’What’s our future?’: TSL coaches slam AFL Tasmania
TSL coaches have come out hard against AFL Tasmania demanding to know the future of the State League and its funding.
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EMBARRASSING, frustrating, disjointed – that’s how TSL coaches described a wall of silence from AFL Tasmania on the lack of funding and security surrounding the future of Tasmania’s top football competition.
North Hobart coach Clinton French led the attack when the coaches lashed out at their weekly press conference.
French started by citing a statement by former AFL Tasmania CEO Trish Squires, now head of football in Queensland, about the Aspley Hornets withdrawing from the VFL to join the Queensland State League.
“Our QAFL competition continues to grow from strength to strength and its standing as a genuine State League,” Squires said.
“The inclusion of Aspley will see the competition expand to 12 teams in season 2022 and only further strengthens the QAFL competition.
“When a footballer starts at Aspley with NAB AFL Auskick they can now aspire to playing with the Hornets in QAFL or QAFLW, demonstrating Aspleys commitment to providing a participation pathway from juniors through to seniors.”
TSL clubs could only dream of such support from AFL Tasmania.
“It is a really positive statement from the head of the game in Queensland about a state league competition expanding and a QAFLW competition that is really strong and a junior pathway - three big indicators of success of AFL football,” French said.
“I’d love to see our game have that positivity around it.
“Our funding has been cut by half and we have no clarity for the future of our competition.
“When we talk about recruiting or retaining players, what are we actually selling them when we don’t know ourselves.
“It’s pretty embarrassing _ we’re a footy state and we don’t even know what our state league is going to look like.”
Lauderdale coach Dan Willing agreed.
“We still have no idea what’s happening in the future and without that clarify around what the football landscape is going to look like in the future it is very hard to plan for the future,” Willing said.
Glenorchy’s Paul Kennedy is trying to recruit a senior playing-coach.
“I’d love to hear one of the AFL reps down here come out and be as positive as QAFL was about their state league,” Kennedy said.
AFL Tasmania issued a statement in response.
“We are committed to consulting widely with all clubs and competitions across Tasmania to develop a vision for our game that will become a strategic plan for the next 5-10 years.
“We have been clear in the Futures Project that all competitions, associations, and leagues are important and any decisions on any one element of the game cannot be made in isolation.
“We are committed to considering the whole football landscape in Tasmania, it is important we do and that we don’t rush the project.”
Pies hunt for new TSL coach with AFL or VFL experience
GLENORCHY is on the hunt for a senior playing coach for the 2022 TSL season with an internal review highlighting the need for change to return the club into finals contender.
The Pies finished with the wooden spoon for the first time in more than two decades last year, and have endured a lean 2021 with just four wins from 17 games.
Current coach Paul Kennedy will remain as club coach, with the search to begin immediately to bring in an AFL or VFL experienced player to take the reins as match day coach.
Kennedy said the move would provide multiple benefits — not only spreading the load but also allowing Glenorchy to hunt a high quality player.
“The obvious answer [on how best to implement the findings from the review] was a coaching panel, a team of good quality coaches who are working towards the same thing,” Kennedy said.
“The stats around playing coaches winning premierships in the TSL are really high but what those clubs also have in common is a really strong structure around the playing coach.
“Because a section of large section of their [a playing coach’s] salary doesn’t come under the salary cap, it allows you to recruit a top level player, and then still have room in your cap to pay your other really good players as well and recruit a couple others.”
Kennedy insisted he didn’t view the move from the club as one attempting to get him out the door.
“[Football director] Pete Barwick and [president] John McCann came to me and they said ‘here’s what the recommendations are, let’s, let’s have a really good chat, and think about how we can make them work’.
“That’s probably the level of maturity at this club, and the way they went about it. So then, Pete and I went away and had some really good conversations and bounced ideas and scenarios and the more we talked, the more we move towards this one because we just think it’s an ideal situation.
“It’s not about me. My position is the same, but now I’m going to have more people around helping and we’re going to have a really exciting, talented good person as a playing coach that I’m going to be able to work with and help get the club results.”
