Demon joins the fight as TSL clubs call for major funds boost to survive

THE TSL clubs need double the money to make them stand above community competitions and give them the fiscal firepower to attract the state’s best players.

North Hobart Football Club president Craig Martin said increased funding is key among a raft of issues to be discussed at Thursday’s crisis meeting. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

THE TSL clubs need double the money to make them stand above community competitions and give them the fiscal firepower to attract the state’s best players and for the AFL to fund game-day entertainment Big Bash-style.

North Hobart president Craig Martin joined the chorus of State League presidents calling for more money to help the clubs survive and thrive.

As the seven clubs — Burnie and Devonport withdrew in the past two months — head for their Campbell Town showdown with AFL Tasmania on Thursday, Martin, who aims to work constructively with the other presidents and AFL Tasmania to find solutions, said money was the key among a raft of issues.

At present, each club gets $100,000 a year, reduced to about $90,000 after AFL Tasmania deducts its “levies”.

“It is universally acknowledged that TSL clubs need a large injection of additional funds — at least double what we’re getting at the moment,” Martin said.

“We need it to differentiate us from lower-level leagues.

“It is clear there is not enough differentiating the TSL from other level leagues.

“If you are a 26-year-old footballer with a young family, it’s far more convenient for them to play at a club five minutes down the road for more money and training only twice a week compared to four times with a TSL club, and you don’t have to travel. That is the essence of the issue.

“We would like to see the clubs provided with a significant funding increase and at the same time an increase in the salary cap so we can actually have all the best players in the state playing in the TSL and we can attract players from interstate to come here as well.”

North Hobart will also advocate for a coaching scholarship program.

“Players who have come off an AFL list would come to Tasmania to further their coaching aspirations as either senior playing coaches or playing assistant-coaches in the TSL,” Martin said. “Each club would receive access to a funding pool to assist with this, and the coaches would receive professional development in leadership, management, tactics, and have a mentor provided to them. This would have huge benefits for the football industry nationally in improving the capacity and skills of coaches and have a huge positive benefit for footy in the state.”

Martin also wants the Tassie Mariners as a full-time member of the TAC Cup under-18 competition.

“They would be playing against players their own age each week and they would come under the gaze of recruiters more and give the kids more to aspire to, to play for a Tassie team each week.”

Martin will also suggest that AFL Tasmania and the AFL improve the game-day experience with entertainment.

“People these days want to go to an event and be entertained the whole time they are there, like the Big Bash,” Martin said. “People are expecting more than just a game to watch.”

North Hobart is also keen for a TSL team from the state’s North-West.

Having the under-18 teams incorporated into the senior club will also be recommended.

“You could potentially have three games on game-day and if, like us, you have a women’s team, you could possibly have four games,” Martin said.