The number of sporting clubs in regional areas has long been in decline but with a new wave of young people moving away from the capitals, that could be about to change.

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The Campbell Town community observing a minute's silence before the club's ANZAC Day fixture, Meander Valley coach Adrian Collins, and Campbell Town president Liz Webber. Pictures by Phillip Biggs and Paul Scambler

And there is evidence in Northern Tasmania that this could already be shifting.

Between 2007 and 2020, seven teams, and a league, in the region disappeared.

Since then, there has not been a club fold and better yet, Northern Tasmania has added 13 women's teams as well.

Campbell Town is one of the clubs reaping the benefits of an increase in young people.

A 45-minute drive south of Launceston, the town almost lost its football club entirely in 2007, forced to run out onto the park with just one senior team.

But in 2025 they returned to the field with two teams based largely on having young people either staying or moving to the town.

"We've had some that have been away and come back and that's not just from a football club point of view, but as teacher at the [local] school I see that," club president Liz Webber said.

"There's a lot of people coming in from interstate and I think there is definitely more and more coming in."

Data from the Regional Australia Institute (RAI) found that 49 per cent of metropolitan Australians aged 18 to 29 now have their eyes on the regions, citing affordability and potential career launches.

Webber added that lifestyle changes are another driver and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this difference.

"I think a lot of it was to do with Covid, people living in cities when that was all happening it was pretty hard and I think regional areas looked pretty pretty nice that perspective," she said.

"And I think people just want to slow down a bit sometimes and it is a really good sense of community, and it's safe, I know that's a big thing for families as well coming in."

The club's resurgence has reestablished what Webber believes to be one of the most important things a club can offer, a support network that the community can access.

"I'm deeply passionate about the role that the club plays in the mental health of young people particularly young men in a regional area," she said.

"We can provide a safe environment and a support network for the young men and I've seen it in the last two years... the networking that they get, the support that they get, I feel like that's the reason why I do it"

Campbell Town's Sam Douglas about to tackle Meander Valley's Ryan Irwin. Picture by Craig George

"And also other people in the town, not just the players, have got somewhere to come, it's a bit of a gathering point."

'What's the worst that can happen?'

Meander Valley coach Adrian Collins' initial pitch to prospective players, or simply young people who are considering getting involved in the club, is basic.

Adrian Collins also coaches the NTFA's women's representative side. Picture by Paul Scambler

"What's the worst that can happen? You make 50 new friends for life?"

Collins has been around football for almost his entire life as a member of New Norfolk, Old Launcestonians and now Meander Valley.

So, he has seen the changes in the club environment, changes that he believes are for the better.

And at the level which the Suns play, club culture is important because the men and women playing are unlikely to be future Devils playing in the VFL or AFL.

"More times than not they're very inclusive environments, they're a focal point of the community, and always very welcoming especially in this day and age, for all I care, come along and fill the water bottles," he said.

"Three, four people have come to me and said, 'Mate, I'm not really so much worried about whether I win or lose, we just want to have a kick and be surrounded by good people'."

However for all of the changes that clubs have made to be more inclusive and welcoming, there is one factor that they do not have any control over, Tasmania's ageing population.

This demographic problem makes finding volunteers difficult, which in turn makes it difficult clubs to continue to be a gathering point for the community.

"I look at the umpires for example, there was never a shortage of umpires and there was never a shortage of volunteers and the thing is, with an ageing population, these are the problems that we experience," Collins said.