Chris Fagan urges AFL to keep Tasmanian footy steering committee going

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan would like to see a continuation of the AFL’s steering committee into Tasmanian football — and an attitude change from the locals to get the code back on track.

BRISBANE Lions coach Chris Fagan would like to see a continuation of the AFL’s steering committee into Tasmanian football — and an attitude change from the locals to get the code back on track.

Fagan was a member of last year’s committee tasked with lifting Tasmanian football out of a crisis that has seen both North-West Coast clubs withdrawal from the TSL, participation drop and the number of AFL draftees almost completely dry up.

The committee recommended the full time return of the state to the TAC Cup this year, the introduction of a women’s TAC Cup side the year after and a return to the men’s VFL in 2021.

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Fagan, who played for Devonport and Hobart and coached Sandy Bay, said he was unsure if the steering committee would meet again, but believed it should.

“Maybe we do meet from time to time to keep reviewing, it shouldn’t be just a once off thing,” Fagan said from the Lions pre-season camp at Kingston.

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Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan at their pre-season camp at the Twin Ovals in Tasmania. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Fagan said he was shocked by how far the code had fallen as the steering committee gathered information to make its recommendations.

“It wasn’t in a good way, it is going to take a bit of work and it is going to take a change in attitude,” he said.

“I’m a positive person, I believe with these obstacles you’ve just got to find a way to move them rather than moan about what you haven’t got, work with what you have got and make the best of it.

“Attitudinal I think we have to probably change a bit as a state.

“I come back a bit to visit and people tell me everything that is wrong and I’m going ‘what are you doing about it?’

“That’s more important, what are you doing about it? I realise Tassie needs help but we have to try to earn the help in a sense.

“We can’t just rely on our past. We’ve got to build where we are at the moment and raise the standard. If people see that at the AFL, I think they will be more inclined to help more.

“That’s the way I see it.”

Fagan who was also the first coach of the Mariners from 1995 to 1997, welcomes the return of the program under the Devils banner.

He hoped it would provide inspiration and a pathway from under-18s all the way to the AFL, with those who missed out to return better players and eventually coaches at club level.

“That is what it is all about, it is the whole process,” Fagan said.

“I’m hopeful, I’ve got my fingers crossed and I want Tassie footy to do well and I hope one day we do get our own AFL team.”