HQ to help TSL clubs recruit future Devils

AFL Tasmania is open to helping recruit interstate players back to the TSL next season ahead of what is expected to be the state’s return to the VFL in 2021.

The state’s VFL submission has been lodged with the AFL and AFL Tasmania expects to have a response by the end of next month.

TSL general manager Carl Saunder said former Tasmanians playing interstate would be identified for the Devils VFL program for 2021.

For example, Sunday’s VFL grand final featured Williamstown pair Mitch Hibberd and Tom Munday, while on the opposing side, Richmond rookie-listed player Mav Weller could be looking at his options after this season depending on the Tigers list management decisions.

“We are certainly keen to work with the clubs in that space and if players want to come back a year earlier and play a year in TSL footy, we would certainly look at what opportunities exist there for us to help and that could be around things like salary cap relief or it could be around relocating players back to the state,” Saunder said.

“They’re conversations we will have once we get confirmation our licence has been successful and we’ll enter in 2021.”

The TSL season concluded with North Launceston winning its third straight flag, and fifth in six consecutive grand finals.

Saunder said despite former state league clubs Burnie and Devonport playing off for the NWFL flag, there was no push from any northern or NorthWest club to enter the TSL so it would stay for now as a seventeam league, with five in the south and two in Launceston.

He said it was not as simple as North Launceston and Launceston having access to all players across northern Tasmania as players over 19 can sign with any club, while with the under-18s Devils program in place, AFL Tasmania was steering talented players who wanted to play in the state league to club’s with specific requirements and opportunities.

“It is important to acknowledge what North Launceston has achieved but also understand how they have gone about it,” he said.

“If you look at their premiership teams, the majority of their players have been local players from their zone area that they have identified, developed and nurtured.

“You have to tip your hat to them the way they go about the development of their players.

“At some point some will ask is it an unhealthy competition with one club being so dominant?

“From our perspective we just remain open to understanding how we can make the competition as competitive as possible.

“We want all clubs going into the season feeling they can challenge and hopefully make finals.”