North Melbourne kicked off its AFL Tasmania-supported Next Generation Academy for another year earlier this month, inviting nearly 100 under-15 boys and girls to attend its training squad.

However, Brady says parents and players have been left “disappointed” by North’s involvement in the two-year-old program, citing the absence of experienced Kangaroos resources as the main cause of discontent.

Kangaroos AFLW recruits Daria Bannister and Emma Humphries have been employed alongside Scottsdale’s TWL North premiership coach Cabel Hall to help deliver the academy statewide.

In a joint statement with AFL Tasmania, North Melbourne said developing Tasmania-based coaches was part of its commitment to the state.

“North Melbourne and AFL Tasmania have been working in partnership to develop the Next Generation Academy,” the statement read.

“Whilst the program changes from year to year, North aims to develop, promote and up-skill on-the-ground resources across programs in the state to help develop the local talent.”

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Brady said he was pleased rising Tasmanian coaches were getting their chance to shine, but questioned the value for money Tasmanian football taxpayers were getting from TT-Line’s multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with North Melbourne if no elite coaches were being made available. 

“It’s not about local coaches or AFL Tasmania employees being involved – I think all accept the more exposure our coaches receive the better,” Brady said.

“It’s the comparison between the marketing pitch, other AFL club academies and the Tasmanian reality.

“The academy promotes ‘best resources’ and ‘best possible development opportunities for participants’.

“Once people obtain a full understanding, the program is a let-down on built-up expectations.”

North Melbourne signed a new five-year deal with state government-owned TT-Line in 2016, whereby it would play three games a year at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval until 2021.

Neither party disclosed financial details of the agreement. 

Not long after, the Kangaroos were granted exclusive access to Tasmania as a development and recruiting zone, and will have first dibs on highly-touted North Launceston youngster Tarryn Thomas come the AFL draft in November. 

Brady said the resources afforded to talented Tasmanian juniors are well below those of similar academies on the mainland.

“Footy people are aware academy programs such as Sydney and the (Gold Coast) Suns have coaches of the calibre of Jared Crouch, Nick Davis and Andrew Raines, therefore an expectation is built up the Next Generation Academy will be on a similar footing.

“People are expecting the program to deliver best practice learnings and experience unique opportunities via highly-qualified and experienced facilitators.

“It appears the Kangaroos are not planning to invest, leaving the facilitation principally in the hands of locals.”

Part of the AFL’s Tasmanian restructure earlier this year was the introduction of a full time Tassie Mariners program starting 2019, with a girls’ equivalent to be launched in 2020. 

Draft-age talent playing for the Mariners, who will meet sides like Sydney and Gold Coast in a revamped TAC Cup competition, will have access to elite coaches and training as part of the program. 

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