"I CAN understand why children are playing other sports."
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These are the words of Steve McKillop, who embodies the heart and soul of grassroots footy but says he will never play the game again.
When the likes of McKillop - a club life member, premiership captain, best- and-fairest winner and umpire - are turning their back on the game, it is facing serious problems.
Saturday's assault behind play which left the likeable 44-year-old father-of-two with multiple facial fractures not only came after a diabolical week to forget for the sport but happened in an NEFU reserves match.
There may be a lot of farmers in the North-East, but they're not playing for sheep stations.
"I'm in shock as to why it would happen," McKillop said. And who wouldn't be?
It came after another cowardly hit in an under-16 Mother's Day match at Invermay Park left a player in hospital, an under-9s game in Kingston was abandoned following a brawl involving parents and an under-18 colts game in Cygnet suffered a similarly ignominious early end.
Under-9s? Colts? Reserves? Mother's Day match?
What is wrong with people?
The NEFU executive has decided to take the McKillop incident, which occurred in an East Coast Swans- Bridport clash, to a tribunal, which will be conducted by the NTFA as soon as possible.
However, the league may have to get in line as the NTFA has its hands rather full, already dealing with the aftermath of the brawl at the division 2 grand final rematch between Old Scotch and Fingal Valley, which in turn was a repeat of trouble between the same two sides in last year's second semi- final.
The NEFU is also familiar with the scenario, umpires having been forced to abandon the 2010 game between Lilydale and Ringarooma after a melee involving more than 50 players and spectators.
At a time when footy in Tasmania appears to be in dire need of leadership, little has been heard from AFL Tasmania since it was consumed by its parent organisation in Melbourne and it's doubtful whether incoming national chief executive Gillon McLachlan is even aware where Bridport, Cygnet and Fingal are, let alone what's happening there.
He's got more to worry about with fans booing as an unconscious umpire gets carried off on a stretcher, ASADA seemingly on the brink of penalising almost an entire club list and young Toby Greene joining an impressive list of misbehaving players.
With the soccer World Cup just around the corner and footy kicking so many own goals, it's difficult to dismiss McKillop's opening comment.