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propertyHome/Sport/FootballTSL: Michael Musicka at Launceston once moreBy Hamish GealeUpdated July 2 2021 - 3:25am, first published October 16 2019 - 4:01pmBy Hamish GealeUpdated July 2 2021

- 3:25am, first published October 16 2019 - 4:01pmFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyREUNITED: Mitch Thorp and Michael Musicka. Picture: Scott Gelston Launceston has lured another big fish

back to Windsor Park with classy utility Michael Musicka signing on for 2020.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue A Blue between mid-2014

and early 2017, the ex-South Launceston star helped lead East Coast to consecutive NTFA grand finals in 2017 and 2018, securing the club's first flag in 18 years in the latter.

The 26-year-old said family ties, a ticking clock and a hunger for TSL success had drawn him back to Launceston.

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"I had some crook hips and I had to take a step back from the TSL to start off with as my hips were causing me too much pain - that's why I went back to a lower league and took some strain

off my body," Musicka said.

"I always wanted to go back to TSL and I think now's the time before I get too old, and my fiancee's younger brother Miller Hodge is in the side as well so I'd love to play with him.

"He's always been in my ear even through last year and the year before saying 'when are you coming back?' so I'm definitely excited to play with him."

View +26 Photos Musicka will join coach Mitch Thorp, Dylan Riley, Jay Blackberry and Jobi Harper among a handful of star ex-South Launceston TSL players on Launceston's list for next year.

The only one of that group not to have played in the Bulldogs' 2013 premiership, Musicka is desperate to help the Blues return to the top of the tree after Thorp's young side progressed to

the preliminary final this season.

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lot of talent there and hopefully some success on the horizon," the midfielder-forward said.

"Hopefully I can help instruct and teach some of the younger boys and the body's feeling really good.

"Last year I finally played a full season without any major injury so it's definitely feeling really good and the hips are feeling really good."

Jamieson House Musicka's signing comes just a month after Launceston announced the return of strong-bodied young gun Jamieson House, who spent 2019 at SANFL outfit Woodville-West Torrens

under ex-Blues coach Sam Lonergan.

The pair's inclusion will add depth and experience to a club that flourished in seniors but struggled in development league last season.

"[Michael is] the type of player we're after," Thorp said.

"He's a genuine competitor, he's got a bit of white-line fever and he's in the age demographic we're after.

"We've obviously got a bulk of 19, 20, 21-year-olds but we don't have a lot of 25, 26, 27-year-olds so he fits the demographic really well and is the type of player we don't have a lot of.

"Both Jamieson and Michael can play forward and spend time in the middle of the ground and Jay Blackberry ideally will get back into the middle of the ground so we'll add some density around

the ball, a little bit of texture.

"This year Timmy [Bristow], Jobi and Fletch [Seymour] were probably all similar types of players and we needed to add a bit of agility and speed and these guys bring that little bit of depth

in that space."

Seymour capped off a stellar first season at Windsor Park by taking out the McAuley Medal for club best and fairest with Harper finishing second.

Midfielder-turned-defender Jake Smith rounded out the top three and was named the club's most consistent player.

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ShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyHamish GealeJournalistHamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner.Got good news? Email: [email protected] Geale is a senior reporter at

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