November 25, 2006
The Direction of Tasmanian (Mens’) Football
There are a number of directions Tasmanian senior mens’ football can go. If we can look briefly at the more credible, some interesting discussion could ensue.
1. Introduction of a 6 team Tasmanian State League; this certainly seems the direction FFT appears to be heading but in all honesty the one who is pushing hardest is the President Steve Gasparinatos. To date all we have seen, in terms of planning, is a position paper directly from the President. There is no real substance to this plan at this stage but I believe the club presidents have instructed Steve to go away and put some real meat in his planning. Will the State League aid in retaining Tassie bred players here? I think not.
2. A Tasmanian team in the Victorian Premier League; this is my personal preference, but as smudger identified in another post, it cannot be a club based proposal it must be a state wide proposition based from one centre (i.e. based in Hobart). This team could have strong links with the new TIS programme. To achieve this aim the resources that are intended for the State League should be channeled instead into this option. So I am proposing it’s one or the other, NOT both. Otherwise it’s pouring good money into bad. Will this goal assist in keeping our players here? Yes, but at the elite level only.
3. A long term goal of a team in the A-League. The A-League is set to expand in the next few years. Is it feasible for a Tasmanian bid to be developed. I’m suggesting that this is a pipe dream if you don’t use the Vic. Premier League as a stepping stone. The difference in this bid would be that it MUST be driven by private enterprise and with the full support of FFT. An entry in the A-League cannot be a FFT initiative. Tasmania needs the likes of an Ali Sultan to step up and fully fund such a proposal. Will this help to retain players in Tassie. Most definitely but once again, only at the elite level. The added attraction is that for the first time ever we would have players looking at coming to Tassie.
Watched the Victory - Jets game last night , 28,000 people what about Nick Carle , players like him are worth any admission prices , the skills of Fred and Alexandro again brilliant to watch.
At times both teams but especially the Jets put together 10-15 passes in a row , i’ve watched games here this year were 10-15 passes in the game to feet wouldn’t have happened!!!
Bring on the A.League surely money bags Lennon-hawk , can afford another 2-3 mil for 3 years from the government coffers to ensure we have a team.
Maybe if we confince the “greens ” that we won’t damage the grass they will also get behind it.
Left Back
Comment by Left back — November 27, 2006 @ 8:20 am
lets put it this way
it only takes 1 word to describe the direction of tasmanian mens soccer with the current prseident and board of fft
BACKWARDS
just look at the huge crowds that come to watch the senior games
so where does all the money that the clubs pay to enter the league get distributed???
and what is the prize money for winning the league these days???
Comment by joey — November 27, 2006 @ 1:43 pm
Gee Joey , u sure have been taking some angry greek pills - you have slated the Northerner - kingborough Lions - Brett Pullen - and FFT ( and McKenna ) 9 think you have missed your favourite subject referees )all in a matter of days, gee not sure their is room for 2 of us , you best at least come up with some crusade / original point of view or they will start refering to u as the whinging greek .
Bet u can’t wait for the season to start - how is the recruiting going in Federal Street??
Left Back
Comment by Left back — November 27, 2006 @ 5:38 pm
The Comment by Joey tends to annoy me .
Again lets look at facts .
Prizemoney . Do any of you know how much prize money is distributed . If not write to FFT and ask , all they can do is refuse to answer your letter , if you are a member of a Club have your Secretary write for you.
Any organization that relies on prizemoney to balance its budget is a fool unto itself .
Is Soccer better now than in yesteryear . The answer is yes . The top may be appear to be much the same but the depth of the talent has increased manifold .
The Premier Club I played for and it was not a very good one would in these times struggle to win in Div 1 . The third layer of Southern Soccer.
Crowds , of course they are down . No influx of teen age european migrants these days . Furthermore their sons and daughters and their children have cars , computers etc ,etc plus other distractions .
Tennis , Aussie rules , look at the surnames , where children play parents , grand parents follow .
The other factor is the majority of young men we see today have been in our eyes since childhood . Familiarity breeds contempt .
Of Course our Premier league players are faster , fitter and in the upper echelon the first touch is great .
Please stop bleating and look for opportunities and not seek to lay blame .
