Auld was responding to recent comments from NWFL president and Tasmanian Football Council chairman Andrew Richardson about the state of the game in the state.

In an interview with Fairfax Media last week, Richardson questioned the long-term viability of the State League and whether AFL Tasmania was doing enough to ensure clubs remained viable.

It came after an opinion piece in the round 14 NWFL program that suggested a return to regional competitions and a four-team representatives series be established. 

Auld said it would be a “flawed assumption” to presume that the state’s best young talent would remain in the state and play in a regional competition once their Mariners duties were completed if the State League was disbanded.

“The current licence agreements with all clubs run to 2023 which is still six years away, we are not in the business of breaking contracts so this alone sends a strong and clear message that the competition is here to stay,’’  Auld said on Tuesday. 

“This year the TSL has been separated from the talent department within AFL Tasmania to give greater focus and support, and recent developments have been encouraging for the growth of the competition.”

Auld listed these developments as including the introduction of the TSLW and Burnie entering the Development League.

“Junior development has also been centralised, helping to grow the game at grass roots, with the delivery and coordination burden eased on TSL clubs. 

“Off field we have recently moved to a financial model which has provided greater stability and we continue to work with clubs to make them stronger in this area of their operation.

“It is all of our obligations to make the participation and junior pathway as connected and seamless as possible.

“There is no single owner of junior football, and to suggest otherwise is ludicrous, we all have a shared responsibility to support young people playing footy.”

Auld also questioned the comments made by Richardson that the introduction of the women’s competition had “stretched” his competition “to the limit”, as the North and North West regional women’s football competitions are managed by AFL Tasmania.

He also confirmed AFL Tasmania and the Tasmanian Football Council remained ready to “implement hubs across the state”.