‘It’s been tried’: NWFL clubs, AFL Tas respond to northern breakaway league push

AFL Tasmania’s boss says there “wasn’t an appetite” when NWFL clubs were sought their opinion on joining a greater northern premier league, as Launceston and North Launceston dig in their heels. And the presidents of two strong NWFL clubs have had their say. Read the latest here.

Head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The presidents of two leading North West Football League clubs have distanced themselves from a breakaway competition being mooted by Launceston’s TSL clubs, with AFL Tasmania also adamant they have explored the possibility on multiple occasions.

The governing body issued a statement attributable to its boss Damian Gill on Thursday to clarify they had sounded out NWFL clubs about their thoughts on joining a new league. It comes in response to public revelations North Launceston and Launceston are interested in forming a new league involving the strongest NWFL clubs.

Gill also described public commentary from the Blues and Bombers about the NTFA and its clubs since the proposed six-team NTFA Premier League was announced as “completely unfair and out of line”.

AFL Tasmania’s statement said it had asked the NWFL on two occasions to gauge interest from their clubs about a greater northern competition, but “there was not the appetite from the clubs.”

Wynyard president and NWFL board member Kent Jackson said the health of north-west football is their focus and the return to an NTFL-style format isn’t realistic.

“It’s been tried and hasn’t really worked in the past. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different result,” he said.

“Nowadays at that level of football, people don’t want to be travelling six hours return from Burnie to Launceston, or Smithton or Launceston to play football. I don’t think it’s realistic. “Over the last 20 years the NWFL has played 20 rep games and won 18 of them. We’ve built up our product and are well down the track to just making north west football is healthier and stronger.

“This discussion about clubs going into break away leagues is not a new one. But certainly over the last three to five years, there’s been a real push by everybody sitting around the table at NWFL meetings to first and foremost promote the growth and development of north west football.

NWFL celebrate with the trophy after accounting for NTFA in last year’s representative clash at Devonport Oval.

“I think the league and the clubs have been outstanding in keeping true to that mandate of developing the strength and continuity with our women’s, men’s and junior programs. That’s been reflected in some representative results, and kids being drafted.”

Devonport president Brendon Clark said he wanted to give the proposed premier leagues the chance to establish themselves.

“I believe we should give them the opportunity to be implemented and see how they evolve,” Clark said.

“To fully support the implementation of the Tassie Devils (AFL club) and the supporting structure underneath that, it’s pertinent to give the regional premier league competitions the chance to evolve.”

Since severing ties fully with the TSL in 2018, Burnie and Devonport have won the past five NWFL senior men’s flags between them.

Gill said in the statement they respected the wishes of the NWFL and its clubs not to pursue the possibility further.

“We have discussed the possibilities around a greater northern competition with the NWFL and NTFA, but there wasn’t an appetite to explore it. Clubs and stakeholders are aware of this,” Gill said.

“We were open minded to exploring the option and we raised it very early in the discussions with clubs and associations around the premier league model in June last year. Neither association was supportive of it.

“We again raised it with the NWFL late last year to explore with their clubs to be certain if it was a model we collectively wanted to explore and work through. Again, there was not the appetite from the clubs, nor the association, and we were respectful of this.

Footy on the northwest is as harmonious as it has been in a long time, and we have a collegiate way of working that will hold the game in good stead as we build to a bright future together. We didn’t want to push it further if the North West region wasn’t supportive of it and they weren’t.

Wynyard Cats president Kent Jackson with Cats young player Jonty Dixon and recently-retired AFLW player Emma Humphries at one of the launch sites for Tasmania Football Club last month. Picture:Wynyard Cats

“All stakeholders have had the opportunity to engage with AFL Tasmania and the NTFA in determining the structure of the Premier League or an alternative since it was announced in May last year that the TSL competition wouldn’t be renewed.”

Launceston president Scott Stephens said he had reached out to NWFL president Garry Carpenter about the proposed league, and was still hopeful stakeholders could meet to discuss the concept further.

“There’s some rules in their (NWFL) constitution which doesn’t allow clubs further than Deloraine to participate, so there’s going to be some challenges no doubt,” he said.

“It was more to get a feel for where they’re at, to see if there’s a chance to collaboratively sit around a table and work out what’s better for the future of footy in northern Tasmania.

“It’s seeing if we can work out what the best methods are for football in northern Tasmania, and see if we can achieve those outcomes. If not then we need to work on what is the next best option.”

North Launceston and Launceston sent a joint statement to AFL Tasmania declaring they aren’t prepared to sign affiliation agreements to play in the NTFA Premier League - which features Deloraine, Scottsdale, South Launceston and Longford - if it remains as currently structured.

“In its current format we’re not prepared to participate. If that format doesn’t change and we have nowhere else to go, then it’s something we’ll have to look at, we absolutely concede that.

“We’ve got no issues with any of the NTFA clubs or the league, we’re being pressured to sign an affiliation with the competition on a whim all the rules and regulations are sorted. “Nothing’s been put to us on paper about our concerns, the points structure, the funding model and so on.”

Gill reiterated his unequivocal belief the three-region model is the best way forward for the game.

Launceston president Scott Stephens. Picture: Jon Tuxworth

“Our consultation, data and work told us that a three-region model was the best model for the long-term strength and sustainability of community football in our state,” he said.

“It was identified the need to reorganise and enhance top-level community football competitions, comprising three aligned independent regional associations with revitalised and elevated Premier Leagues.

“The new model is based around the three regions being strong and we have listened to the associations, leagues, and clubs.

“Three strong regions will help to generate greater collaboration between leagues, create efficiencies, reduce financial wastage, assist with administration, create pathways for more clubs and improve competitive balance long-term. Reshaping of competition structures supports our objective to sustainably grow football participation and lead to greater connection between junior and senior clubs and competitions.

“AFL Tasmania strongly believe that investing in three premier competitions underpinning a high-performance pathway going all the way to the elite national level, which has not previously existed within Tasmania, will provide greater benefit for the broader football community.

“The NTFA is a well governed, excellent community football competition made up of good natured and hardworking people.

“The NTFA and existing NTFA Clubs have unanimously supported the admission of North Launceston FC and Launceston FC to the competition, and I think the disrespect shown towards the association and clubs in recent commentary has been completely unfair and out of line.”