What’s Up With AFL TAS
AFL TAS
With the 2010 football season under way, I thought I would recap on the happenings at the top-level in Tasmanian footy.
Tasmania AFL bid
Andrew Demetriou talks about the future of the AFL and the outlook past the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney and that future expansion is almost a certainty.
He stated:
You could be talking about Tasmania being entrenched in the competition and another team in Western Australia. I just know that it (the AFL) won’t look like it does today.
This statement was in relation to the AFL circa 2030. Read the article – Further expansion potential ‘limitless’: Demetriou
Hawks in Tasmania
Hawk’s great Robert DiPierdomenico has called on the Hawthorn football club to extend its deal with the Tasmanian government saying it’s a win/win for both the state and club.
He also stated that the AFL is keeping a close eye on how state football was working. Read the Article – Hawks great wants Tassie deal to continue
The Hawks might have to look out as Essendon’s chief executive officer and managing director and also Tasmanian born Ian Robson has stated that Essendon would welcome an opportunity to play games in Tasmania. Robson who was with Hawthorn last year and has seen the opportunities in the Tasmanian market. Read article – Essendon sees state as lucrative football market
The Wizz and Wacko Jacko
A faction from the Kermandie football club recruited ex-AFL players Mark “Wacko Jacko” Jackson and Warwick Capper in effort to save the club from the wilderness and make sure the clubs 127 year history continues.
Even with the two high-profile signing the club was still not able to draw enough players to training to field two team in the upcoming 2010 season. Martin Flanagan wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald
TSL Board -V- Clubs
The 10 Tasmanian Statewide Clubs were not represented on the AFL Tasmania board, so to get some representation at the top-level, they have empowered ex Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon to represent them at the board level.
This came about by the board wanting to scrap the reserves competition from the state-wide format and have the clubs run that competition themselves. Having no representation at the top-level meant that decisions were being made without input from the clubs, who were being effected directly.
In conclusion a lot has happened in the months leading up to this years season, probably more so than any other year. Stepping stone, pathways and clubs need to be preserved in our state. Players need to develop but it seems if you are not in elite company when you are a 15-17 year old then you might find it hard to find a way to progress.
Australia are paying around $6.00 for their first game of the World Cup, not bad sports betting odds for a two horse race.
A huge game for Australia but with Tim Cahill coming off a double for his club side Everton and a team full of committed players, anything is possible. Especially in the early stages of the competition where the big guns might be taking the opposition lightly.
