THRILLS APLENTY IN TSL
The Tasmanian State League has copped its fair amount of criticism across the journey but if the results of this past Saturday are anything to go by it’s that the call to end the competition may have been somewhat premature.
Two of the weekend’s three games went right down to the wire – decided by less than a kick – and saw the competition’s previously undefeated side in Kingborough beaten by North Launceston while North Hobart, a side that has been starved of success for the majority of its time in the competition, upstage reigning premiers Launceston by a point.
While the state’s top flight football competition has been largely dominated by two teams in the last decade – North Launceston and Launceston – the 2023 season is shaping up as one of the closest in recent memory.
For that reason – along with a number of other factors – is why the decision handed down by AFL Tasmania on May 5 to end the competition at the conclusion of 2024 is a difficult one to accept for many supporters, players and officials.
The call to kill off the state league came after the historic announcement of Tasmania’s
entry into the AFL following months of uncertainty and speculation around its future.
First delivered by a Friday afternoon press release, The Mercury understands club officials met with TSL bosses less than 24 hours after the 19th license announcement meaning the decision to terminate the competition may have already been made well before it was announced to the public.
While the majority of club officials seem to be understanding of AFL Tasmania’s decision, North Launceston president Thane Brady has been incredibly vocal in opposing the call and stated that the decision had “put the torch to people who have only worked their butts off for the good of Tassie footy”.
The majority of TSL coaches also support the continuation of the competition with Tigers coach Trent Baumeler,
Lauderdale coach Allen Christensen and Glenorchy coach Josh Arnold all making their views known just a day before the decision to end the league while another coach has told The Mercury on more than one occasion they can’t understand the decision.
While the announcement of Tasmania’s entry into the AFL in 2028 – and the VFL in 2025 – came with the rightful joy and excitement that was long awaited for many passionate football people in the state, the political unrest in the weeks that has followed have many believing that long awaited dream may stay exactly that.
With confirmation that the Tasmanian license is contingent on the construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point, it leaves the formation of the AFL’s 19th team in a precarious position well before they even take the field.
Many Tasmanians are opposed to the stadium’s construction – while many are also for it – with the backlash that has followed the state government’s decision to spend $230m over the next four years to the $715 stadium and $60m on the development of a high performance centre, causing havoc.
Former Liberal MPs Lara Alexander and John Tucker both quit the party and cited the stadium as one of the factors behind their decision while Labor leader Rebecca White, one of the most vocal in opposition to Macquarie Point, has confirmed the party wouldn’t support its construction should they be elected to power.
The political unrest has made headlines across the country with Brad Stansfield, the former Chief of Staff to former Liberal Premier Will
Hodgman, believing the stadium’s construction won’t ever see the light of day. “It is my very strong view that the stadium will not happen,” Stansfield said on the FontCast podcast last week. “It will not even, in my view, get to the assessment phase. I don’t think it will pass the first vote in the parliament. The Legislative Council will vote no.
“I caveat this, assuming that Labor has half a brain and actually votes against it and is consistent with its position, but assuming they do that the stadium will not pass the parliament. It is dead. Even if it does pass that first assessment it will never, ever be built.”
I’ll admit, I’m no political expert but even I, someone who understands that issues like health care, housing and cost of living should all be given adequate attention and is across the logistical reasons why a Tasmanian AFL team can’t be based out of Blundstone Arena, am now as unsure as ever if the stadium will ever see the light of day.
With this uncertainty, will the decision to do away with the TSL and return to regional football and put the focus into Tasmania’s yet to be established AFL and VFL programs – become one that is looked back on as a hasty decision?
It appears only time will tell.