Soccer will make a move
TASSIE FOOTY
SURELY AFL Tasmania knew there was a problem on the North-West Coast. It’s a shame and has played right into the hands of AFL in Melbourne Docklands Headquarters. We will now never get a stand alone Tasmanian side. Slowly but steadily Football Federation Tasmania (soccer) has kept its state league growing in the right directions. However if my memory serves me right, their state league has collapsed four times in the past 30 years.
The AFL infiltrated Western Sydney and Gold Coast to stop the growing of soccer and rugby at grassroot levels. A marketing ploy that hasn’t worked as yet.
FFA would be wary of a Tasmanian team being handed a licence in the ALeague. As many readers have stated AFL Tasmania needs to revert back to regional leagues. FFT (soccer) needs at least five more seasons to prove its strength. er is good enough, recruiting scouts will find them no matter what league they participate in. And the elite youth, an underage Mariners/Devils competing weekly in a AFL-funded Victorian competition.
The statewide model has been 32 years of inconsistency and instability. Tasmanian footy is influenced by those living out of the state who are not familiar with our football territory or heritage.
Flogging dead horse
AFTER reading about the latest TSL meeting, I was aghast that the most important ingredient in Tasmanian football wasn’t mentioned: supporters. Tasmanians who want to support Tassie footy do not support a statewide league. Even the bulk of prospective players don’t want it, thus the demise of Burnie and Devonport. Tasmanians will support a Tasmanian AFL team or regional teams.
It was clear in the report that the executives of TSL teams have self interest at heart. They overlook the fact their teams have little grassroots support. A strong supporter base is the foundation for more money. Without a stronger supporter base, the TSL management will continue to flog a dead horse.
Tasmanian team
THE emotive commentary on the AFL Tas state league ignores relevant matters. Football in Tasmania has been grossly disadvantaged by the participation of Hawthorn and North Melbourne. Such games A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. are the agenda of the AFL executive to avoid Tasmania having its own AFL team while it continues to expend significant monies in NSW and Queensland.
The only solution is for Tasmania to have its AFL team, a VFL team and a Mariners team that plays all games in the TAC Cup so our young players are given opportunities to develop their careers. Under that structure, football competitions in Tasmania would be regional with funds flowing to clubs to nurture their financial wellbeing and to ensure community-based clubs continue to survive.
A new administrative structure for Tasmania would be established involving a chief executive with the requisite knowledge and a board that does not continue to adhere to ill-informed directions from the AFL executive.
Bite the bullet
WELL-MEANING administrators are ignoring the unalterable fact that money will not fix — distance. No matter how much money you pour into it, it will not alter the fact that supporters will not travel in numbers and the players do not like it. So, whether we like it or not, we must go back to regional competitions and have a well-financed Mariners team in the Victorian league. I do not like 16- and 17-yearold’s playing in the TSL. Juniors playing against men is not good for physical and mental reasons. So administrators should face facts and dismantle the TSL and return to regional football. If there is no TSL, regional football will be a higher standard.
GST cut looms
WITH a GST cut imminent, we can look forward to less government money for AFL football teams. We will then wait for private enterprise to step up to the plate.
Haka hopes
IN today’s age of gender equality, I can’t wait for New Zealand women’ sport’s teams to perform the Haka, particularly the netballers. Now that would be entertainment.
Permit frustration
I VISITED Hobart City Council to get a Temporary Disability Permit after major surgery. My surgeon recommended three months. However, I was told that the permits are not processed in Tasmania but are sent to the mainland. Therefore I should not expect to receive a permit for about three weeks. This, of course, would be the time I most need a permit. Why are we not supporting Tasmanian jobs and getting this type of work done in Tasmania?
Strange duality
ACCORDING to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, those Members of Parliament born in Britain are not Australian citizens. Why then do we have a Union Jack on our Southern Cross national flag.