Footy safe, more to do

FOR the first time in a long time, Tasmania has the attention of the spivs at AFL House — but this is only the start of the journey.

THE outcomes of the AFL’s steering committee into Tasmanian football are solid. But this entire process — sparked by the Mercury’s Save Our Footy campaign — should only be considered the start of an ongoing conversation between our footy-loving state and the Melbourne-based administrators who run the national competition.

For too long we have been ignored, despite being a heartland state. We have been taken for granted as a factory of talent for the mainland-based teams while the AFL has focused on trying to crack into new markets that still don’t care, and likely never will.

The steering committee process has therefore been a welcome change. It has been good to have AFL boss Gillon McLachlan chairing its meetings, just as all Tasmanians would have applauded the fact Nick Riewoldt, Brendon Bolton and Chris Fagan were included on the committee alongside the administrators. That meant the committee had not only the power to make changes, but also a good understanding of what Tasmanians actually want, and what our promising young footballers actually need.

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The AFL says it has a plan to fix problems with the TSL. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Mr McLachlan — who sparked our campaign when in early February he denied there was a problem with footy in Tassie — will visit next Tuesday to announce the outcome of the committee’s process. We now know it will include an expanded under-18s program for both boys and girls, the continuation of the State League (TSL) as a top-tier competition until at least 2023, and a Tassie team in the VFL from 2021.

It’s a pretty good outcome. But a lot of questions remain. And the biggest one is does Mr McLachlan consider the Tasmanian VFL team to be a stepping stone towards our own Tassie-based AFL team. The AFL did run teams in the VFL representing the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney before their entry into the national competition. But we also remember that Tassie had a VFL team for seven years until 2008 with no promise of it ever converting to the big league.

The Mercury started the Save Our Footy campaign asking for two things: for the AFL to deliver a strategic plan for football in this state, and for more funding and support for the Tasmanian State League.

The first ask appears to have been delivered on. Our youth talent pathways have been strengthened. The expanded Mariners under-18s program is welcome, as is the introduction of a parallel pathway for our elite female players. How all of the component parts of Tassie football fit together is now much clearer.

The second ask — more cash and support for the TSL — appears to have not been fully met. But at least the AFL now properly understands the value of the TSL to Tassie. Over the past few months the steering committee has tried numerous times to undermine the TSL. Every time their attempts have been met with outrage, from the Premier down. The fact the AFL will now consider the TSL a top-tier competition, that it will continue its funding, and that it will commit to the TSL until at least 2023 shows the fight has been worth it.

For the first time in a long time, Tasmania has the attention of the spivs at AFL House. But this is only the start of the journey. We need to all keep making noise and fighting the fight, for the future of our footy.