From Hobart Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs
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THE state squad selection policy will drive older players out of the TSL, North Hobart captain and former Devil Nathan Street believes.
Selectors have gone with a youth policy based on attributes in line with the AFL draft rather than simply picking the best TSL team possible ahead of the May 26 clash with the VFL at Blundstone Arena.
Street, a former state representative, said it could send a dangerous message.
"If you are not going to recognise blokes for their performances they will just go to a lower level," he said yesterday.
"There is nothing to separate the state league from the other comps now.
"There are no TV games, and if representative games are going to be based on younger guys they think might be drafted, if you are 24 or over you probably won't worry about playing (state league)."
Street said his comments were not sour grapes on being left out of the 38-man squad.
"The point of a representative side is to put your best against their best," the 29-year-old said.
"You can understand how they want draftable guys to be drafted, but, really, if they are going to be good enough to be looked at, you would think they would be in the side anyway.
"I don't really understand it if you want guys to play week in, week out, it would be good to give them an opportunity to play at a higher level."
Street has quietly gone about finding his form with a three-vote performance in the RACT player of the year award in the Demons one-goal win over Hobart at the TCA on Sunday only the second victory of the year for Norths.
The game was billed as the battle for the inner-city licence, with AFL Tasmania reviewing the future of the Demons and the Tigers in the TSL as only one Hobart spot is up for grabs.
"There is a bit of talk but there is not much we can do about it," Street said.
"It is out of our hands as players, but that doesn't have any bearing on how we've been playing. There is uncertainty there for next year.
"We just play footy; there is not much we can do about it but it will be interesting to see what comes of it.
"I don't know what is the best way to go. I've got a gut feel they will probably want to start a new side pretty much.
"But I don't know what is going to happen with Hobart or North Hobart if they go to a lower level."