Comment by Brian — November 27, 2006 @ 7:27 pm
im not whinging just stating the clear truths that no one will say
as to brian your team must not have been too good if they were to be beaten by a div 1 team. the teams from when i first started watching tas socer would beat any other team by atleast a couple of goals. the class of soccer has dropped due to the fact that no one cares about football in the state anymore and this attitude starts at the state government. if the the premier can spend so much on a national sport (afl) how can he not spend money on the sport which is loved the world over. dont forget football is the most played sport in the world
Comment by joey — November 27, 2006 @ 10:10 pm
Joey said, “No one cares about football in the state anymore…”
Joey, you need to wake up and smell the coffee lad. It seems to me that you have this wonderful, child like vision of what you wanted football in this state to be and it has failed to materialise as you developed into a senior player and you’re just a bit peeved by it all. And somewhat bitter too I might add.
No one cares about football and this is why the game has just received $800,000 for development (yeah ok, it’s not $15M). No one cares enough to volunteer services as trainers, coaches, presidents & committee members, for hundred of teams spread across this state. Ok, it’s not ideal but we keep trying to make it better. We take two steps forward, one step back, but we continue to go ahead.
Take this ‘disillusioned’ view you have if football in this state, volunteer your services as a coach for an U7 club team. Watch the sheer joy on those kids faces as they play this beautiful game just for the sheer joy of it. These kids aren’t interested in the money, they don’t want the bowling green playing surface, they don’t even want nets or the best type of ball. They just want a flat bit of grass, a ball, two cones (for goals) and someone who can teach them to love the game.
Try it Joey, you might be pleasantly surprised. A wonderful panacea
Comment by Blackjack — November 27, 2006 @ 10:53 pm
i am not bitter my friend blackjack
and i have coached in my time and it was fantastic
i do not play for money and you would not know anyone like me and what i think about football i love it. i have played since i was 6 always played registration never received a cent and for you to come at me with the accusations of being bitter and the like.
in your little dream world things might be the way you say in tas football but in the harsh reality of it all my point is ofcourse correct
Comment by joey — November 28, 2006 @ 9:21 am
Joey, don’t be so sensitive. I’m not having a go at you, all I’m doing is commenting on how you ’seem’. It just ‘appears’ from your writtings that you are disappointed (bitter may have been too strong a word and I apologise unreservedly if this has caused you any distress…none was meant) with the way things are for you & Tasmanian football. I wouldn’t dare make any comment about playing payments or if you pay your rego on time, or anything of the like.
As to whether your assertions in terms of tas football are correct, I wouldn’t know, you haven’t given any concrete evidence to prove your point.
Comment by Blackjack — November 28, 2006 @ 10:25 am
As far as the format of our league goes will this mean if we move to a state league I mean realistically we need to stick with the southern or state comp, players will be to burnt out with two comps in a year. It may also make sense to use a system similiar to the tasmanian devils football team and pursue a team in the Victorian Premier League. This same guideline could prove fruitful and lead to bigger things
Comment by Reverse Kanga — November 28, 2006 @ 10:10 pm
we definatly need a team where we can play against stronger opposition, aleauge would be great but if we had to go to the victorian premier leauge that would still be a great challenge for a tasmanian team
Comment by paulie — November 28, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
Hi Joey , I dont want to make this along drawn out issue but respectfully I think you and possibly others have missed the point .
Why was such a bad team allowed into the Premier League . Because there wasn’t any body else .
When I played Premier league there was no depth . The top three or four were OK but the other 6 or so no way .
Also in my day no under 19 or 18 .
About passion for the game I have preciously stated either here or the other place the Directors are responsible for running a company . They don’t nor should they run around and referee etc as did the late Jim Anderton and I.
Their prime job is to run a Company set policies and directions then hire the enthusiastic motivated people to put into effect their wishes .
On the surface your assumption may appear correct but overall I think you are in error.
Comment by Brian — November 29, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
Gee Brian , it must be hard to keep your balance when you continually try to please everybody PLUS keeping a foot in both camps ( Club - FFT ) .
I read with interest your comments about Under 19 League ( on the Soccer in Tasmania blog ) .
You have stated before opinions without facts!! - as per your comments below ;
” I disagree with annonymous . Premier Clubs want their u/19 playing before them because it suits them not the game .
