Time to save Tassie footy

THE biggest problem facing our footy is the AFL’s continuing disdain for our state. SIGN THE PETITION TO SAVE TASSIE FOOTY

Ben Brown of the Kangaroos is challenged by Blake Hardwick of the Hawks during the round 21 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at University of Tasmania Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

THE administration of football in Tasmania is not without its problems. Like in any organisation, personality clashes and empire building can — and do — sometimes get in the way of the core mission. But the biggest problem facing our footy is the AFL’s continuing disdain for our state.

Despite our island being the nursery of some of the greatest footballers to have ever laced on a boot, footy’s bosses in Melbourne just never seem to care.

The most recent snub came a fortnight ago, when AFL boss Gillon McLachlan was asked about Burnie’s decision to follow Devonport and pull out of the State League. All was well, according to the man on a salary of just shy of $1.8 million, because you can look at it “through different lenses” — and “the challenges were greater two years ago”.

He’s kidding. All is well, according to football’s head honcho — despite the Tasmanian State League having now gone from 10 teams at its inception in 2009 to just seven today, the iconic footballing nursery of the North-West Coast now having no representation, and the man at the helm of footy in this state — Rob Auld — having recently quit suddenly to accept a job with the AFL in Melbourne.

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But we shouldn’t be so surprised. The simple reality is that the AFL doesn’t give Tasmania the respect we deserve. Never has.

Last year the AFL pumped almost $46 million into the two Queensland clubs, plus it helps fund AFL Queensland and the NEAFL competition. The TSL meanwhile receives $1 million a season of AFL funding. TSL clubs ask their players to train three times a week, do recovery and weights sessions and travel around the state — all within an enforced salary cap of about $80,000 a year. Players can get the same amount — or more — to train two nights a week for their local regional team. The solution is not to scrap the TSL and return to regional competitions. We need to ensure our state boasts a top-level footy comp as an elite pathway into the AFL.

A fully functional top-level state league is also necessary if we are to ever realise our ambition of having our own team in the AFL — a dream that should surely be a goal that today’s confident Tasmania firmly sets itself over the next decade.

James Sicily of the Hawks attempts to mark during the round 21 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at University of Tasmania Stadium. Picture: GETTY

Mr McLachlan says he cares about footy in Tasmania and the AFL has a “plan” for Tasmanian football. It’s time he started proving it. That’s why the Mercury and Sunday Tasmanian think it’s time to call him on it, and to demand the AFL put its money where its mouth is. And so we’re calling on the bigwigs in Melbourne to stop stuffing around and Save Our Footy. Our demands are simple: double the funding immediately to the TSL, and then get to work developing a properly supported strategic plan for the future of footy in this state.

Tassie has proudly produced such greats as Nick Riewoldt, Darrel Baldock, Ian Stewart, Royce Hart, Matthew Richardson and Alastair Lynch but last year, only one young Tassie youngster was drafted.

It’s time we fixed the mess. The AFL is fooling nobody with its spin. We demand more.

Responsibility for all editorial comment is taken by The Editor, Chris Jones, Level 1, 2 Salamanca Square, Hobart, TAS, 7000