Photo courtesy of The Mercury/Richard Jupe
On his visit to Tasmania today, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan revealed he will chair a steering committee that will focus on the challenges facing the Tasmanian State League (TSL) and the Tasmanian talent pathway.
The steering committee includes Mr McLachlan (chair), AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires, Carlton Coach Brendon Bolton, former St Kilda Captain Nick Riewoldt, AFL Head of Game Development Rob Auld, AFL State League Manager Simon Laughton and will have access to the AFL Strategy team. The committee will also consult with state government and the Premier’s office.
The project that the steering committee will undertake includes key recommendations on:
- State League sustainability and options to improve the Talent Pathway
- Investments and structures required to support, strengthen and grow football in 2018 and beyond;
- The future governance and funding of AFL Tasmania.
- Funding of these options will be part of the steering committee mandate.
The steering committee will meet in the coming weeks and Mr McLachlan will return to Tasmania to provide announcements on the 14th of April with respect to talent pathways.
The TSL faces challenges including financial sustainability, recruiter relevance and travel demands which will all be considered by the committee in working through possible solutions. With a deadline of June 30 for a recommendation for the 2019 TSL season.
The committee will consider many proposed solutions to the issues with respect to both TSL and Talent, including:
- Increased funding for the TSL
- Potentially splitting the TSL into two conferences,
- possibly introducing a VFL or NEAFL team,
- An overhaul of the talent pathway from under 12s
- looking at having a Tasmanian team in the TAC Cup.
In addition to the steering committee, Mr McLachlan announced an immediate $200,000 funding increase into the Tasmanian talent pathway that will remove a financial barrier for Tasmanian boys and girls chasing their football dreams.
The funding injection will immediately subsidise the levies of all Tasmanian junior players selected in AFL Tasmania talent programs (this includes the Under 16, Under 17, Under 18 and female state academy programs), reducing the financial burden placed on Tasmanian families.
The latest funding injection into the talent pathway follows a funding increase to Tasmania at the end of 2016 of close to 30%, funding that continues to be poured into local game development. This funding has seen significant growth in grassroots through Auskick (up 26%) and school programs (up 112%). Programs that will continue to be a priority for the AFL as they invest in participation at a grassroots level.
AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires believes the first meeting was a significant step and the AFL are listening to the concerns of Tasmania.
“Today was important as it was the start of a steering committee that will assess the challenges facing TSL and the talent pathway and work through the solutions,” Ms Squires said.
“We have the right people with the right expertise on the steering committee and a timeline in place to see considered and swift change to address the issues at hand.
“We will continue to listen, consult and discuss with football leaders and stakeholders across our state as their voice will be important in informing the steering committee’s decisions.
“The $200,000 injection from the AFL will have an immediate effect on our talent pathway and players across the state. It is a strong start and the steering committee will now work on other solutions to the issues.”
The steering committee’s focus is on TSL and Talent and will not consider the Future Directions of Tasmanian Football recommendation regarding AFL content in the state post-2021.
The steering committee will provide further announcements on the 14th of April.