Prospect Hawks’ place in the State League to be decided soon
THE door appears about to slam shut on the controversial Prospect Hawks experiment in the TSL.
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THE door appears about to slam shut on the controversial Prospect Hawks experiment in the TSL.
The Hawks, rebadged after the demise of the Western Storm, met AFL Tasmania last week to discuss its future after withdrawing from the seniors and fielding only a Development League team for 2016.
The original plan had the Hawks rebuilding this season and next with a view to joining the TSL seniors in 2018.
However, Prospect’s Development League team has not been competitive, losing every game by an average of 118 points, and the Mercury believes it is unlikely the Hawks will be able to sustain a team, or teams, in the state league.
TSL general manager Carl Saunder said: “We’ve met with them and over the next four to six-week period they will come back to us with a business case on what 2017 and beyond looks like and that will essentially determine what the future looks like for them and the competition.
“We had a good discussion with them last Monday and will continue to work with them over the coming weeks to help them and determine what the future looks like.”
Asked what the make up of the nine-team senior competition would be in the future should Prospect withdraw, Saunder would not say.
“That is a question for another day,” he said.
“If they are in or out and what impact that has on the Development League for 2017 and the competition as a whole in 2018, we will just work that out at the time.”
The third Launceston team has had a chequered past.
South Launceston battled from the start of the TSL in 2009 but burst into the finals in 2013 on the way to the Bulldogs’ first state league premiership in either the state league or the old statewide competition.
However, as they tasted glory, their licence was withdrawn due to financial issues.
South Launceston returned to the NTFA, while the Western Storm was created, stocked with much of the Bulldogs playing list.
A 2014 grand final appearance and the state’s only win in the then Foxtel Cup appeared to point to a rosy future.
But runners-up in 2014 was followed by a wooden spoon in 2015, a player exodus and a lack of a home base and depth.
AFL Tasmania and the Storm attempted a partnership with the Prospect Junior Football Club and a rebranding to the Prospect Hawks, but the club was unable to field a senior team for this season.
Now the club’s appearance in the TSL looks all but over.
brett.stubbs@news.com.au
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