Revamping Tasmanian Football

[The Scarecrow]

The following will be plans to revamp the whole league, not only from the game point, but the way the media covers it in Tasmania.

Most points have been raised a fews times, but let's see how far we can go to fix the problmes with the Southern League and the rest of Tasmanian Football.

Junior Devolpment

Right now, we need to set up a better junior league for the kids, and bring back not only school football, but football at half time at the local games. And if allowed at the Devils games aswell. Maybe even a training camp, I am not sure if one is in place at the moment, but we need something for our top young players to go and train and some that aren't so good to go and get some much needed training.

Brighton

After not winning a game, and only going close once last year, it's time for the league to take some action and either try and make Brighton a better side, by helping them get some better players up there, or drop them back into the Regional League. It's not really fair on Brighton to have them continue in the Premier League and get belted week in and week out. It would be fairer to drop them into the Regional League where they would have a better shot at competing.

New Premier League Team

In dropping Brighton, the league should suggest a good replacement for them, from what has been said Huonville will be willing to step up, if given that chance, I say we add them, or if another side puts their hand up, they could be in considerate aswell. But a decent replace will be needed for the league to continue.

Hobart

A peaceful solution needs to be found before this great club comes crashing down like Sandy Bay did. The league will need to sit down with all parties and work out how to solve this little problem before it causes a club to go under. Maybe even suggest a nickname/mascot both parties can agree on and move on and let this club rebuild it's history.

Media Coverage

Something that has been lacking since the end of the TFL, something has to be worked out to get more coverage of not only the Southern League, but the Northern one aswell. A few seconds on the local news isn't enough, we need to be updated more often by not only Win, but ABC, SC, and The Mercury.

Maybe even 10 minutes a week dedicated to bringing us the ins and outs for the sides, and updates from the scores.

I am sure there are more things that can be added, those are a few off the top of my head, any more?

[WCL]

Agree with everything there.

But one question remains, what can "we" do about it. I have tried a letter, it doesn't work, we need to stand up and present our case from a supporters prospective to AFL Tasmania and do it proffessionally.

I mean go the whole hog, set up a proffessional presentation that will make the board sit up and take notice.

I am sick of us having such good ideas yet we are unable to do anything to make any of it work.

Firstly we need to get as many peoples opinions as possible and preferably people in high places.

We need to start brainstorming for our plan of attack, to finally regather what is truly ours, Football.

The road to recovery starts now! :)

[The Scarecrow]

What we might need to do is get a list of people together and start mailing in ideas, sooner or later they will have to start listening to the ideas being put forward.

Or find someone willing to run for office at AFL Tasmania, that is willing to help make a difference and get the game back on track in this state.

There's only so long until the league goes under at this current rate, teams are struggling to field sides, supporters have been turned away.

I mean, for years now the crowds have been dying off, and now they are at the point where the league cannot survive much longer. I would like see the old crowds back, and going to game that isn't one sided.

It's a shame we couldn't go back to the 80s, early 90s where we were able to attract players from interstate, and former AFL talent down here to play in our league. I have thought about one more try at a STATEWIDE league, though it will need a lot of sponsorship dollars to get it up and running.

And is going to take a massive effort by all involved, will the Northern clubs be interested in re-joining a state comp? I guess, it's time to find out.

[WCL]

Basically we have to get a lot of people onside andgo straight to the top, could you imagine 1,000 people gathered outside league headquaters, ready to get Tasmanian football back on track.

The only way a statewide league would work is if a bus company sponsored it, therefore it would make it cheap for teams to travel.

Statewide League, been there done that. Lets just get the southern and Northern team prospering again before we make that quantum leap.

[The Scarecrow]

It's either they do something this year, or they clear the offices and let someone in that will do something. We need to help get the league united, I'm not sure if making it a statewide league again would help, or add to the downfall of the league.

But something needs to be done, and done soon, because the league isn't going to fix it's self. It would be good if we could get some numbers together to help the league out, and make a difference to the way football is managed in this state.

But it's going to take people who are going to do it for the right reasons, and not have their own agenda. We need someone there that is going to do something to hep save Tasmanian football.

[WCL]

Agreed!

[Piranha_Fish]

I believe this thread needs to be revived.

The NTFL this year is at its strongest (possibly) that its ever been (since 1986), which is fantastic.

The SFL, I wouldnt know. How is it developing, and what can be done to help it?

[Marklar_33]

Basically we have to get a lot of people onside andgo straight to the top, could you imagine 1,000 people gathered outside league headquaters, ready to get Tasmanian football back on track.

