Ouch!

Yep, it's almost identical to Geelong, and the business case for the team focused on a similar model to Geelong, also the Green Bay Packers in the US. Whilst the move to the GC hasn't been a successful one in terms of playing finals etc, the talent pathways, junior development etc looks to have been exceptionally strong. I don't know about Sydney so much. Tassie is a football heartland, but it's been left to fend for itself for a long time, I have no doubt the talent is here, it's about getting pathways built so that the team isn't seen to be draining talent from outside of its pathways. Plus a restructuring of the competitions that feed the AFL/AFLW team It's still very useful to see how the Jack Jumpers have been successful here in Tassie, since their inception, 43% increase in club participation, you cannot get tickets for home games (three seasons in, every home game is completely sold out.) There is also a noted shortage of courts available to meet the needs of all of the competitions across the state. In terms of pathway development Tassie has 3 of the highest-rated players at the national under20s this year in Jacob Furphy, Lachlan Brewer, and Kye Savage.) Once the NIMBY's in Tasmania who are still opposed to a stadium, and the building of a high-performance centre get silenced, hopefully, Tas will be able to show that it can compete, but more importantly, can produce talent pathways that make it sustainable. The Tassie Devils were the minor premiers in the Coates league last year, and there were a respectable number of players drafted, including 3 in the first round of the draft. Figures for the AFLW are not dissimilar I don't believe.

The difference in population between 2012 (22.9million) when the Giants came into the system, and 2028 (29.0million) which is when the Tassie side comes in.... increase of 6.1 million people or 26% increase in population. ... pretty sure Australia has the population to support another 40 men and women players.

Bit harsh... why exactly is Reiwoldt a DH? Speaks his mind and has articulate in the media, is doing really positive work for the new Tassie team going around grassroots clubs, listening to them, getting their ideas and collating for the taskforce. Was a very good player to boot. If he played for the dees, you would call him a club legend. *PS* your analogy of JVR is not far off though, although JVR looks a lot stronger and broader across the shoulders.

No, I was doing the exact opposite! I was responding to Demonsone who was the one complaining about how the AFL is throwing cash at Tassie's base. Only thing I'll admit to saying is that I don't think previous administrations haven't been that great at prioritising our home base, but thats not exactly a contentious comment. I also didn't bemoan anything about lack of funding. You need to read comments, context and WHO actually wrote the words before blowing up. 🙄

Umm, who's whinging? I have no idea what you are even talking about?

Billings, Blake Howes, Taj Woewodin, Bailey Laurie... we could even look to push Salem higher if needed. We have ample coverage.

Possibly true, however to put a headline about what appears to be a very minor calf strain to Lachie Hunter... just is a beat up. I wonder if the media got confused with Jaiden Hunter from the Bombers doing his ACL, that type of injury would justify the headline. Not a calf, and one at that which still has him training this morning without that much discomfort according to the track watchers.

You were inferring it was how the AFL throwing money at the Tassie, side now it's local / state govt's I'd suggest you should also add in some inept MFC boards over the years as well. You can't just blame one factor,... It's a whole host of factors. Our current administration is, from what it would appear, attempting to prioritise finding a base. They are just doing it in a climate where securing the funding is harder than to secure.

So just some context on this, but how has the MFC been treated badly by the announcement of this for Tas. MFC has been 'looking for a home' for what?? 20 years or more? That's not the AFL treating us badly. Yes the AFL might have announced it, but not before the Tas Football Club (current name) and the state govt announced it. AFL is putting in $10mil of the $70mil, the rest is coming from the State Govt. So don't assume that the AFL is stumping up for it all. This training base will be for AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW, and the junior boys and girls programs (currently the Devils) so it's perhaps got a few more teams to cater for than most, not to mention it will have community facilities too I believe.

... Burgo was a better Gibbo ;)

... and they'd still offer more value than the McKays! :)

Where are his footy's though .... Did we 'review' them out of our system??

How many stayed? I reckon more players move for opportunity than they do due to being homesick.

For those that watched the Coates league a bit more closely, I confess from the video's I don't see the knock on Brown and why he didn't go in the main draft, looks to have good speed, decent hands, and a fairly neat kick (both for goal and in general play) Is it that he just doesn't have a big 'weapon' in his arsenal? i.e not overly tall, quick, or that type of thing? .... other than pretty poor mullet, Kynan looks a pretty handy pick up for the club as a rookie.

sounds like we don't have picks to match it with, and not going into deficit, not so much that we would refuse to take him unless it's a rookie.

I think the thing that I was more concerned with is that he doesn't sound like he wants to go 'too far' from the family farm. There have been a few comments here from people that seem reluctant to draft from the tassie players, but I got a sense that this guy is a chance to get 'homesick'. So with us losing Jackson, and potentially Petty, I'm a little cautious on this.

So, I'll bite here. What happened to our 4th, 5th and 6th round picks as such... or do picks after a certain value have no point value attached and therefore you cannot use to bid on F/S and the like?

TBH, I thought his disposal wasn't great, or perhaps more specifically, it's not a smooth natural kicking action. Note, I don't mean it wasn't effective, just a bit awkward.

Greenwood also was fit to play. Not sure many clubs will take Melksham knowing that they'll likely get less than 10 games from him.

It's interesting, I'd say maybe both. The allies were very strong in the national championships, so they beat not just the vic players but WA and SA pretty handily too. The Tassie Devils in the Coates league were very well placed there too, so that possibly goes to suggest that the quality in Vic could be a little lighter this year. It also sounds like this year has a fairly shallow draft overall, and that they don't expect a lot of players to be selected overall.

There will be some Tassie players that want to come home to play for Tassie, and I've seen you post this in other threads too, but I'm curious why you are more concerned about Tassie players going home than WA, or SA or players from other states? Don't think it's been determined yet. However I suspect the list managers will be more concerned about the compromised draft. That being said, the AFL won't be putting anything in place to compel the other teams to give up Tasmanian players only. It's a set of rules that will allow the tassie team to select from any players on the list (obviously there might be some untouchables)

Rumours that Schoenmaker is a sneaky chance at a late 1st round, and there is also Jack Callinan (son of Ian Callinan) as a small forward that could also be taken. Don't remember the last time 5 Tassie players were chosen in a single draft. Let alone 3-4 potentials for the first round!

I'd like petrol prices under $2 a litre, a Hella Mega Tour announcement, and probably to lose a few more kgs. Oh I'd also like Ryley Sanders and James Leake as our picks for 6 & 11. Mick Stinear to play a role with our men's team, and Mick Warner and Mark Robinson to be sued by Goodwin after we win the flag. ... I'm not fussy.

Don't get me wrong, he looks a nice player, but not sure we are lacking outside run on the wings are we? If anything I think we are needing quality off HBF. I would have thought we are ok placed with our current wings, and Howes and Woewodin currently?

Yep thats what I thought to.... although I think May might be a bit quicker. Shoenmaker has a much more fluid kicking action than O'Sullivan as well, if I had a criticism of what I have seen, he has an awkward ball drop.