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Tassie lifestyle could help attract AFL players
TASMANIA’S slower, quieter lifestyle would be a benefit rather than a detriment in attracting and retaining AFL players says former league player Josh Green.
As the state’s push for an AFL licence continues, one of the arguments against is that players would not want to live and play in Tasmania. But Green, who played 105 AFL games for Brisbane and Essendon across an eight-year career after being drafted from Clarence, debunked the myth. “I’d have much preferred to have stayed and played AFL in Hobart,” Green said.
“Obviously I’m from there, but I speak to a lot of guys and they say, ‘gee Hobart is beautiful, I’d love to move down there.’
“It would also suit a lot of older guys, 26 plus, that want to slow down a bit and want a slower lifestyle. There would definitely be no problems and you’d always get Tassie boys moving home, you can see how passionate they are about it, so there would be no problems with retention at all.
“It is only an hour’s flight from Melbourne and it is a town that just loves football.”
Green, 27, is returning to Hobart to be a playing-assistant coach for Clarence next season before likely taking over as senior coach the following year. He said his interest in coaching grew from working with St Kilda’s academy this year after being delisted by Essendon at the end of 2018.
“I really have a passion for coaching now and this came up and I thought, ‘why not?’” he said.
“I love the lifestyle in Hobart and to be back around family and friends and the Clarence footy club will be great. It is very exciting.” Green’s last game with the Roos was Clarence’s second straight TSL premiership, the 2011 grand final, but since then the powerhouse club has not returned to the decider and this year missed the finals. He played in a premiership with the University Blues in Melbourne’s Victorian Amateur Football Association this year, and plans to spend most of next year in the Roos midfield.
“I just love the club so much to go anywhere else,” Green said.
“I’ve had a good look at their list and it is quite a young group, and with my experience and playing in the AFL for eight years, I really feel like I can help the club get back to where it belongs and that’s winning premierships.”
Tasmania’s return to the VFL is also being pencilled in for 2021 and Green has not ruled anything in or out at this stage.
“The only thing I’ve committed to is playing next year at Clarence,” he said.
“If that came up and there was a bit of a role there to help out, I’d have a look at it because I’m only 27, so I’ve still got some pretty good footy ahead of me.”