Top Tiger rules out quick fix for footy

DON’T expect Tasmanian football to be fixed overnight, no matter what the solutions from the AFL’s steering committee, says Tigers president Paul Gadomski.

As the June 30 deadline approaches, the seven TSL clubs will meet today in Launceston with AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires, AFL state league manager Simon Laughton, AFL talent competitions and operations manager Marcus Ashcroft and the AFL’s game development manager, Rob Auld.

Gadomski said the steering committee was still committed to the June 30 deadline.

“Some of the timelines to get from where we are now to where we want to be and where the AFL want us to be may take a couple of years,” Gadomski said.

“I would be very, very surprised if come July 1 the football landscape is expected to change overnight with the exception of the talent pathways for the under-18s.

“There is a fair bit of work going on behind the scenes with Marcus Ashcroft and the AFL in setting up regional talent managers and the like.

“The writing is well on the wall there.”

Key performance indicators for the clubs to receive AFL funding will be negotiated today around junior development and club support in each club’s zone and their own club’s operations.

Gadomski said such negotiations could only be seen as a positive for the league’s future.

“It is a firm signal the TSL is here to stay,” he said.

“This process is about making sure that the AFL’s investment in the TSL is used appropriately in the TSL zones.”

There were 17 KPIs on the table, but Gadomski said the presidents hoped to reduce those and ambiguity around measurements and who would hold the clubs accountable.

The AFL provides $1.3 million to the running of the TSL each year, and Gadomski hoped the prospect of more funding would be discussed today.

Squires was unavailable for interview when contacted by the Mercury.