East Devonport's potential Tasmanian State League bid has received high-level support from North Launceston president Thane Brady.
The Swans' NWFL senior program went into recess in February, but have since held "very preliminary and informal" discussions with TSL stakeholders.
With no North-West representation in the state's top-tier competition since Burnie and Devonport dropped back in 2017, the bid has been welcomed by Brady, among others.
"We [North Launceston] continue to support having at least one TSL club on the North-West Coast, ideally two," he said.
"East Devonport Football Club's interest in joining the TSL has come at a perfect time as people with a stakehold in our game are increasingly becoming concerned about the glass ceiling in place along the Coast for the young talent players with aspiration."
Applauding the North-West entity for its "fortitude and forward thinking", Brady described a potential Swans State League side as a "destination club".
"It's obvious they would be projected into a destination club having the point of difference of solely operating in the talent space," he said.
"The young, talented and aspirational players are still being bred on the coast and East Devonport would attract the best young talent who now, as it always has been, will find a way to test themselves against best competition available.
"There can be no better example of the damage scrapping a talent model that delivers the highest level of competition than seeing how the NWFL has stagnated since Burnie then Devonport departed.
"After graduating from the Devils program talent development on the coast has gone the way of the dodo bird.
"We have been inundated by talented young players seeking somewhere to play at a higher level than currently offered on the North-West Coast.
"It's unfair on those young players and their families who should have a TSL option closer to home and East Devonport should be congratulated for recognising this need and being transparent about the possibility."
Brady isn't the only president to show support, with North Hobart leader Craig Martin talking to East Devonport throughout the process, which the club admitted can't be looked at seriously until the Football Futures project is released.
The Demons also praised the Swans on social media, saying "North Hobart fully supports East Devonport's endeavours here and stands by to help them in any way we can", while club coach Clinton French commented, "Aspirational! The state could use more people like this".
"East Devonport and other teams entering a new-look TSL is achievable provided the AFL don't hide behind their footy survey to justify cutting down the only talent competition in the state, ultimately causing harm to our AFL team aspirations," Brady added.
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
