Two experienced faces have been appointed to lead the way in the southernmost state.

Trent Bartlett will take the reigns as assistant coach and Jacqueline Liffiton as high-performance coordinator for the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos.

“Tasmania has a real enthusiasm and excitement for footy, and I think that our players and staff at North are getting really excited, it being the first season, so I think the dynamic should fit and all the great talent will really start to come together,” Bartlett told North Media.  

 “This is a great opportunity for the state of Tasmania to work with North and tap into those resources to really be able to bring our female talent to the next level.

“In the last bunch of years there’s been exponential growth in women’s football in Tassie, and it’s just so exciting to see it take off and to see the girls get a chance to play it all the way up the pathways.

“It’s super important that we have coaches and staff down in Tasmania for the Tasmanian based players.”

Bringing years of AFL experience to the club, including playing alongside North AFL senior coach Brad Scott, the passion for women’s football started back in 2011 when he coached the Tasmanian team to the National Championships in Adelaide.

Though 2011 was a success, his appointment to women’s coaching, was something of a surprise.

“At the time I was working for the AFL in the commercial side of things,” Bartlett said.

“I was in a meeting with the AFL about sponsorship for the Tasmania state women’s side or something like that, and when I was walking out the door after the meeting I made a throw away comment, basically saying ‘well let me know if you haven’t got a coach’.

“I got a call six weeks later and have been involved in women’s footy ever since.”

Originally from Canada, Liffiton has been in Tasmania for the past four years looking after the strength and conditioning program for the women’s academy.

There is no denying her excitement about the opportunities for local talent.

“I think for our girls based in Tasmania it’s such an amazing opportunity to play football at this level and stay at home,” she said.

“They can have all of their support networks of close friends and family living in Tassie and now they have this opportunity to play football at this elite level and have just as many resources as the ones based in Victoria.”

The close link between the states providing a platform for growth among young inspiring athletes.

“I think for the first time in the state our girls will have professional athletes to look up to,”  she said.

“[The players] can be pretty fantastic leaders and role models for our younger players and girls coming through and they will have something to aspire to and be able to clearly see that direct pathway that they can follow to get to the highest level of women’s footy.”