Gillon McLachlan will finally venture to Tasmania this week to help save football in the state

GILLON McLachlan will finally venture to Tasmania this week to help save footy in the state. But how does the most powerful man in the AFL plan on doing it? JON RALPH has the latest.

GILLON McLachlan will finally venture to Tasmania this week to help save footy in the state.

The AFL confirmed today McLachlan would meet with new Tasmanian football chief executive Trisha Squires amid a crisis in state league football and its development pathways. It comes as Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett asked the AFL this month to break down how much it spent on Tasmania compared to expansion states NSW and Queensland. SCROLL DOWN TO CATCH UP ON MONDAY’S AFL NEWS WHO’S NO.1: MARK ROBINSON’S TOP 50 ROUND 1: CAN THE TIGER ARMY FILL THE MCG? PLAYERS TO WATCH: SUPERCOACH PRE-SEASON FORMGUIDE FIRST COLUMN: MAX GAWN’S FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE DEES McLachlan will head to Tasmania on Wednesday and will also meet the Premier Will Hodgman, who early this month secured a second term for the Liberal party. McLachlan has agreed to be part of a steering committee that considers the future for Tasmania after state league clubs Burnie and Devonport pulled out of the state league competition. McLachlan had promised at last week’s season launch he would not abandon Tasmanian football. The steering party will consider the recent review into the state by former Western Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick and consider whether it needs updating. He has responded to a request from Squires to work through that report - Future Directions of Tasmanian Football - given the changing landscape. Kennett recently criticised the AFL for the lack of funding injected into the state, which the league has said will likely not have its own team within a decade. ‘You have a look at the money they’re pouring into Gold Coast and GWS, it’s totally out of kilter. If you put the resources in properly, you can save those clubs (Burnie and Devonport),’’ he said. AFL FOOTY PASS 650x366 But the AFL believes Tasmania’s issues are not only financial, given Burnie and Devonport were not prepared to travel considerable distances to play each weekend. Both teams will continue playing in the local North West Football League rather than the Tasmanian state league. Help us improve Herald Sun and be rewarded! Complete this survey about live coverage for your chance to win a $50 EFTPOS card.

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