Winter warms to state league
BRETT STUBBS
July 23, 2008 12:00am
THE man most synonymous with the former Statewide League and the SFL's coach Darren Winter has thrown his full support behind the proposed rebirth of the competition.
But he also believes it would not be viable or desired to have a State League and the Devils co-existing.
Winter, a five-time Clarence Statewide League premiership player, said the standard of local Tasmanian football has fallen drastically since the death of the old competition in 2000 and reverting to regional leagues.
"I would think everybody in Tassie would be worried about the standard right around the state, not just the SFL but the NTFL and the NTFA," Winter said.
"The quality that we have seen in the past years has probably dropped considerably since statewide."
He said it was time for the 10 invited clubs to bite the bullet and commit to the competition.
"If I was a young player coming through, I would be questioning my club why they aren't giving me the opportunity to play against the best players in the state," he said.
Winter said a strong State League competition would also give late-bloomers who missed out on the development pathway a chance to impress AFL scouts.
And he said with AFL Tasmania footing the bill for travel, footballs and umpires costs would be kept to a minimum.
"I think the structure itself looks pretty good," Winter said.
"The clubs getting an injection of $50,000 to spend on development and whatever else they need to do would be fantastic for the clubs to be able to control their junior development with a full-time staff member and ensure their club stays in good health with their kids coming through for years to come."
Winter, who also coached Burnie from 1998-99, said the return could spell the end of the Devils concept.
"I would struggle to see how we could have both going," he said.
"I certainly think if AFL Tas is going down the path of statewide they would certainly have to consider the Devils going given that was the reason why the Devils came in when the statewide fell apart.
"If they are going to keep the Devils, I don't think we could afford to keep pursuing the statewide concept."
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,24064068-13222,00.html
BRETT STUBBS
July 23, 2008 12:00am
THE man most synonymous with the former Statewide League and the SFL's coach Darren Winter has thrown his full support behind the proposed rebirth of the competition.
But he also believes it would not be viable or desired to have a State League and the Devils co-existing.
Winter, a five-time Clarence Statewide League premiership player, said the standard of local Tasmanian football has fallen drastically since the death of the old competition in 2000 and reverting to regional leagues.
"I would think everybody in Tassie would be worried about the standard right around the state, not just the SFL but the NTFL and the NTFA," Winter said.
"The quality that we have seen in the past years has probably dropped considerably since statewide."
He said it was time for the 10 invited clubs to bite the bullet and commit to the competition.
"If I was a young player coming through, I would be questioning my club why they aren't giving me the opportunity to play against the best players in the state," he said.
Winter said a strong State League competition would also give late-bloomers who missed out on the development pathway a chance to impress AFL scouts.
And he said with AFL Tasmania footing the bill for travel, footballs and umpires costs would be kept to a minimum.
"I think the structure itself looks pretty good," Winter said.
"The clubs getting an injection of $50,000 to spend on development and whatever else they need to do would be fantastic for the clubs to be able to control their junior development with a full-time staff member and ensure their club stays in good health with their kids coming through for years to come."
Winter, who also coached Burnie from 1998-99, said the return could spell the end of the Devils concept.
"I would struggle to see how we could have both going," he said.
"I certainly think if AFL Tas is going down the path of statewide they would certainly have to consider the Devils going given that was the reason why the Devils came in when the statewide fell apart.
"If they are going to keep the Devils, I don't think we could afford to keep pursuing the statewide concept."
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,24064068-13222,00.html