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Rumours linking South Hobart legend Ken Morton with Clarence Zebras for 2027 — and potentially Nick Morton as well — would make for one of the biggest off-season stories in Tasmanian football. But after building such an extraordinary legacy at D’Arcy Street, would seeing Morton in rival colours take some of the shine off a remarkable South Hobart story?

Tasmania doesn’t need more leagues, more teams and more artificial pathways. It needs stronger competitions. With clubs increasingly pulling younger players up simply to fill gaps, the quality of senior and youth football is being diluted. A simpler structure could concentrate talent, protect development and put genuine strength back into the NPL and the competitions beneath it.

South Melbourne’s remarkable Australia Cup run has taken them all the way to the final. After overcoming Adelaide United, Fremantle City, Preston Lions and Lions FC, one of Australian football’s most historic clubs now faces the biggest test of all – a blockbuster showdown with Melbourne Victory and the chance to lift a national trophy once again.

From 31-year droughts and dramatic penalty shootouts to dominant doubles and late Grand Final heroics, the NPL finals have delivered across the country. With champions crowned in almost every state, all eyes now turn to Victoria as Oakleigh Cannons and Avondale prepare for one final showdown.

Former Tasmanian standout Yitay Towns has built an outstanding career with Avondale since leaving the state, but one heated moment in their dramatic preliminary final victory over Hume City could now cost the veteran midfielder a place on the biggest stage of the NPL Victoria season.

Ollie Dempsey’s controversial non-goal was the latest reminder of a system that too often delays the game without guaranteeing the right decision. Cricket and football have shown how technology can improve officiating without damaging the spectacle. Until the AFL can deliver the same standard, it may be time to put the decision back in the hands of the goal umpires.

Jon Fenech delivered Kingborough a historic cup triumph and an unforgettable Australia Cup occasion, but was that enough to make him Coach of the Year? Pete Edwards inherited a South Hobart side moving beyond the Morton-Clarke era, lost Bradley Lakoseljac and Nick O’Connell, later saw Nick Morton depart, and still delivered the league title and finals championship. When the entire season is considered, Edwards being overlooked is difficult to understand.

Tottenham have spent big but still can’t find the net, Aston Villa are a shadow of the side that thrilled England and Europe last season, while newly promoted Hull City continue to defy expectations. Four games in, the Premier League table already looks nothing like most predicted.

Brisbane have once again shown why they are built for September, responding to last week's disappointment with a ruthless demolition of Adelaide. When their season was on the line, the Lions didn't just survive — they delivered another reminder that this premiership powerhouse is at its most dangerous when the pressure is greatest.

Thrown into the action against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, Bodø/Glimt goalkeeper Julian Faye Lund endured a Champions League debut few would envy. Five goals later, his night was a brutal reminder that no position in football can be quite as lonely — or unforgiving — as the one between the posts.