North L?ton vs South L?

VIEW FROM HERE | Welcome to season 2011
Welcome to the 2011 Wrest Point State League season.
This is the third year that the competition has been
in operation and it looks like being one of the closest
fought out contests for the premiership since the
rebirth of the State League.
All Clubs have been very proactive during the off
season on the player recruitment front both internally
and externally which will hold the competition in good
stead from an even and competitive on field point
of view. The ability of the Burnie and Glenorchy to
acquire the playing services of former AFL players
Jason Laycock and Jason Akermanis respectively is
nothing short of fantastic for the competition and
will hopefully assist with either attracting former AFL
players to the League or former home grown players
that may have migrated to other State League
competitions such as the WAFL, QAFL, SANFL and
the VFL back to our own Tasmanian Wrest Point
State League (TSL).
One of AFL Tasmania’s key principles when setting
up the rebirth of a whole of State competition was to
ensure that all TSL clubs are genuinely competitive
on the field and this is still very much a key going
forward today.
Season 2011 sees a new structure implemented
with the two teams being Seniors and Colts. The
Colts competition is essentially a merger between
the U18’s and reserves and we believe after much
debate with the clubs that this structure is the best
way forward. The TSL competition is forthwith for
the best 220 senior players in the State and the 220
next generation of senior players.
For the remainder of the current term of the TSL
license agreements (which ends at the completion
of the 2013 season) the structure of Seniors and
Colts will not alter. It is important to provide all clubs
with stability to enable them to manage their player
lists accordingly and which AFL Tasmania believes
is an integral element of each TSL clubs’ football
departments.
As many people would be aware, in the off-season
the Devonport Football Club was placed on notice
that if you cannot manage your fiscal responsibilities
as a club then you place your TSL license at risk.
The circumstances of the Devonport Football Club
have provided a clear warning to all clubs of their
fiscal responsibilities in the TSL. The Devonport
Football Club Board should be congratulated on their
significant achievement of raising the necessary
funds to meet AFL Tasmania’s requirements to keep
their license agreement. Congratulations should also
go to the community of Devonport as it clearly shows
they are fully behind their State League club. Great
effort to all and sundry!
Finally, I wish the 10 Wrest Point State League clubs
the very best for season 2011 on and off the field.
Shaun Young
General Manager
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