supreme contestants when it comes to snatching victory from the jaws of draws or defeats, and they showed that again against the Lions.
Austin Yost gave the visitors the lead after just 8 minutes but the lead was wiped out by Emanuel Ponce Farias’s goal in the 17th minute.
The ‘law of the ex’ came into play just on the hour mark when Kobe Kemp restored South Hobart’s lead.
Lions’ substitute Rowan Pitt appeared to have salvaged a point for the home side when he equalised 4 minutes from the end.
But, that’s when South Hobart are at their most dangerous and it proved to be the case when South’s captain, Nick Morton, drove home the winner at the far post from a cross from the left 2 minutes before the end of what was, at times, a very physical contest.
Second-placed Launceston City produced a strong second-half effort to down Launceston United 6-1 away at Birch Avenue on Saturday,
Thierry Swaby gave City the lead in the 7th minute, but Charles Reynolds’ equaliser 2 minutes before the interval made it level pegging at 1-1 at the break.
It was all City on the resumption and Shota Fujishuro restored the visitors’ lead 2 minutes into the second half.
Swaby completed his brace in the 68th minute and Maxx Rawlings added City’s fourth 15 minutes from the end.
City’s second Japanese import, Kazuki Hashimoto netted the fifth in the 81st minute before Rawlings completed his brace in the 86th minute to lay to rest City’s nightmares from last weekend’s shock Lakoseljac Cup semi-final loss to second tier South East United.
Glenorchy Knights, who are third, Made hard work of despatching bottom-side Clarence Zebras 3-0 at KGV Park on Friday night.
Thomas Walpole made it 1-0 in the 42nd minute, whole Nick Naden added the second in the 50th minute.
James Costello made it 3-0 in the final minute, but Knights were never in danger against a very disappointing Clarence Zebras outfit.
Fourth-ranked Devonport City were unimpressive in beating Riverside Olympic 2-1 away at Windsor Park.
First-half goals by Charles Bidwell and Dylan D’Agostino gave Devonport a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Riverside substitute James Pelletier pulled a goal back for the home side in the 64th minute when he rounded the Devonport keeper and virtually walked the ball into the empty net.
All hell broke out in the 70th minute in what can only be described as a brawl and it came as no surprise to see Riverside’s Max Reissig and Devonport’s Charles Bidwell sent off.
After order was restored, both sides went through the motions and there was no further score.
Devonport did have the ball in then net but the effort was disallowed.
NPL Tasmania results
Glenorchy Knights 3 (Thomas Walpole 42’, Nick Naden 50’, James Costello 90’) beat Clarence Zebras o
Launceston United 1 (Charlie Reynolds 43’) lost to Launceston City 6 (Thierry Swaby 8’ 71’, Shota Fujishiro 49’, 84’, Maxx Rawlings 77’, William Humphrey 90’)
Kingborough Lions United 2 (Emanuel Ponce Farias 18, Rowan Pitt 87’) lost to South Hobart 3 (Austin Yost 9’, Kobe Kemp 61’, Nick Morton 89’)
Riverside Olympic 1 (James Pelletier 66’) lost to Devonport City 2 (Charles Bidwell25’, Dylan D’Agostino 45’+4)
NPL Tasmania Standings (As at 24 May 2025)
|
TEAM |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Pts |
|
South Hobart |
8 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
36 |
10 |
20 |
|
Launceston City |
8 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
28 |
7 |
19 |
|
Glenorchy Knights |
8 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
26 |
14 |
18 |
|
|
Devonport City |
8 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
18 |
7 |
16 |
|
Kingborough Lions |
8 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
15 |
18 |
12 |
|
Riverside Olympic |
8 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
8 |
21 |
4 |
|
Launceston United |
8 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
9 |
37 |
4 |
|
Clarence Zebras |
8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
2 |
28 |
0 |
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