Roos ‘doing their bit’

AFL star saddened by withdrawal of former club from TSL

NORTH Melbourne sharpshooter Ben Brown was “saddened” by the loss of Burnie and Devonport from the TSL and said the Kangaroos were doing their bit for Tasmanian football.

North Melbourne’s leading goal kicker and third in the Coleman Medal last year, Brown said North had done “quite a bit” in his home state — the Kangaroos’ home away from home.

TSL players now have the opportunity to test their mettle at a higher level by playing for the Kangaroos in the VFL this season. Tasmanian players are already on the radar of North Melbourne recruiters as the Kangaroos prepare to field their AFLW team next summer.

Brown was speaking at a North Melbourne super clinic for about 500 Hobart schoolchildren at North Hobart Oval yesterday.

“We’ve got our Next Generation Academies going well and we’re taking on TSL players this year to play in our VFL side and I’ve sat in on a lot of AFLW list management sessions and we’re looking to get a good percentage of Tasmanian girls drafted to our team,” he said.

“Hopefully, that will come through in the next 12 months and it will be a nice boost for Tasmanian football.”

The absence of a team from the state’s North-West Coast

disappointed Brown, who was honoured at the weekend when Glenorchy named its junior academy after him.

“Glenorchy and Devonport footy clubs both did a massive amount for me in terms of development so anything I can give back to footy here and also to Devonport, where I grew up, I try to do that,” he said.

“It’s disappointing and a little bit sad that Devonport is no longer in the TSL. Being a Devonport boy, growing up I always had the Devonport footy club there for me.

“They’re still about, playing in the local league, but it’s a difficult situation and one they

will have to look at for sure.”

Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney criticised the attendance, 1957 fans, at North Melbourne’s JLT match against Melbourne at the Twin Ovals on Saturday.

“It was pouring with rain in the morning and that would have influenced people who might have come to Kingston to watch us play,” Brown said.

“We’ve got three games down here this year and we are hoping for a big crowd for our Saturday night game against Carlton in Round 4. I wouldn’t read anything into it.

“It was raining cats and dogs and a few of us players were surprised because the Tassie weather turned it on for us in the afternoon, and a few of us got sunburned.”

Brown hopes to build on his solid season last year.

“I’m and going to push to be the best I can possibly be and try to repay the club for having the faith to select me in the draft,” he said.

“I did take me a while to get to AFL level and now I’m here I want to make sure I make the most of my opportunity.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys relishing the opportunity to play senior football this year and I think it’s going to be a really exciting year.”