LEAGUE BOSS COMMITTED: STILL A FIVE-TEAM FINALS SERIES

THE TSL is preparing for a future without any clubs in the state’s North-West, but a big question looms over how Burnie and Devonport’s allocated AFL funding will be spent by the State League.

The AFL provides $1 million per season to support the TSL’s clubs, and with seven teams remaining in the competition, AFL Tasmania looks set to have a surplus of cash to spend.

TSL general manager Carl Saunder said that despite the TSL diminishing from 10 clubs to seven, the statewide league will still continue into 2018, with a five-team finals series.

“We remain fully committed to the State League,” Saunder said. “2018 will continue as is, with a top five to be used to decide who plays finals, both for the seniors and in the Mercury Cup. A preliminary fixture has been drawn up that clubs are now looking over.”

Saunder said a decision between the TSL and the AFL on clubs’ expenditure was yet to be made, but said it was unlikely that any of the remaining TSL clubs would receive additional funding.

“I’m not sure that allocating more money to the existing clubs is the smartest way forward,” Saunder said.

“We will take the opportunity to discuss with AFL head office, who will provide us with guidance around what we can and can’t do. I imagine what we will try and do is reinvest to improve the competition overall, to support travel and those types of initiatives.”

It was confirmed last night by North West Football League president Andrew Richardson that Burnie will now join the NWFL.

While it’s estimated that the regional league will provide a new home for a lot of the Dockers’ players, many of the club’s draft hopefuls will need to play TSL football to attract AFL interest.

Saunder said the TSL was doing its best to assist players in finding new clubs.

“We’re moving quickly on this,” Saunder said.

“We’re talking to players and their parents about their years ahead, and working with those affected players to find them a home for 2018.”

An updated release on the seven-team TSL fixture is expected in the coming weeks.