The only way a statewide league would work is if a bus company sponsored it, therefore it would make it cheap for teams to travel.

Statewide League, been there done that. Lets just get the southern and Northern team prospering again before we make that quantum leap.

Travel really shouldnt be that much of a factor. Its further for the Launceston teams to travel to Smithton than Hobart. I would love for the Statewide League to come back in, with four teams south, two in Launnie and 2 from the NW Coast. If hockey, soccer, netball and even softball can sustain statewide leagues, the surely footy can!

[hazman]

Surely from the strength of the Northern league, it would be more like 4 North teams, 2 NW teams, and 2 South teams. Although the bitching and moaning between clubs regarding who would get the licences for the Statewide league would be enough to kill it.

[WCL]

The Footy in the south sucks at the moment because no-one is doing a damn thing about it. We need more media coverage and a more even and entertaining competition with teams that have individual and unique identitys, i.e:
Sandy Bay Seagulls (North Melbourne colours) @ Queenborough Oval
Hobart Tigers (Richmond strip) @ TCA
Clarence Roos (South Melbourne strip) @ Bellerieve
New Norfolk Eagles (Saints Colours) @ Boyer
Glenorchy Magpies (Collingwood strip, white back) @ KGV
North Hobart Demons (Melbourne strip) @ North Hobart Oval

this is how the league should look and it should not change. If teams were to be added they should be:

Southern Districts (Huonville)
Lauderdale or East Shore equivelent.

With the Devils becoming a one town team (Hobart) next year there is only one thing that will happen, the North will become the premier comp in the state by a mile, the standard will be just under VFL standard tier 3 level. The South will be a good standard because of the influx of Devils players, but will not have public appeal, the Devils will be taken for granted and end up like the Basketball team. Then when this happens in 5 years we will be back to 1945!

[The Majestic]

Lauderdale MUST stay as they are a team in progress of putting themselves together, Brighton to be dropped down into the regional league for Cygnet or whichever team decides to step up into the league.

This salary cap given to TFL clubs be abolished, and teams allowed to bring down higher profile players.

[The Doctor '73]

The first thing that is needed is for the SFL to get people in charge that do not give a stuff about the Devils and start trying to promote the SFL as something completely different from the VFL and actively compete against them for crowds. As long as the current people in charge continue to suck up to their Football Tasmania counterparts then nothing will change.

I mean there is scope to do it, by building on the local rivalries and the history between clubs (something that the Devils cannot do) you can promote the SFL as something uniquely different. Whilst the skill level might not be the same as the VFL level you can talk up the passion and local pride to try and get people interested. All you need is the right kind of media coverage and people in charge with the guts to “dare to be different” and challenge AFL Tasmania.

This isn’t an anti Devils knock as their a business and need support just like every local club is but seriously they would not think twice about promoting their own game or talking down the SFL if they thought that there would be a chance to get an extra couple hundred people to one of the their matches, why is the SFL so gutless to do the same to try and get people back interested in the local competition?

[bsg7]

I agree with everything said in this thread. The SFL and NTFL need to build to 2 strong competitions then we work towards a statwide league of the standard it used to be, this isnt unacheivable in any sense. I just wish like hell that AFL Tasmania had the same visio as us. Just on the idea of sponsorship for a statwide league, surely Gunns Ltd. would be the perfect sponsor for such a league, the positive image to the public is something they will always need?

[Piranha_Fish]

And bring back the damned state final

Put it on the week after the AFL's big one, and its guarenteed success

[My North]

Tasmanian Football is in deep deep trouble.

[The Majestic]

Tasmanian Football is in deep deep trouble.
And it's getting worse, OSFA is almost gone, ODFA is gone, the future of Tasmanian football looks very bleak.

[Kingpin]

And it's getting worse, OSFA is almost gone, ODFA is gone, the future of Tasmanian football looks very bleak.

In the south it does anyway.
Up north they work properly in keeping alive and fostering the traditions of the local clubs as well as opening thier doors to elite level football.
Up north they have their priorities in the right place.

Down south - the time will come in the not too distant future where it will be a choice of follow the Devils or sit at home and watch AFL on television.

[The Majestic]

As much as I like a few players playing for the Devils, I'm not going to follow them, though if Armstrong was given the ass then I'd consider it.

[Kingpin]

As much as I like a few players playing for the Devils, I'm not going to follow them, though if Armstrong was given the ass then I'd consider it.
I'll never follow them as a matter of principle. One thing I'll give Armstrong credit for is, that he's a very well prepared coach.
Every side he's been in charge of has been very professional, well prepared and will have crack.