AFL Tasmania let the ball slip on the state’s North-West, says returning Docker Luke Russell

BURNIE’S withdrawal from the TSL could have been prevented if AFL Tasmania had better handled Devonport’s December exit, says Dockers recruit Luke Russell.

Luke Russell playing for Burnie before being drafted to the Gold Coast Suns in the AFL.

BURNIE’S shock withdrawal from the TSL could have been prevented if AFL Tasmania had better handled Devonport’s December exit from the State League, says Dockers recruit and former Gold Coast Sun Luke Russell.

The TSL was reduced to seven teams on Tuesday after Burnie notified AFL Tasmania that a lack of players forced the club to pull out of the TSL ahead of the 2018 season.

Originally drafted to the Suns from Burnie, Russell, who has played 73 AFL games, said AFL Tasmania could have done a lot more to avert the Dockers’ collapse.

“It’s disappointing the team has had to withdraw, and very frustrating from a player’s point of view,” Russell said.

“I think AFL Tasmania could have been monitoring the situation in the North-West a little better after Devonport dropped out.

“Alarm bells should have been going off that there was an issue in the region.”

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It has been confirmed Burnie will now line-up in the North-West Football League alongside fellow TSL dropouts Devonport.

NWFL president Andrew Richardson said the competition was thrilled to accept Burnie in the league.

“It’s very nice to now have our eighth team enter the league,” Richardson said.

“We’ve never had representation from the Burnie region, so it’s great to have them on board.”

After electing to return home following a year with the VFL’s Northern Blues, Russell, 26, will now run around in the State’s North-West regional league, but said he was content with his decision to return home to Burnie.

“Admittedly, I was looking forward to playing TSL, as I feel I’m at an age where I can still play at a higher level,” Russell said.

“There was a time where I did consider a move to another club so that I could play TSL footy.

“But Burnie’s been really good to me and I now feel that it’s time to sit back and play in the NWFL — which is a really good level for country football.

“I’m looking forward to building the club again and getting the local support, that at times in the past few seasons we wouldn’t get when we played away from home.”

Russell, who sent a call out on social media to attract players, said the Dockers junior footballers will be the hardest hit from the club’s TSL departure.

“The guys that are entering their draft year need to be at the top level,” said Russell.

“For people to watch them, they need to play TSL.

“They’ll now be forced to travel to play in one of Launceston’s teams.

“I’d imagine it’s going to be pretty hard for the Launceston clubs to accommodate those players.

“I think the State League needs to reassess where it’s at now — obviously it can’t really be called a State league competition without any teams representing the North-West of Tasmania.”

Russell suggested that a joint Burnie and Devonport team could be plausible option.

“I think if we could get a team out of Penguin, with the new sports complex having been built there, that could work for a lot people from both Burnie and Devonport,” Russell said.

“Obviously, February is now quite late to have that implemented ahead of this season, but it’s an idea that could work in the future.”