Statewide 2008
In 2008 football in Tasmania will take another turn, by going back to a statewide league. This is another attempt to revamp football in Tasmania in the last 10 or so years.
The full details of this new league have not been released yet and seem to be dependant on gaining more funding from the AFL.
The proposal presented to the AFL consisted of The Devils being at the top of the tree followed by the new state wide league and then followed by three regional leagues.
I assume at this stage that not all the premier league teams will be included into this new premier league and some will have to drop back into the local regional comps. In the south this could mean clubs that have spent the last few years working to be competitive in the higher leagues e.g. Brighton and Lauderdale, will drop back to be a force in these leagues.
The Regional league in the south has settled into a very even and competitive competition and these teams dropping back could upset the balance that has been achieved.
It seems to me that all the focus remains on the Devils and not on grass roots football. The comp’s in Tasmania have never been the same since the loss of zones, U17 and U19 football. The rivalry is now lost that once existed. A Glenorchy -V- Sandy bay Clash was about Pride.
I hope that another revamp will be the answer for Tasmanian football.
The article on the new statewide league can be found here: Mercury
