Eade backs Tassie to be ‘destination club’ in recruitment race

Basketball and cricket’s success shows it can be done. And AFL coaching legend Rodney Eade is adamant Tasmania’s team can be a ‘destination club’ and offer a lifestyle attractive to quality players.

Jake Beams, Rodney Eade and Shaun Kongwa during the Tasmanian AFL Club Launch at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Rodney Eade is adamant Tasmania Football Club will attract and retain quality players, pointing to Geelong’s recruiting success as an example it can be a “destination club”.

The 377-game AFL coaching veteran also believes an experienced coach would be preferable as the club looks to have an immediate impact, on and off the field.

Some pundits have questioned whether Tasmania would be capable of luring players established at other clubs from the mainland, and keeping them long term.

However the JackJumpers, currently in the NBL grand final series, have proven it can be done. Cricket has enjoyed similar success by winning a third straight WNCL crown, while the men will play in this week’s Sheffield Shield final.

Eade is confident many players will find Tasmania’s lifestyle and escaping the city ‘rat race’ appealing.

“I think Tasmania’s got a lot to offer as a state, I can see it being a destination club as well,” Eade said.

“It’s the quality of players you can get who are 24 to 26 (years old), and aren’t just depth players.

“With business and tourism and things opening up there, I think players will want to stay. I think it will be attractive.

Jeremy Cameron meets fans after Geelong’s round one win over St Kilda. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

“You have a look at Geelong, it’s a destination club but they have 500,000 people (living there) and they’re close to the beach. (Patrick) Dangerfield and (Jeremy) Cameron wanted to go there, all these players are going there because of the lifestyle.

“I think Tassie’s got that lifestyle. It won’t be attractive for everybody, but I think it will be attractive to some good players.”

Hawthorn skipper James Sicily caused some consternation in April last year when he said in a radio interview Tasmania could find it tough to convince young players to relocate to the state.

But Eade insists players will be surprised at what the state has to offer.

“The other thing is retention. There’s a lifestyle for guys who have children, jobs for partners, I think there’s a world that’s opened up there people don’t know about on the mainland,” he said.

Eade felt an experience coach would be best equipped to help get the club off the ground in its formative years.

“I haven’t thought about it too much, but my gut feel is yes (they need an experienced coach),” he said.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be a Tasmanian, the JackJumpers don’t have a Tasmanian coach or any Tasmanian players.

“You want to be competitive first up, being involved in the system as a head coach before would help.

“But they’ve got to be passionate and understand Tasmania. Because of the geography of the regions, it’s different to any other state – they have to understand the nuances around that and bring the whole state together.

“There’s a marketing and publicity element to it too. Someone like (Adem) Yze (new Richmond coach) can just concentrate on coaching, because it’s such a big club.

“But the new coach will have to be the face of it as well, to help with the promotion and marketing. An experienced coach would help with that.”