The Northern Tasmania Junior Football Association has launched an ambitious growth initiative aimed at cementing the region as the state’s powerhouse football nursery.
Working alongside AFL Tasmania, the NTJFA is embarking on a consultation process with clubs to dramatically increase participation rates and team numbers across northern Tasmania.
AFL Tasmania’s Northern Regional Manager Darrin Geard believes the region has untapped potential despite its already strong reputation.
“We have always been a strong footy region in terms of junior participation, senior success and draftees, but the scary thing is we can be better,” Geard said.
“The way to get there is we need more junior teams; team numbers in the NTJFA have been steady for some time and it’s about to change and grow to new heights.”
NTJFA President Josh Nast said junior development forms the backbone of sustained success at all levels of the game.
“The NTJFA want to turbo charge growth for girls and boys footy and we want to work with our clubs to get us there,” Nast said.
“We can have more participants per capita than anywhere in Australia – if we get our philosophies right and harness the power of the Devils.”
The growth strategy will include consultations with stakeholders in coming weeks, focusing on expanding age groups, strengthening female pathways, exploring innovative competition models and removing barriers to participation.
Nast said a collaborative approaches is needed to transcend traditional club rivalries.
“We need to consider new junior clubs and teams and how we can ensure strong and sustainable senior clubs and not let rules or rivalry trip us up on our growth agenda,” he said.
Geard said the Tasmania Devils pathway program offers unprecedented opportunities for talent development, but requires a stronger grassroots foundation.
“The Devils give us a superpower to grow the sport like we’ve never seen before and with it our footy heartland will only get bigger and better,” Geard said.
“This has to start with strong Auskick and Under 8s, we need a growth mindset on how we explode participation in northern Tasmania.”
