State’s talent pathway to be run from Melbourne as restructure hits AFL Tasmania hard
Talented Tasmanians pathway to the big league will now be run out of AFL House in Melbourne following the code’s massive restructure, which has seen redundancies hit AFL Tasmania.
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TASMANIA’S talent pathway will be run out of Melbourne’s AFL House with the abolishment of the state’s talent pathway manager – a move that has brought the ire of the State Government.
It is one of several Tasmanian roles that have been changed or lost following the AFL’s nationwide restructure partly announced on Monday.
The position was previously held by Craig Notman, who was in the job for one year following the reintroduction of a Devils full-time program to the under-18s NAB League.
It is understood this position will be replaced by a combined talent manager/Devils coaching role.
Notman and current Devils coach Cameron Joyce – who was only appointed this year but didn’t get to coach a game due to the shutdown – have both been asked to apply for the one role.
The position would be directly answerable to Melbourne, and not incoming Head of AFL Tasmania, Damian Gill, who starts in the new role on November 1.
Last year Notman as the previous talent manager reported to both AFL House and outgoing AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires.
Tasmanian Sport and Recreation Minister Jane Howlett said the Government, which contributes about $500,000 a year to AFL Tasmania, was kept in the dark on the changes to the talent pathway structure and was not impressed.
“The Government was not consulted about this important change,” Howlett said.
“I will seek more information from the AFL about the impact of this decision on Tasmanian football and our emerging talent.
“It would be unacceptable if this has any detrimental impact on Tasmanian football and its emerging young male and female talent.”
There is also uncertainty about the future of the TSL general manager’s position, previously held by Carl Saunder.
AFL Tasmania’s community football manager’s role, held by former Tasmanian cricketer and Cricket Tasmania cricket operations manager Andrew Dykes, is also understood to have been made redundant.
Tasmania’s three regional talent managers, Mathew Armstrong (south), Nathan Warren (north) and Jamie Hayward (north-west) have all retained their positions.
Across Australia, 20 per cent of roles within the AFL have been affected.
All state chief executive officer positions have been replaced with state “Heads” focusing more on community football, growth in participation and development of facilities.
Squires will be relocating north to become Head of AFL Queensland as part of the restructure.
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