NO MORE CASH FOR THE TSL

TASMANIA’S state league is to play a key role in the state’s new footy structure but AFL boss Gill McLachlan says, like not or not, no financial boost is on the way.

It was the seven TSL clubs wanting more money to ensure their survival after Devonport and Burnie dropped out at Christmas that set the AFL steering committee ball rolling. But Mr McLachlan said the TSL clubs’ $110,000 annual grants were enough.

“We had a strong debate with the TSL clubs about that,” he said. “There is an acknowledgment that they run a league with the best seven clubs in it, but they also need to work in with the community.

“They are getting a significant amount of money, above every other community club, and we felt the funding was at the right level.”

Glenorchy president John McCann was not on board.

“It is clearly not enough and by not having a strong TSL we could be setting up the VFL side to fail as well,” he said.

“There is not enough detail at the moment, so we are less than overwhelmed by a process that TSL have been put through for very little change.”

Mr McLachlan denied the TSL had come close to being axed.

“I don’t think anyone got to that point. There were divided views,” he said. “In the end, everyone was unanimous that the TSL has a role going forward, 100 per cent.

“All we can do is stand here today and look where we landed and that the TSL is funded albeit under slightly different conditions.”

AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said: “We’ve had a big journey with the TSL clubs but I think we have landed in a fair spot with them. I have scheduled to meet with all clubs next week and the week after to start talking about moving forward.”