Rival turns up heat on TSL over cash grab

SFL themercury.com.au

THE SFL has lashed out at its TSL cousins, labelling them “arrogant” and “out of touch” after calls for more money for State League clubs in the changeover of administration at AFL Tasmania.

SFL boss Russell Young said TSL clubs should not be asking for a funding boost to attract players into their competition.

“I believe the comments from the TSL clubs for more money from AFL Tasmania shows how out of touch the TSL clubs have become, especially in the current environment,” Young said.

“Employees of AFL Tasmania have this week lost their jobs and for some TSL clubs to suggest they require more funding to allow them to entice players away from the lower level competitions shows how arrogant some clubs have become.”

Young said the TSL clubs were substantially funded.

“If they believe they require additional funding, I’d suggest they do what every community and junior competitions have to do and work hard to find other revenue streams,” he said.

“We need to review all competitions over the next 12 months on how we can improve the current model.

“Too many young players are giving the game away.

“Football in this state has been sacrificed because of the emphasis on talent and talent pathways and this approach has forgotten that 80 per cent of young players just want the opportunity to play and enjoy the game with their mates.

“The SFL and SFLW competitions allow them to do this.”

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COACHES from two powerhouse clubs in the SFL women’s competition are confident the disparity between the top and bottom teams will close in the coming years.

Sandra Eaton (Claremont) and Lindisfarne’s Jodie Mather are preparing their outfits for Friday night’s blockbuster showdown at

Abbotsfield Park, with unbeaten records on the line.

The Pies sit atop the ladder with a 6-0 record, while the Blues (5-0) are third, level with the league’s other undefeated side, Huonville.

Claremont has conceded only 15 points in its six wins, holding the opposition scoreless three times.

At the other end of the spectrum is New Norfolk, which is not only winless but has scored a solitary point in four matches while coughing up 476 against.

Despite the gulf, Eaton believes there is enough talent at the struggling clubs to turn fortunes if the players are willing to stick together.

“You definitely have the bottom tier groups, but they are a lot of younger players who are still developing,” Eaton said before the rematch of last year’s preliminary final.

“There is so much potential in those teams, they just have to stick at it, stick with their teams and a little bit of experience brought in will lift those bottom teams.

“Most of the teams we talk to after the games seem to have some really good culture