Restructure has TSL kicking goals

Now he is the chief executive and the state's direct link to AFL House following an overhaul earlier this year, which seen the entire board resign.

Wade, 54, who played football for Hawthorn and Clarence, said there were many positives to come from the restructure - particularly the greater influence of the Tasmanian Football Council.

``That's is only very much in its infancy and was really born out of the restructure as a legal entity,'' he said.

``We are excited that we have got a legal structure now whereby the three regions - the North-West, North and the South all sit around the same decision making table with AFL Tasmania in the room.

``The Tasmanian Football Council will develop into the entity that will oversee, support or lead every aspect of the game in Tasmania with the exception of the state league and our talent pathway programs.

``Tasmania is a complex state, it's often a decisive state, we very rarely come together as Tasmanians, but our State League is the best young footballers in three regions competing against one another every week to be the best that they can be.''

Wade said the end goal of the State League's evolution is for the competition to become ``highly respected, which all Tasmanian footy fans are proud of''.

He admitted that before its establishment six years ago the previous Tasmanian Devils set-up was Hobart centric, which is why it was dissolved.

``Now what we have achieved is that everyone knows which is the premier competition for the whole state of Tasmania,'' he said.

``We have achieved one premier footy competition.

``Are all Tasmanian footy fans proud of it? Well, not yet - that takes time.

``We are really proud that we established this competition on the back of no one really wanting it.''

Wade said its strength can be tested when looking at how many former AFL player take part - such as Mitch Thorp, Aaron Cornelius, Jason Laycock, Bart McCulloch and Jeromey Webberley.

With just over 500,000 living in Tasmania, Wade said that 100,000 people are actively involved and participating in local football every weekend - 20 per cent of the population.

However, he said getting people to matches has become difficult.

``There is a bit of a fallacy around that people go to NTFL, NTFA, SFL and not the State League,'' he said.

``People aren't going to the football and they won't go the way they used to.

``Every AFL game is covered on television live and we live in a different environment, so we don't get too bogged down by crowds.

``Obviously we would like more people go to the football.''

Wade said football in Tasmania is often parochial, however, the state league provided a truly statewide competition.

He said it was often disappointing that community leaders want to continually divide the state. 

``We haven't even blinked an eye at the fact that the past four grand finals have been at Aurora Stadium - it's fantastic,'' he said.

``If the best team earn the right to play in the grand final, then they should have the right to host that grand final.''