TSL coaches furious at state game snub by AFL Tasmania

Furious TSL coaches have launched a scathing attack on AFL Tasmania for snubbing all seven of them for the job of mentoring the state team next season in favour of a man from outside their league.

FURIOUS TSL coaches have launched a scathing attack on AFL Tasmania for snubbing all seven of them for the job of coaching the Tasmanian team next season in favour of a coach from outside the State League.

AFL Tasmania has reportedly targeted former Burnie and 123-game Gold Coast, St Kilda and Richmond AFL player Maverick Weller, who is now playing-coach of Penguin, to coach the state team, but has not made an official announcement.

TSL coaches are incensed that they were given the cold shoulder, and that someone unfamiliar with their players week-in, week-out will be in charge of them.

Clarence coach Peter Ryan led the charge, saying the TSL coaches all felt snubbed by the decision and that Coach of the Year, Mitch Thorp, a four-time TSL premiership coach, should have been honoured with the role.

Maverick Weller of the Tigers (left) and Darcy Moore of the Magpies contest during the Round 2 AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG in Melbourne, Thursday, March 28, 2019. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Ryan also believes AFL Tasmania’s decision to make state team selection open to players from all second tier competitions an insult to State League players.

Ryan made his feelings clear in a letter to AFL Tasmania, which was leaked to the Mercury.

When contacted, Ryan said he was told by an AFL Tasmania official that the appointment of Weller was a “captain’s call” by TSL manager Andy Bennett.

Ryan was perplexed that the head of the State League would farm out the duty of state coach to someone not even involved in the premier competition he manages.

In the letter, Ryan said: “It’s the lack of consultation with the club’s and their coaches that I believe shows a complete lack of respect. It is my opinion that this decision undermines the TSL as your premier competition.

Clarence Coach, Peter Ryan Picture: Linda Higginson

“To simply justify the appointment with the comment that it was a “Captains Call” is an embarrassment to the game and a complete lack of respect for the current TSL coaching cohort.

“In the best interests of the game, isn’t it preferable that you first gauge interest from the TSL coaches? From there an informed decision can be made about implementing a robust and fair process to ensure that a suitable candidate is selected.

“In this instance, in my opinion, you have chosen a path that ignores due process and is secretive by nature.

“As a result of this decision, it appears that AFLTAS are making decisions detrimental to the health of the TSL and in broader terms the game itself in the State.

“The “Captains Call” merely paints you in a picture where it’s a ‘job for the boys’ and that you have no time for the opinions of the current coaches.

TSL Grand Final 2022. Tigers V Launceston. Launceston captain, Jobi Harper and Coach Mitch Thorp Picture: Linda Higginson

“With no disrespect to the candidate you have chosen, decisions such as the one you have made do nothing to foster a collaborative approach with your stakeholders.

“It merely shows that you have no interest or care in working together.”

AFL Tasmanian boss Damian Gill said it was common to appoint a state coach from outside the TSL coaching ranks.

“Per previous practice for representative teams, we have appointed from outside traditional coaches within the TSL to avoid any perceived conflict of interest and to enable the coach to have pristine focus on the representative game,” Gill said in a statement.

“We are confident that we have appointed a coach that will position the team well, and one who will work in well with TSL coaches.

“Our intention has always been to have TSL coaches meaningfully involved in both the selection process and the game-day operations of the representative team.

“We look forward to announcing our coaches for both the men’s and women’s teams in the coming days.”