Barwick is confident the restructure can set a new standard of coaching in the State League.
“I think it will work exceptionally well, I think it will probably exceed all expectations and we might make leaps and bounds quicker than what some people are thinking.
“We wouldn’t have gone down this path if we thought there was any issues, we think it is a really exciting opportunity.”
Tigers get two weeks to sharpen claws for TSL finals
THEY’VE run premiership favourites Launceston to the brink and rattled the cage of North Launceston — now the Tigers have a fortnight to plot their second TSL finals assault.
Beaten but not broken, the Tigers fell short in their quest to earn a home elimination final when a fourth quarter Bombers blitzkrieg sunk them by 38-points at the Twin Ovals on Saturday.
The Tigers had turned a 20-point halftime deficit into a 10-point lead at the final change, having come out of the main break with intent to serve it up to North Launceston.
The perennial State League powerhouse’s response was exhilarating, but left Tigers coach Trent Baumeler with confidence that his side’s best is good enough, if they can sustain it.
“I thought the first three quarters were really good, when we look across the first half, we were winning clearance, we were winning inside 50, we just didn’t capitalise,” said Baumeler, who nearly pulled off a huge upset in round 16 when the Tigers led Launceston all match only to be overrun in the final stanza.
“North Launnie really capitalised on our errors, some decision making and some ball use and they were just bang, bang, kicking all their goals.
“We were toiling away and not kicking straight but then the third quarter was really pleasing but the last, that’s not the way we want to finish out games.
“We were able to put a lot of heat on the ball and you’ve got to stand up to those teams who are very good and very strong around the contest.
“We were really pleased with our pressure in that period and to put them on the back foot, it gives us a look at that and know that we’ve got that in us.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t sustain it in the last quarter. Maybe you can get a get away with that against some of the other teams but against class organisations, well structured teams, they showed they were able to capitalise on their opportunities.”
The Tigers have the bye in the last round of the home and away season, giving them two weeks to plan for Clarence, who shocked Launceston to lock in Blundstone Arena as the elimination final venue.
After pipping the Roos with the last kick of the match two weeks ago, the ground holds no fears for the Tigers.
“It’s good to know … there is clarity around what two weeks’ time is going to look like.
“We can get to planning, we just played there as well so it feels familiar.
“It would have been great to have a home final down here but we’re there, we’ve got an opportunity, and that’s the main thing.
“You’ve got to play well at this time of the year on Blundstone and UTAS so that’s no problems at all.”
Bombers take off with stunning last quarter
THE Tigers have proven they hold no fear of the TSL powerhouse sides on the eve of finals, but sustaining the effort to slay the giant is easier said than done.
Trailing North Launceston by 20 points at halftime at the Twin Ovals in their last match of the regular season – and with third spot on the ladder on the line – the Tigers came out swinging after the long break and produced one their best quarters of the year.
Unfortunately they poked the bear in the process and the response from the Bombers was electrifying.
A six-goal-to-one third stanza helped the hosts, who had kicked a wayward 2.8 in the first half, snatch a 10-point lead by the last change.
North Launceston’s answer was to rattle on eight unanswered goals in less than 17 minutes to run out 16.8 (104) to 9.12 (66) winners.
Tigers ruckman Marcus Gardner (three goals) was sent deep into the forward zone in the third quarter and the move proved a masterstroke but his absence in the middle of the ground in the fourth term was telling as Alex Lee began to dominate.
It was the opening the visitors needed and with Mark Walsh leading the way, the surge was unstoppable as Brad Cox-Goodyer (three goals) and Tom Bennett, Zac Burt, Nathan Pearce and Brandon Leary (two each) finished off the work.
“Obviously Tigers came out in the third quarter and were phenomenal, they applied great pressure and we couldn’t go with them,” Cox-Goodyer said.
“They got into us physically and it showed, but for us to respond is a massive tick and it was led by Mark Walsh.
