TSL ‘blindsided’ as Devonport pulls the plug on 2018 season

UPDATED: AFL Tasmania officials insist the TSL is not suffering a slow, painful death despite being completely blindsided by the loss of a second senior side in 24 months.

Devonport has announced it is pulling out of the TSL competition for 2018. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

AFL Tasmania officials insist the TSL is not suffering a slow, painful death despite being completely blindsided by the loss of a second senior side in 24 months.

Devonport delivered a bombshell late on Wednesday night when it told CEO Rob Auld and State League general manager Carl Saunder it would be withdrawing from the 2018 season.

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The Pies revealed the news just a day after next year’s fixture was released, reducing the competition to eight teams after the Prospect Hawks — rebranded from the Western Storm — pulled the plug on their senior outfit in December 2015.

It is a devastating blow for a competition which punted foundation clubs South Launceston and the Hobart Tigers in 2013, and forced North Hobart to rebrand to Hobart City to introduce the Kingborough-based Tigers in 2014.

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“It is fair to say the news came as a shock and blindsided AFL Tasmania,” Saunder said.

“From our perspective the TSL is here to stay, the reality is we have licence agreements in place until 2023 – that’s six years away.

“Six weeks is a long time in footy, six years is an eternity.

State League general manager Carl Saunder. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It is certainly challenging in terms of competing in the State League, but I’m confident our best years are ahead of us.”

Devonport, which will still field senior, reserves and under-18 sides in the NWFL, told AFL Tasmania the decision was made due to a lack of players.

The Pies won just two matches this year and only avoided the wooden spoon to Coastal neighbours Burnie by percentage, with coach Mitch Thorp and captain Dylan Riley both walking away from the club at season’s end and joining Launceston.

While declaring AFL Tasmania would do everything it can to support the entire North-West football community, Saunder questioned the model both clubs had implemented in recent seasons.

Burnie was forced to quit the NWFL in March due to a shortage of players, just two years after it re-entered the local competition.

“For Devonport, they are the only club in the state that has this model of a TSL senior [side] and not playing in the Mercury Cup and then playing locally in the NWFL,” Saunder said.

“Burnie had done it previously until season 2017, you would have to say on face value maybe that model is not the best model.

“But this is a bit broader than just Devonport, we have some challenges as a sport with football on the North-West Coast.

“We are doing a lot of work right across the coastal community in footy to correct what seems to be some challenges for clubs and leagues in that part of the state.”

Saunder said work on a new 2018 fixture would begin immediately, with 18 games over 21 weeks still the goal.

A decision on what happens to Devonport’s $100,000 funding will also be made in the New Year.

Pies president Gerard Enniss did not return the Mercury’s calls, but said via a statement the decision was one that was not taken lightly.

“We didn’t want it to come to this and we worked long and hard to avoid this situation,” Enniss said.

“We concede we could have been more forthcoming in providing updates on our situation to TSL management.

“We apologise and acknowledge we could have handled our departure from the TSL better, however, this has been an incredibly challenging and tough decision but we could not delay it any longer.

“At this time, the best course of action for our club is to compete in the NWFL and withdraw from the TSL, as we stabilise our proud football club.”