Burnie player woes take TSL to brink

THE future of the TSL is in turmoil after Burnie Football Club yesterday told AFL Tasmania to freeze the release of the revised TSL fixture, while the club decides whether it can field a team in 2018.

The announcement by Bur- nie creates a huge cloud over the state league’s future after fellow North-West club Devonport dropped out of the competition last month.

The 2018 fixture was due to be released yesterday, however it’s unknown when a revised fixture will be issued, after Burnie told AFL Tasmania that its lack of players might force closure of the club.

Dockers president Stephen Dowling said it is still unknown whether the football club will survive.

“The bottom line is, since we resumed training at Christmas we’ve had no players on the track,” Dowling said.

“We felt that before Christmas, things would be fine, but what we’ve found since training resumed is that everything has evaporated. The possibilities are that we might have one or two teams next year, or we might have none.”

Dowling said the club would do everything it could to ensure it wasn’t forced out of the TSL.

“We’re trying really hard to entice players,” he said.

“We’ve set up a meeting and a barbecue event on Friday where we hope potential players and those intending to play will make up their mind.”

Despite the Dockers’ lack of numbers, Dowling concedes the club is not struggling in other areas.

“We’ve felt the football club as a whole has been going gangbusters,” he said. “We have great sponsors on board and money in the bank, so financially we’re as strong as can be.”

“The problem is more related to the isolation we face.”

After Devonport’s departure from the TSL in December, Dowling admits being the sole club in the state’s North-West would be a challenge.

“All it’s done for us is make it harder,” Dowling said referring to Devonport’s TSL exit.

“Indicatively, the former Devonport players have opted to go to Launceston clubs, and the closure of Devonport as a club means further travel for us throughout the season.”

With the start of the TSL season looming, Dowling said the club had not announced whether a deadline would be made to decide the club’s future.

But he said the club would speak with AFL Tasmania to determine the most suitable outcome.

“There’s no timeframe at all, AFL Tasmania respect our integrity to keep them informed,” Dowling said.

“But time’s moving pretty quickly. We don’t want to muck anyone around.”

AFL Tasmania chief executive Robert Auld maintained hope that Burnie would remain in the league for 2018 and beyond.

“What is important is the Burnie Football Club have not withdrawn from the state league,” Auld said. “We will work closely with Burnie over the next 48 to 72 hours with a view of finalising their position by the end of this week.”

Despite Devonport’s exodus from the TSL and Burnie’s potential exit, Auld said he was confident the TSL would continue in 2018.

“Regardless of the outcome, we remain committed to the TSL as a competition.”