“He was outstanding today, he got us going and we jumped on his back and were able to run away with it in the end and play some of our best footy all year.”
Cox-Goodyer said the Tigers’ confidence to take it up to his side was the spark that ignited the stunning response.
“It was all mental, we knew some things we were doing structurally and whatnot were working, but when the Tigers came out and cracked in, they were physical with us.
“That was our message, we don’t get bullied. The Tigers got a bit lippy out there as well when they were up and going and I think that stung the boys into action as well, which is good.
“But if we wait like that in two weeks and give Launceston that amount of time and ball, they will put us to the sword.”
The Tigers have the bye in the last round, giving coach Trent Baumeler an additional week to plan for Clarence, which secured the home elimination final by upsetting Launceston at Blundstone Arena.
Demons heap more misery on Pies
NORTH Hobart has finally got another taste of victory and unearthed a potential AFL draftee along the way.
But it was more misery for Glenorchy that cannot end 2021 quick enough as the Magpies suffered their sixth straight defeat, 10.10 (70) to 8.8 (56) — this time to the last-placed Demons who previously only had one win for the season.
It was young Demons forward Will Splann that turned the game and a few AFL scouts heads with a breakout performance.
The key forward, who doesn’t turn 18 until October, booted a game-high five goals and missed a couple of other opportunities to add to his tally.
Demons coach Clinton French said it was reward for Splann and his team.
“He’s a real old-fashioned deep forward,” French said.
“I’m sure he’s got the attention of a few AFL teams.”
The first half was fairly close with North Hobart nine points in front at the long break.
The Demons then took control of the game and should have won by more if not for some late goals to the Magpies that added respectability to the scoreline.
Splann had a fellow twin tower in Jack McCulloch, who slotted two goals, while Callum Kilpatrick dominated all day and Tyler McGinnis was superb across half back.
“Externally, I know people just look at wins and losses,” French said.
“But we are making strides forward and it was great reward to see smiles on the faces of members and volunteers today.
“We speak about it often if we can do what North Launceston did and keep this group together, we know we can really improve.”
Roos won’t be left feeling the Blues, even in defeat
CLARENCE has crept closer to Launceston in their previous two meetings this year and will be hoping third time is a charm when the two sides lock horns again.
And while a victory against the TSL powerhouse will provide a massive shot of confidence on the eve of the finals, coach Jeromey Webberley insists it is not a requirement to validate his side’s premiership credentials.
The Roos host the Blues at Blundstone Arena with plenty on the line, including a potential home match in the first week of finals against Tigers.
Victory would also instil firm belief within the playing group the high flying ladder leaders are not bullet proof, but Webberley remains firmly focused on the bigger picture.
“Our two games thus far, we’ve got better. The first game they annihilated us and the second game we sort of stuck with them for three quarters and then they got hold of us in the last,” Webberley said.
“We take some confidence out of that second performance that if we get some things right, we can put some scoreboard pressure on.
“We’d love to beat them and gain some confidence, and we don’t want to get wiped off the park, but at the end of day it’s a game of footy and we’re trying to get better and educate the players so we’re right to go in five weeks time.
“The reality is that if we do get to them again after this weekend, it’s more than likely going to be in the big dance.
“They’re clearly the best team in the competition and we can go out there, throw our best at them and see what we come up with.”
Webberley has no doubt Launceston — which is three games clear on top of the ladder and has suffered just one defeat all season — has some chinks in its seemingly impenetrable armour.
However he was keeping his cards close to his chest and is unlikely to reveal his best hand on Saturday.
“I think we got 20 points up at one stage in the second game, we’ve challenged them … we just haven’t been able to stick with them for the full four quarters,” Webberley said.
“It’s starting to get pretty secretive this time of year, around what clubs doing, how they’re doing it.
“We tried some things against the Tigers on the weekend and we threw something out after halftime and we changed things around.
“I think all clubs are tinkering a little bit with their personnel and maybe some of their system a little bit, but I’m certainly not going to discuss it in a public forum around how we think we can expose Launceston.”
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