TOPIC:

News has now been confirmed that 2 clubs , Burnie & Devonport , have withdrawn from competing in the TSL due to lack of playing numbers.

More are expected to fold

Also emerging is the confirmation that the AFL has suddenly increased it's funding to the Gold Coast failure from $5.5 Million to $25 Million

Some of the Tasmanian heirachy have made it known that they are aware the AFL only desires it's own clubs to bleed Tasmanian dollars into it's slush fund via Hawthorn & North Melbourne

You can add to that list other clubs to have either pulled out of or gone under in Tasmania Southy-
South Launceston FC
East Launceston FC
City South FC
Sandy Bay FC
Hobart FC (failed merger/amalgation with North Hobart)

And just recent-
Devonport FC
Burnie FC (who themselves were an amalgamation of the Burnie Hawks & Cooee FC's)

While this is sad for Tasmanian footy I can not see a clear answer. Outside of cricket, history has sown that Tasmania doesn't have enough infrastructure to secure enough sponsors to support state sports sides.

The Hobart devils folded in 1996 and there has not been a basketball side there since, they failed to attract sponsors to keep the team afloat
Tasmania doesn't have a state netball team - even though junior netball numbers are one of the highest played sports in Tasmania
They have never had a side in the A League, they tried in 2005 and 2007 but were not able to show they could attract sufficient sponsors to keep the team afloat
They have never been considered for a side in the AFL, because there is not enough sponsors
They have never had a side in Rugby league or rugby union.

If the states carved up the GST evenly based on what they contribute, Tasmania would not get anything here either.

At least most have two heads so each can have a say... They have the "GREENIES" so why want anything else which is tainted. Tassie government pay huge for peanut games.. This money could have gone to grass roots there.

What is happening in Tassie footy is a result of the all-consuming, rapacious entity that is the AFL. An entity that has absolutely no interest in supporting any tier of football that is not completely subservient to it.

It is also the precursor of what will happen to the WAFL. Inexorably the gutting of the WAFL is in motion now. Decisions by the WAFC such as: the host club alignment; the excising of the colts' competition from the WAFL clubs; the decision to replace the reserves' competition with the WAFL women's competition are all part of the process to destroy the WAFL.

swan42 wrote: What is happening in Tassie footy is a result of the all-consuming, rapacious entity that is the AFL. An entity that has absolutely no interest in supporting any tier of football that is not completely subservient to it.

It is also the precursor of what will happen to the WAFL. Inexorably the gutting of the WAFL is in motion now. Decisions by the WAFC such as: the host club alignment; the excising of the colts' competition from the WAFL clubs; the decision to replace the reserves' competition with the WAFL women's competition are all part of the process to destroy the WAFL.

It has nothing to do with the AFL. It is a geographical problem with teams travelling TOO far . Burnie to Hobart takes over 4 hrs. Then there is overnight accommodation. Increasing the salary cap wont improve their major league.
A similar problem would be the WAFL invite Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury & Albany into its league. These areas wouldn't support the clubs financially enough for them to survive.Once players are married they dont want to be away for a couple of days. These players are not fully professional players like in the AFL where football is their job. The WAFL could reduce entry charges to get more in attendance..

AFL have killed the Tassie league and the WAFL and country leagues are going the same way.

Leather Stops wrote:

swan42 wrote: What is happening in Tassie footy is a result of the all-consuming, rapacious entity that is the AFL. An entity that has absolutely no interest in supporting any tier of football that is not completely subservient to it.

It is also the precursor of what will happen to the WAFL. Inexorably the gutting of the WAFL is in motion now. Decisions by the WAFC such as: the host club alignment; the excising of the colts' competition from the WAFL clubs; the decision to replace the reserves' competition with the WAFL women's competition are all part of the process to destroy the WAFL.

It has nothing to do with the AFL. It is a geographical problem with teams travelling TOO far . Burnie to Hobart takes over 4 hrs. Then there is overnight accommodation. Increasing the salary cap wont improve their major league.
A similar problem would be the WAFL invite Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Bunbury & Albany into its league. These areas wouldn't support the clubs financially enough for them to survive.Once players are married they dont want to be away for a couple of days. These players are not fully professional players like in the AFL where football is their job. The WAFL could reduce entry charges to get more in attendance..

That's not true because the original set up had two geographical leagues to allow for distance, they ended up putting them into one league because of increased pressure from the AFL and even if it was an issue, the costs of running it would be a pittance compared to what the AFL has in its coffers it can spend a mint on crap like Women's AFL, the failed franchises in the Gold Coast and GWS that will never take off in the same way Tasmanian Football was at its peak, rather than support what it support like state leagues.

Its almost certain the WAFL will not exist in less that two decades if it keeps it current format and funding.

premiership hangover wrote: While this is sad for Tasmanian footy I can not see a clear answer. Outside of cricket, history has sown that Tasmania doesn't have enough infrastructure to secure enough sponsors to support state sports sides.

The Hobart devils folded in 1996 and there has not been a basketball side there since, they failed to attract sponsors to keep the team afloat
Tasmania doesn't have a state netball team - even though junior netball numbers are one of the highest played sports in Tasmania
They have never had a side in the A League, they tried in 2005 and 2007 but were not able to show they could attract sufficient sponsors to keep the team afloat
They have never been considered for a side in the AFL, because there is not enough sponsors
They have never had a side in Rugby league or rugby union.

If the states carved up the GST evenly based on what they contribute, Tasmania would not get anything here either.

A relocated VFL club with the same massive subsidised pumped into Gold Coast or GWS would of thrived in Tasmania, but it probably would of killed what ever was left of local football, in the same way the Dockers have decimated Fremantle Football.