Admittedly from a FFT viewpoint its easier to organise , Good on the FFT for throwing down the challenge to the Div 1 Clubs.
From a Club perspective less management staff , the physio can double up , more options for the bench .
Each team should be a self contained unit , that way we may make a start to ridding ourselves of the ” doubling , tripling up ” plague that gives our game a false image .
Look at all those teams and players when in reality you have 37 doing the work of 48.”
Brian - Clubs would not survive without the volunteer, nor will they survive without a program that develops players - encourages club allegiances - some years ago and i think u were chairman or at least on the Board at the time got it right !!! structure wise - a three tier Sen - Res -19 comp for the premier league across the State , playing before one another having players from 19’s sitting on the bench for res or seniors and also the 12-13th man in the seniors getting part of a game in the res , as a player we felt that we were assisting in the development of the younger guys by giving them 10-15min with older more experienced players - sure their was some doubling up , but it whatever leagues u look at it has happened from day dot - cause clubs enter teams and never allow for injuries - illness- work and so on.
As a parent of a 16 year old who played 19’s this year , in a league that contained 12 teams - just to keep 1 club and fft “elite” happy - did u also write a paper for the CEO on this ???, yet near destroy 10 other teams as they travelled and played at many different variations the majority no- where near the reserve or senior team who were playing on the same day - we became the self contained unit - we thought at times we were criminals and we got a reward every 4-5 weeks and played on the same ground and day prior to seniors and reserves!!
Fact - Clubs that didn’t really on “pinching ” players from other clubs actually developed players - Clarence are a classic example - they came into the league as Dad’s army struggled but persevered - changed coaches - management - created pathways and links and are now seeing the benefits and will continue to grow and become a power in the South .
I am sorry but it is absolute crap for teams within a club to be a single self contained unit , they play for the club not a team 0- i think Charlie White has managed to explain that part quite well!!.
Cast your mind back to what you are prophesising , A state team comes back from Nationals - the coach of that team the offers them to clubs as a unit with him to coach and run own team within the club - goes to one club - uni - doesn’t get what he wants so at the end of the season takes them to another club - and so on — is that what u want .
Left Back
Comment by Left back — November 30, 2006 @ 8:34 am
First time for everything Left Back but I agree with your sentiments on the Under 19’s.
Maybe the Div clubs could run an Under 17 team as their 3 team structure ??? as their was only three teams in this league last year plus a State team wasn’t much of a comp, this would assist the club develop ??
Comment by Sent off — November 30, 2006 @ 5:39 pm
Franco…I have taken the liberty of copying your original post to this topic as I feel it fits in reasonably well. Blackjack
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Just a little comment to all. Well done Black jack regarding this web site.The only credibility….. I am questioning in your website that I would like to see people after sending the comment sign it by real name.We are living in a democratic country every one can express their own opinion why don’t you sign your name ?
Regarding the northener comment I think FFT has changed in the last 2 years ,how many coaching courses have you attended since Mr Abela travelled to the northen part of the state ? This year we where lucky to put in place fulltime junior state teams playing the U15 in the southern U19 and U14 playing in the U17 and provide better opportunities to perform at better level at the nationals.At the nationals comments from other state coaching director compliment our teams on the way we playing the games. As FFt State team coach during this year I was fortune to see the Festival junior competition in Hobart and also the Launceston cup I have notice good quality young players which clubs should provide them with good quality coaches that are prepare to improve this players instead more interested winning games.Yes win a game I do agree is part of the game but as a coach I would like to give more opportunity to young players in the AIS or A-league clubs and national competition is a platform for it . The last player left tassie for the AIS was Foad Commandari …….
Yes James Sherman, Henry Fagg, Chris Sanita, Joshua Heerey, and plenty others they left because they had compete at Nationals.
we need improve the standard of the game in Tasmania the game is changing and Youth is the the only way to go. for to many years Clubs spend to much money for seniors coaches ( winning premiership) . Well done Clarence and Kingbourough for the set-up of an Academy in your club.
