TLSW teams Launceston, Clarence and Glenorchy about to find new competition for their women’s teams

Launceston, Clarence and Glenorchy have almost sealed the deal on a new place to play after the demise of the TSLW this week.

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THE TSLW’s reigning premier Launceston is ready to join the NTFAW while Glenorchy and Clarence are poised to transition into the SFLW but AFL Tasmania hopes the state’s elite women’s football competition can be restarted in the next few years.

Football boss Damian Gill said no promises but he would like the TSLW, which officially lost the backing of AFL Tasmania earlier this week, to be resurrected when possible.

The loss of North Launceston and Tigers from the TSLW left Launceston, Clarence and Glenorchy as the last teams standing.

TSLW: TSLW Grand Final 2020, Glenorchy vs. Launceston, UTAS Stadium: Launceston's Brooke Brown with the ball. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

That made it unviable, and AFL Tasmania announced the competition’s demise this week.

Launceston president Sandra Boland was happy her women will have somewhere to play, but revealed it will come with restrictions.

“It is sad to lose the TSLW but if we haven’t got enough teams to play in it, it’s not workable,” Boland said.

“We’re talking with the NTFAW and as the top team in Tasmania there will be restrictions put on our team.

“It’s hard being told how many players you can keep at your team just so you can make yourself less competitive at the lower level.

“We are praying that the TSLW might be able to come back in the next few years. We would really like to get it back up and running.”

TSLW: TSLW Grand Final 2020, Glenorchy vs. Launceston, UTAS Stadium: Launceston celebrate winning the 2020 TSLW grand final. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Boland has been in daily contact with Gill as they work to reshape women’s football.

The “new normal” will include a state premiership over two weeks between the SFLW, NTFAW and NWFLW premiers, and a North versus South showcase game.

“Launceston are entering the NTFA and the other two are working through where to go with the SFL, and we are also working on a model so we can look after those aspirational players, so the wheels are in motion,” Gill said.

“We understand the situation the clubs are in and we are trying to make the best of it.

“We are putting together an advisory group to see how things can evolve.

“You can’t make the assumption that the best path forward is TSLW but it is certainly not being ruled out.

“We are at a moment in time where we don’t have enough teams committed to the statewide pathway but that’s not to say that’s forever.

“We have to keep an open mind about what the best thing is moving forward – let’s see how things go with this new model.”