SFL left red faced as players and coaches pull pin ahead of rep game

LINDISFARNE coach Daniel Willing has questioned the viability of representative football in southern Tasmania after walking away from co-coaching the SFL side because of a lack of support from the league.

Both SFL rep coaches, Matthew Smith, left, and Lindisfarne's Daniel Willing, have quit because of a lack of player interest in representing the league. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

LINDISFARNE coach Daniel Willing has questioned the viability of representative football in southern Tasmania after walking away from co-coaching the SFL side because of a lack of support from the league.

Willing and Brighton coach Matthew Smith were appointed to oversee the SFL’s clash against the NTFA at North Hobart on Saturday, but pulled the plug late last week after little interest from the clubs and players.

An SFL spokesman confirmed the match would go ahead, with a new coach to be announced today when league president Madeleine Ogilvie fronts the media.

Willing told the Mercury of the initial squad of 40 selected, only 12 turned up to the first training session and after cancelling training for the next fortnight, just four players returned at a session organised last Wednesday.

It prompted both Willing and Smith to front SFL football operations manager Tony Gibson the following morning.

But with no apparent framework in place, the duo had no choice but to stand down.

“We went to Ulverstone last year and got belted on the basis we couldn’t get anywhere near our best 22,” Willing said.

“From there I said to Tony Gibson that we need to put some structure around this if it is going to work.

“We have to do something to get the players to want to play.

“Nothing more was ever said and this year he asked myself and Matt Smith to co-coach, we agreed to do it on the proviso there was incentive for the players and some framework around it to make it enticing and make them feel like they had to represent the SFL.

“We were of the understanding at that stage it was in the SFL by-laws that if you refused to represent the SFL if you were chosen, then it is a one to two week suspension.

“We turned up to the first training run, myself and Smithy, and 12 turned up of the 40 in the squad. That was alarm bells to us straight away.

“We went to Tony, talked to him about it, the information we got back was that the presidents don’t support suspending the players, which you can understand.

“But from there, there was no framework or structure around it, no incentive, no rules.”

Willing said the response he got from players he contacted was they would prefer to have a week off than represent the SFL.

This is in stark contrast to the northern leagues, who thrive on playing for their regions.

“Representative means something to those in the north, it always has.

“We played the NWFA [last year] and every single player that was named in the squad trained and there were able to pick their best team.

“There has been framework around representative footy in the north for so long, the players are excited about representing their competition and area.

“It is not the same down here and there is not enough in place from the SFL to make it enticing.”