Comment by francoprevidi — November 30, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
Comment by francoprevidi — November 30, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
U19 competions , I can see your point of view playing before RES and Seniors , as this year I was coaching the state U15 I have many times offer to the clubs playing at their home ground as often the ground was available. Organization was the problem? or ground availability? but stop the Premier DIV 1 to enter this competition is wrong. This year in this competition apart 2 teams all others on the day can beat each other as a coach I have enjoy it,
as many clubs against the state U15 place senior or reserve players which did to the U15 good favour, I take this opportunity to thank all the clubs involved for the lovely year and to keep this competition like it is but only change the venue to suite the clubs.
Thank you
Comment by francoprevidi — November 30, 2006 @ 10:55 pm
Franco, as this IS a democracy people have the democratic right to post under their christian name or a pseudonym if they so desire. For some people, Tasmania is too small to openly debate some of the touchy subjects discussed here without the fear of being ostracised or even worse. There are some VERY strong personalities in this game and some people need the security of anonymity to make themselves heard. If this discussion blog site can offer this security to allow EVERYONE to have their say or even to bounce their ideas around, then I feel that I have served a worthwhile purpose.
Thanks for your positive feedback. It’s greatly approciated.
Comment by Blackjack — November 30, 2006 @ 11:04 pm
Div.1 teams are just that, Div.1…they have no place in any of the three tiers of the Premier League (except for Statewide Cup competitions). State teams don’t belong either.
You want a three tier Div.1?? Then build it into the Div.1 structure. Don’t change something that is working well. Building a three tier Div.1 league would be a very positive move as it would permit promoted clubs to have the required three tiers that is the current requirement in Premier League and would avoid the mad scramble endured by Hobart United, DOSA, etc. over the past few years.
The original charter for the premier league (I’m not quoting merely making a loose reference) was for Premier League teams to have a three tier structure; Seniors, Reserves & U/23 (the age was to be lowered for the third group as clubs ‘recruited’ or ‘developed’ the younger team structure). It currently stands at U19 but the orginal idea was to take it down to U18 to align the southern comp with our friends in the North.
Clubs are getting fed up having the goal posts moved EVERY year by FFT on the whim of some brainstrust. No one can plan on anything any longer.
Plan the damn leagues THOROUGHLY and then leave the infrustructure alone. Let the clubs get on with trying to develop and strengthen their pathways of development.
Comment by Blackjack — November 30, 2006 @ 11:23 pm
Comment withdrawn at author’s request
Comment by Alan Pullen — December 2, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
Come on Alan, you can’t just make this kind of statement and not back it up with any plans on HOW it will happen.
The one problem I see is club allegiance, is there little/none today that will allow a seemless transition into a new club structure??
Should Zebras be handed one of the 3 licences for the south?
And what about the kid who wants to develop by playing alongside the better players?? Where does he/she go?? They’ll struggle playing alongside ‘less able’ or ’social’ players (I’m biting my tongue on THIS comment)
Something to work on here…
Comment by Blackjack — December 2, 2006 @ 5:10 pm
Well spoken Blackjack .Good to see you did sme reseach on the three tier system.
Comment by Brian — December 5, 2006 @ 3:25 pm
Just a little something….
We all need to read the post on the football fed website that state’s how much non attention football(soccer) in tassie gets. yeah we’ve had a cash injection, and that’l go towards development of youngsters etc, but the post on the site reads as how many people play our sport and the lack of coverage from any news outlet’s. if it be the Mercury or and of the 3 major T.V stations our game gets squat. Touch football get’s a major headline and big colour photo in the mercury maybe twice a week has maybe 1 touch footy player for every 10 of us. hockey which has a nearrly half as many registered players and it gets T.V time on ABC. they train twice a week, we all train twice if not 3 times a week. Bigger crowds for major games, it seems the world game here is getting a tad shunned. We have to submit something to these outlets in the masses to get any attention. Poor old walter’s been writing articals for months, but how many have made the paper, maybe 2?? If there was more exposure youngster like, sanita, sanders, and the like, who have just as much talent, and skill as any of the other codes little faces like young jack rewaldt, but he get’s his own back page artical because of a name… Anywyays like i was saying if there was more media coverage of our beautiful game maybe the like’s of people who are seeking fame and to better thier own game would stay and make our game here so much stronger, and more competitive.
Comment by Mr Football — February 11, 2007 @ 1:43 pm
Oh good, ive just seen the post on the football fed website on here, good stuff.
Comment by Mr Football — February 11, 2007 @ 1:50 pm