‘Grassroots key’ to retooled AFL Tas

THE new-look AFL Tasmania will be “less suits and more tracksuits”, says its new boss Damian Gill.

The state’s governing body, just like the AFL itself and all its state bureaus, has undergone a restructure to cut costs following the C OVID -19 crisis.

AFL Tasmania has gone from 32 staff to 26, with the organisation to meet TSL club son Tuesday morning, when it is believed there will be cuts to the seven clubs’ annual AFL payments.

Gill would not comment on the future of the TSL or its funding before Tuesday’ s meeting but said AFL Tasmania was committed to the current licence agreement that expires in 2023.

“We’ll have the resources to get the job done,” said Gill, who will take over from Trisha Squires as head of AFL Tasmania on November 1.

“What we have really prioritised is delivery staff, so … it will be less suits, more tracksuits you could say is the focus and I think that needs to be the focus now more than ever with COVID-19 throwing everything it is at sport.

“It is absolutely crucial we are looking after the local game and the grass roots.

“I’m really confident our team will do a great job .”

Devils’ coach Cameron Joyce will stay on in a new talent manager’s role — from under-12s up in boys and girls — that combines his coaching duties with that of the departed Craig Notman’s football manager’s position, while former TSL general manager Carl Saunder returns in a southern communities leadership position.

Joyce will answer directly to AFL headquarters in Melbourne, not to Gill–who will be responsible for participation, grassroots and community football, facilities and the TSL.

“My role is to oversee the grass root soft he game– community foo tb all, TSL, facilities– and then Cameron Joyce’s role will be to look after talent,” Gill said.

“I actually think what that means is that we can both zero in on the focus areas of grassroots footy for myself and talent for Cam and I think that is quite positive.”