Interstate news -- Tasmania to be withdrawn from VFL?
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:58 pmDidn't know where else to put this... sorry folks!
Apparently with the re-emergence of the state-wide competition in Tasmania, the Devils could be a casualty. Next year will see a 10-team league come into existence with teams from the northern and southern ends of the Apple Isle, but with the three existing Launceston-based Northern league clubs entering the new comp, a co-existence between them and the Devils appears to be a problem.
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State League switch imminent
Brett Stubbs, The Mercury 16/8/08
THE Devils' days appear numbered, with the fatal blow a chance to land as soon as next Wednesday.
As tipped in the Mercury on Tuesday, North Launceston, South Launceston and Launceston yesterday committed to the Tasmanian State League for next season, landing a massive hit on Tasmania's VFL program. AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said the Devils' immediate future would be a hot topic at AFL Tasmania's board meeting in Launceston on Wednesday. "Whether the Devils can co-exist will definitely be a topic for discussion," Wade said. "It will be a discussion on the basis of whether they can co-exist on the football side of business, and if we have the resources to support both.
"Based on our 2008 resources, we clearly haven't got the resources to support both. The challenge remains to increase our resources or to devote all our energies to one." AFL Tasmania has often stated that if there were not enough resources to fund a state competition and the Devils, the State League would take precedence. The announcement from the three Launceston club was significant for AFL Tasmania because the trio became the first clubs to commit to the league. At Launceston, 94 per cent of members supported the move, while 80 per cent of the Northern Bombers were in favour. Launceston president Mark Thurlow said his club still had unresolved issues it wanted answers to, but the State League "offers an exciting opportunity for our players to be involved in a higher standard of football".
With Burnie and Devonport expected to follow suit, the focus is on AFL Tasmania to secure as many of the five invited teams as possible. "We want to run with 10 teams, but, to start the competition, would we run with two or three (from the south)? The answer is yes," Wade said. "We are committed to a 10-team state competition, but we will commence with less than 10 teams if we have no course but to do so." North Hobart chairman Paul Curtain said his club would make a decision on Tuesday. "It will be proposed to members that joining the league be deferred until 2010 as there are future considerations," he said. "But if the motion goes down, it goes down."
Hobart president Philip Baker said the northern clubs' commitment did not change his club's position. Hobart's State League sub-committee will report to the board next week before the club recalls its special general meeting the following week, at which the board will make a recommendation for members to vote on.
Apparently with the re-emergence of the state-wide competition in Tasmania, the Devils could be a casualty. Next year will see a 10-team league come into existence with teams from the northern and southern ends of the Apple Isle, but with the three existing Launceston-based Northern league clubs entering the new comp, a co-existence between them and the Devils appears to be a problem.
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State League switch imminent
Brett Stubbs, The Mercury 16/8/08
THE Devils' days appear numbered, with the fatal blow a chance to land as soon as next Wednesday.
As tipped in the Mercury on Tuesday, North Launceston, South Launceston and Launceston yesterday committed to the Tasmanian State League for next season, landing a massive hit on Tasmania's VFL program. AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said the Devils' immediate future would be a hot topic at AFL Tasmania's board meeting in Launceston on Wednesday. "Whether the Devils can co-exist will definitely be a topic for discussion," Wade said. "It will be a discussion on the basis of whether they can co-exist on the football side of business, and if we have the resources to support both.
"Based on our 2008 resources, we clearly haven't got the resources to support both. The challenge remains to increase our resources or to devote all our energies to one." AFL Tasmania has often stated that if there were not enough resources to fund a state competition and the Devils, the State League would take precedence. The announcement from the three Launceston club was significant for AFL Tasmania because the trio became the first clubs to commit to the league. At Launceston, 94 per cent of members supported the move, while 80 per cent of the Northern Bombers were in favour. Launceston president Mark Thurlow said his club still had unresolved issues it wanted answers to, but the State League "offers an exciting opportunity for our players to be involved in a higher standard of football".
With Burnie and Devonport expected to follow suit, the focus is on AFL Tasmania to secure as many of the five invited teams as possible. "We want to run with 10 teams, but, to start the competition, would we run with two or three (from the south)? The answer is yes," Wade said. "We are committed to a 10-team state competition, but we will commence with less than 10 teams if we have no course but to do so." North Hobart chairman Paul Curtain said his club would make a decision on Tuesday. "It will be proposed to members that joining the league be deferred until 2010 as there are future considerations," he said. "But if the motion goes down, it goes down."
Hobart president Philip Baker said the northern clubs' commitment did not change his club's position. Hobart's State League sub-committee will report to the board next week before the club recalls its special general meeting the following week, at which the board will make a recommendation for members to vote on.