Minor steps to rebuilding the Tasmanian State League’s shaky future have been taken following a lengthy stakeholder meeting in Campbell Town on Thursday.
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The $300,000 which had previously been allocated to former TSL clubs Prospect Hawks, Devonport and Burnie will be utilised, while AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has agreed to set up a working group to be headed by his Tasmanian counterpart Trisha Squires.
The surviving seven clubs will each receive their full AFL Tasmania grant free of the annual levy, a further $100,000 will be split between the clubs, $100,000 will be spent on travel, umpire and administration costs and $100,000 will be redirected into reviving the North-West coast.
In coming to the decisions, the group compared the financial and logistical set up of other national state leagues, which reportedly faced similar challenges across the board.
Strangely, the AFL will supply its strategy team to support a working group to review Simon Garlick’s report into Tasmanian football – a blueprint released just two years ago.
Competition general manager Carl Saunder said everyone was committed to the TSL and that all parties agreed to discuss and consider its structure, sustainability of clubs and 2019 and beyond.
“TSL clubs will get an increased investment into their TSL grant of up to 13 per cent to alleviate existing costs,” he said.
“Of course some clubs wanted more money but this will provide immediate relief to all clubs and we will continue to consider other options to assist clubs with travel demands and other areas of their operations.
“As a competition with our clubs we will look at the structure and sustainability of our clubs and the TSL to help to provide information to the working group reviewing the Future Directions of Tasmanian Football report.”
All commitments on Thursday are well-short of a broad long-term proposal from reigning premiers North Launceston to increase TSL clubs’ funding fourfold to $400,000 annually.
For the TSL to remain an eight or nine team competition from 2019 and beyond, North believes funding from AFL house should increase to $6 million per year with a $400,000 club grant to be divided into four even parts for – club management, club marquee player-coach, player payments and player development programs-equipment.
With increased funding, free buses and no match-day costs, North suggests eight or nine team senior and development league competitions with an additional Launceston-based club and a combined North-West club.
“An agreed fact is the TSL competition operates on a fraction of other state league budgets,” North said.
“The TSL has and continues to suffer from constant change and uncertainty.”
Saunder said the North-West situation was a high priority and was a topic that was long discussed.
“With the withdrawal of two clubs from the North-West Coast we have immediate and longer-term challenges to face,” he said.
“A TSL presence on the North-West Coast is an urgent priority and AFL Tasmania will begin consultation with the North-West community, working with all the key stakeholders to find a TSL solution and plan for the region.”
McLachlan is yet to commit to a date when he will visit Tasmania to discuss the lingering crisis but Squires is aware that the TSL is not the only football competition feeling the pinch.
“I am very conscious that whatever actions we take forward needs to benefit all the footballing community and all participants,” Squires said in a statement.
“Our attention now will turn to the working group and who should be included.
“Their role will be important in the steps forward.”