TSL coaches have their say on AFL Tasmania’s communications skills and areas that can be improved

“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate” – the famous line from 1967 Paul Newman film Cool Hand Luke applies to AFL Tasmania, say coaches.

TSL North Hobart coach Richard Robinson addresses his team at quarter time. Picture: Zak Simmonds

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TWO TSL coaches have called for more funding, higher salary caps and better communication from AFL Tasmania under state football’s new leadership regime as well an assurance the State League was here to stay.

North Hobart coach Richard Robinson said there had been an inadequate level of communication from AFL Tasmania under outgoing CEO Trish Squires and hoped the new head of Tasmanian football Damian Gill would do better.

“Damian is a very personable guy so hopefully that’s at the forefront of his mind that he communicates with the clubs and the coaching staff at each club,” Robinson said.

“I don’t think there are issues that need to be resolved straight away, but there has got to be better communication coming from the office over there [AFL Tasmania] back to the clubs.”

Lauderdale assistant-coach Daniel Willing stepped into the TSL ranks this season after taking Lindisfarne to back-to-back premierships in the past two seasons.

“Damian Gill has probably got his work cut out for him,” Willing said.

“Hopefully we can get the support behind him and he can do a good job. It’s a big job, and we can move forward as a competition.

“The State League is very important for footy in Tasmania.

“Having coached in the SFL for five years, and had some success and some really good individual talent to coach, enticing those players to come to the State League is really hard.”

Money was an issue is attracting players into the top grade.

“They don’t get any more money to play in the State League,” Willing said.

“The money is pretty similar, and in the State League we train three times a week, play, and have recovery on a Sunday, and they’ve got to travel away as well.

“At SFL level if you can’t train it’s not a big deal like it is in the TSL.

“Maybe some more funding would help, maybe raise the salary cap a little bit to try and entice those good players away from the SFL and Old Scholars and possibly allowing more players in from interstate as well would make the competition a bit better as well.”