That is deadline day for Gillon McLachlan’s steering committee into the game in this state, with the Richmond chief executive hoping there would be some acknowledgement of his home region in what is delivered by that group.

In fact, he said he would be disappointed if the North-West Coast was overlooked.

“I think a lot about Tassie and I am passionate about it, but I have no direct involvement (with the committee) as with my job at Richmond, that is what I am focused on,’’ he said at West Park on Saturday, taking time out from being the special guest at the Dockers’ pre-match function before their NWFL clash with Ulverstone.

“It is a simple answer, but I don’t think there has been enough money invested in Tasmanian football and the North-West, and I think there is a case for extra support.

“How that manifests itself, I don’t know, but if there is more emphasis on junior pathways, that requires more money with more people on the ground with systems and support.

“If Burnie were going to ever reconsider a position in the state league again, players are going to have to be incentivised as well.

“I’d like to see what they roll out, and I would be surprised if there wasn’t something about the Mariners and I’d also be surprised if there wasn’t something that acknowledged the challenges of the North-West, which there are several.”

But Gale, the ruckman who played 244 games and kicked 209 goals for the Tigers from 1990-2001 after starting his football journey on the Coast, was confident with capabilities of those on the committee, including Chris Fagan, Brendon Bolton and Nick Riewoldt.

“When there’s someone like Chris Fagan, who has had a long and outstanding involvement in Tasmanian and AFL football, I think people like him give it some authority and some influence, so I do hope the outcome is a good one,’’ Gale said.

But Gale did query whether re-entering the team in the VFL, one of the ideas that has been floated since Devonport and Burnie withdrew from the State League, was something that would work.

“I’m little bit more sceptical about that to be honest,’’ he said.

“That is more to do about the VFL, as that is a compromised competition. I understand the aspiration to have a Tasmanian team in the highest level possible, and that might provide further pathways, but an examination of the competition does suggest that it is compromised.

“I'm not saying that’s a bad thing, but teams participate for different reasons.

“For us (Richmond), it is not so much about winning the VFL premiership, it is about development.

“We have standalone VFL clubs, standalone AFL clubs and we have alignments, and it also costs a lot and one is entitled to ask, could that money be better spent elsewhere?”

He believed Tasmanians should continue to aspire to have its own AFL side, but warned it would not be as simple as just transferring the license of the struggling Gold Coast to this state.

“There are plenty of footy romantics who would love to see a Tasmanian team, and I am not one of those, but I do think Tasmania should have those aspirations to have a team.

“The Gold Coast is an important part of the AFL landscape, as is Greater Western Sydney, for the strength and sustainability to national competition, and the AFL has a long-term window with this.

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“That doesn’t rule Tasmania out, I think Tasmania should be absolutely represented in the national competition and they should aspire to have a team that they can call their own.

“That’s okay for me to say, as I don’t have the responsibility for making that decision, and how you get there is very, very complex, but we should never lose sight of that aspiration.”

The off-field leader of the AFL powerhouse that is the reigning premiers and ladder-leaders said coming back to the North-West Coast was always a special experience, especially when it involves visiting West Park.

“It’s great to do this as this is my home,’’ he said.

“So to come to West Park is wonderful to be in a room with a lot of familiar faces and with great people of the local community and from Burnie footy.

“It is probably a little bit humbling to be honest and in some respects I still see myself as being an 18 or 19 year old here, so this allows me to reflect on my own journey, which has been a long one.

“It is like time has stopped and the feeling of being familiar and comfortable, that is a good warm feeling, as it is home.

“It is where you belong, as it is where your tribe is from.”

He believed the “spirit and community” that he encountered was something that was vitally important for the Dockers.

This is especially true in light of the events of recent times, with part of the club’s mantra about returning to NWFL being reconnecting with the community.