High school footy the life blood of clubs
By: BRETT STUBBS

HIGH school football could be the missing ingredient that could help keep clubs like Claremont alive, AFL Tasmania regional development manager Wayne Povey said.
The southern high schools competition started yesterday, growing from 16 schools in its first season last year to nearly 30 this year in the grades 7-8 and grades 9-10 rosters.
Southern Regional League club Claremont was nearly forced to pull the pin on this season after years of having no under-17s team saw a lack of players.
But Povey said this seven-week competition could help.
"High school footy is probably not the key but it is certainly a catalyst for all those things to be fixed,'' Povey said yesterday.
He said AFL Tasmania community club development officer Kane Richter had been working closely with Claremont High School.
"He has been doing some work with the Claremont High School grade 7-8 team to ensure we can fill an under-14 team at Claremont Junior Club,'' he said.
"You have got to walk before you can run obviously, but if we can fill up the Claremont junior ranks then that is going to flow through to the senior club.''
He said clubs are starting to realise the importance of the high school competition, with New Norfolk players helping out with the New Norfolk High team, and Sorell doing a similar job with its local school.
"All the clubs have jumped on board and are all assisting the schools,'' Povey said. "The links and the relationships are being built.''
The competition is split into three divisions, with a southern division consisting of Kingston High and the Huon schools, a division for the northern suburb schools and southern midlands schools and a private school roster which may also include New Town and Clarence High.
"We are just stoked with the way it has gone,'' he said.
"It started off on a shoestring budget and the teachers really embraced it.
"We are anticipating it will only be a couple of years before pretty much every high school in the south will be involved in this competition.''