Better pathways for junior footballers in Tasmania

Tuesday October 20, 2009

 In a further shake-up of the state’s football landscape, the 2010 Wrest Point State League competition will now comprise of a senior level competition and an under 18 competition. Wade believes both are important steps, bringing Tasmanian football into line with the national pathway. “Over the past six months AFL Tasmania, the 10 Tasmanian State League clubs and all other community and school football stakeholders throughout Tasmania have been considering the appropriateness of current player pathways for upper youth age participants – that is, for players of 16, 17, 18 and 19 years of age. “Following this stakeholder consultation and with research conducted by AFL Tasmania management, the Board of Management of AFL Tasmania has adopted the national competition player pathway model for upper youth age football. “So we’ll have under 16 and under 18 competitions feeding into senior football, instead of the previous model of under 17 and under 19 football. “The move to the Wrest Point State League involving an under 18 level competition is one outcome of this review, and provides great opportunities for our aspiring young footballers. "I am also really pleased that some weeks ago the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League (STJFL) agreed to re-establish an under 16 level competition. “The re-establishment of an under 16 competition by the STJFL now means that Tasmania’s two main community youth football competitions (NTJFA in the North, and STJFL in the South) will finish at an under 16 level. “Players to then feed into the TSL under 18 competition or local country and regional youth competitions. “For 2010 the North West region has determined to remain with under 17 rather than adopting under 16 age competition. However, it is AFL Tasmania’s desire to have the North West region fall in line with the rest of the nation at some point in the very near future concerning player pathways.” In 2010 the NTFL and NTJFA will retain their existing under 19 competitions and the SFL will retain under 17s. Wade says while the Wrest Point State League competition will consist of seniors and under 18s, a Reserves’ competition will continue to be supported. “In 2010 AFL Tasmania and the 10 TSL clubs will continue to work together by conducting a state-wide reserves competition, where the fixture will be administered and promoted by AFL Tasmania and conducted in parallel with the two team per club state competition,” Wade said.