State’s new football boss says no emergency but sends list of demand to AFL

CRISIS — what crisis, says Tasmania’s new football boss Trisha Squires. SIGN THE PETITION

AFL Tasmania's new CEO Trisha Squires started her tenure sending a series of demands to AFL House. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

CRISIS — what crisis, says Tasmania’s new football boss Trisha Squires.

But that did not stop her writing a letter of demand to the AFL asking for her boss, AFL CEO Gill McLachlan, to be front and centre in the bid to find a fix for the ailing health of Tasmania football.

Squires, who has been in the job for only two weeks, said her role was to kick goals for Tasmania.

“I have spent a lot of time listening to Tasmanians and all different stakeholders about how they feel about footy,” she said.

“I want to see football in Tasmania flourish.

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“So I’ve been thinking about what my first action should be as CEO of AFL Tasmania.”

Her first action was to speak to her AFL superiors and followed a letter of demand.

“I have been having some discussions with AFL House in regard to what the next step should be and I have also penned a letter to the AFL executive addressed to Gill McLachlan today stating what I think should happen next,” Squires said.

“I have demanded three things from AFL House.

“Number one was to look at the Future Directions of Football Report again, especially the two recommendations in regard to the TSL and talent.

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“My second demand is that a working group is formed around this, and that Gill McLachlan is on that working group and that the first committee meeting is held in Tasmania in the near future.

“The third is that we build capacity so we can play football across this state.”

Dwindling draft numbers, players being poached to interstate leagues, inadequate funding and the loss of Tasmanian State League clubs Burnie and Devonport in the past two months prompted the remaining seven clubs to call a crisis meeting with AFL Tasmania at Campbell Town on Thursday.

“I don’t believe we are in crisis,” Squires said.

“We’ve got a lot challenges so we need to ensure that the game flourishes and we are going to need to take steps to do that.

“We need to work through what the best for the sustainability of the TSL and throwing money at that right now wouldn’t be the smartest thing to do.”