David HardingTSL club's pull-out threat
May 31st 2010 06:54
source: The Mercury Voice of Tasmania
NORTH Launceston is threatening to pull out of the Tasmanian State League if AFL Tasmania kills off the reserves.
AFL Tasmania wants non-juniors who are not getting a game in the TSL to play in lower-grade competitions such as the SFL, NTFL and NTFA, effectively abolishing a statewide reserves competition.
It is a similar model to that used by many AFL clubs, where players on the fringes are farmed out to lower leagues.
North Launceston president Thane Brady said yesterday his club may pull out of the league altogether if the reserves competition is abolished.
"We will do everything we can to the point [where] North Launceston Football Club may even withdraw from the State League competition," Brady told ABC Television.
He said the AFL Tasmania board was being "pigheaded" in its insistence that the reserves competition be abolished.
AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade stuck to his guns on the issue, reiterating that AFL Tasmania had only committed to supporting two tiers of football and, under duress from the clubs, it was pushed to support under-18s and not reserves.
"AFL Tasmania's stance is very clear we've got a two-team per club state league," he said yesterday.
"The [TSL] clubs joined the competition on the basis it was two teams."
AFL Tasmania is this season offering only administrative assistance for the reserves competition.
It has stopped providing funding for reserves games because they are technically no longer part of the TSL competition.
NORTH Launceston is threatening to pull out of the Tasmanian State League if AFL Tasmania kills off the reserves.
AFL Tasmania wants non-juniors who are not getting a game in the TSL to play in lower-grade competitions such as the SFL, NTFL and NTFA, effectively abolishing a statewide reserves competition.
It is a similar model to that used by many AFL clubs, where players on the fringes are farmed out to lower leagues.
North Launceston president Thane Brady said yesterday his club may pull out of the league altogether if the reserves competition is abolished.
"We will do everything we can to the point [where] North Launceston Football Club may even withdraw from the State League competition," Brady told ABC Television.
He said the AFL Tasmania board was being "pigheaded" in its insistence that the reserves competition be abolished.
AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade stuck to his guns on the issue, reiterating that AFL Tasmania had only committed to supporting two tiers of football and, under duress from the clubs, it was pushed to support under-18s and not reserves.
"AFL Tasmania's stance is very clear we've got a two-team per club state league," he said yesterday.
"The [TSL] clubs joined the competition on the basis it was two teams."
AFL Tasmania is this season offering only administrative assistance for the reserves competition.
It has stopped providing funding for reserves games because they are technically no longer part of the TSL competition.
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