Tasmanian local footy set to undergo major restructure

The Tasmanian State League looks dead and buried with an overhaul of local footy set to be on the cards with some clubs slamming the decision. Here’s the response and what’s happening.

AFL Tasmania has confirmed the Tasmanian State League will end at the conclusion of the 2024 season.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the state’s governing football body confirmed they had communicated to all seven TSL clubs that the licence agreements will not be extended post next season.

“Discussions have been ongoing with the Tasmanian State League (TSL) clubs, particularly over the last 12 months,” the statement read.

“Throughout this period TSL clubs have consistently sought clarity for the future and have requested the maximum time possible to consider all options. To allow discussions to move to working through options with all stakeholders, AFL Tasmania has communicated to the seven TSL club presidents that TSL license agreements, in place until the end of the 2024 season, will not be extended.”

The statement went on to say that the model for Tasmania’s involvement in the VFL men’s and women’s competitions was still being worked on but the timeline for the TSL’s end coincided with the entry into the VFL in 2025.

With many now wondering where the current TSL clubs – Clarence, Glenorchy, Kingborough, Lauderdale, Launceston, North Launceston and North Hobart – play in 2025, the statement failed to give clear direction as to which existing competitions those clubs would integrate into.

EARLIER

The Tasmanian State League is all but over with a return to regional football set for as early as 2025.

The Mercury can confirm the seven TSL club presidents were informed on Thursday that a return to regional and divisional football was planned going forward following the announcement of the Tasmanian AFL license – with the team set to debut in 2028 – and the introduction of a VFL team in 2025.

The current TSL license is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season but clubs had been offered a rollover of the current agreement at the end of March for 2024 with AFL Tasmania putting a deadline of May 31 for a response.

But just a day after three of the southern state league coaches came out calling for the league to continue, the state’s governing body looks set to swing the axe on a competition that only made its return in 2009.

Clarence, North Launceston and Kingborough all released statements early on Friday morning reacting to the news.

North Launceston president Thane Brady delivered a scathing response to the news saying “Hobart and mainland Australia will benefit at our loss”.

Thane Brady, president of North Launceston Football Club. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Regardless of how the AFL Tasmania spin doctors try to sell their brain fart forcing the two strongest clubs in the state back to regional footy, call it premier league or whatever there will be no local winners,” a scathing statement posted online said.

“History suggests expecting a short term sugar hit however the damage caused through the player (and) coach pipeline shutting down combined with aspirational people leaving the area heading either to Hobart to be closer to the VFL team or mainland will be significant.

“With respect the NTFA and the NWFL competitions are not fit for purpose. They rightfully are participation competitions that provide a significant positive community service.

“Putting the torch to people who have only worked their butts off for the good of Tassie footy is not a positive start in trying to achieve a one state mindset!

“Hopefully the powers to be understand AFL Tasmania should be the redundant entity here and quickly take control of Tassie footy before this fantastic AFL opportunity only becomes a south of Oatlands windfall.”

TSL clubs were informed of the decision. Picture: Chris Kidd

Brady also said he understood the need for change despite his response.

“To breed enough of our own AFL (and) AFLW players to represent us the structure of Tassie football must change but not at the expense of Northern Tasmania,” he said.

“Clubs develop people better than Academies develop athletes who at 18 are expendable.

“There are better alternatives models available to protect the integrity of the NTFA and allow Northern Tasmanians the same opportunities as our southern cousins.”

In a separate statement, Kingborough said it was an “exciting time for football in Tasmania”.

“Whilst we acknowledge there is some ambiguity around what the structure of football in Tasmania looks like in the latter half of this decade, our position remains unchanged,” the club said in a statement.

“We strive to play at the highest level available, providing programs, pathways and opportunities that attract high calibre players and people to our club where our pursuit of premiership success continues relentlessly.”

The Mercury understands the Tigers are keen to play in the TSL in 2024 while Glenorchy couldn’t be contacted to confirm. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Clarence president Scott Wade, who was also the former chief executive of AFL Tasmania, offered his own thoughts.

“Yesterday (Thursday) AFL Tasmania advised our club of the restructuring of football given the recent announcement of our own AFL teams and the introduction of VFL teams in 2025,” he said.

“Underpinning the VFL teams will be regional and divisional local competitions.

“This direction is supported by the Clarence Football Club and we will continue to work hard to connect and engage with our Roolanders, and we will strive to be the best local community football club in Tasmania (on and off the playing field).

“Our club will invest time and effort into developing quality coaching and playing environments from Auskick to senior football (male and female).

“We support a renewed focus on local community football and we will fully support our AFL teams – but – local community footy must still be the foundation of our great game.”

North Hobart president Dave Kilpatrick chose not to make a comment when contacted by The Mercury while Lauderdale president Andrew Lyden understood the call made by AFL Tasmania.

“Whilst not ideal that we will not have a state league competition (beyond 2025), we can understand the reasoning behind the return to regional football,” Lyden said.

The Bombers later released a statement confirming they would stay on in the TSL in 2024 – should the competition go ahead – before supporting whatever came next.

The Mercury understands, after speaking with a number of stakeholders, for the TSL to continue next year AFL Tasmania would need at least six out of the seven clubs to commit to the state league otherwise it would consider scrapping the competition at the end of this season.

AFL Tasmania are expected to release a statement on Friday afternoon.