AFL greats worried about Tasmanian crisis

THE Tasmanian region that produced AFL greats Darrel Baldock and Matthew Richardson now has no teams in the state league.

The Burnie Dockers have joined Devonport in leaving the competition, citing a lack of players.

It leaves the league without any teams from the northwest coast and has further fuelled commentary about the AFL and Tasmanian football.

Former AFL coach Robert Shaw, Richardson and a fellow northwest Tasmania alumnus, Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, have expressed their dismay about the crisis.

Shaw said the area was turning to social media in a bid to find players, prompting replies from Gale and Richardson.

“It’s a real concern for such a proud and productive region,” Gale said.

Richardson added “hard to believe”.

The news came in the same week it emerged the AFL had increased its financial support for expansion team Gold Coast by $5.5 million to $25 million.

Also this week, AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld was promoted to the AFL’s head of game develop- it was ment, with Tricia Squires to replace him.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said despite ongoing problems, the situation was improving in Tasmania.

“You look at the numbers at AFL Tasmania in the last two years, there’s no doubt we had some challenges, there are some challenges,” he said.

“But the challenges were much greater two years ago, in my view.”