TASMANIAN coaches will have the rare opportunity to hear from some of the AFL’s top mentors in a series of free coaching workshops held in Ulverstone, Launceston and Hobart on Sunday, February 25.

Four-time AFL premiership coach Alistair Clarkson will speak to Launceston coaches at the Windsor Park from 2.30pm with any coaches in the north of the state encouraged to come along.

For those in the north west, Tasmanian Hall of Fame and Richmond legend Matthew Richardson will speak at the Ulverstone Recreation Ground from 11am.

If you are based in the south, head along to North Hobart Oval from 12pm to hear from current North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.

Along with a keynote address from footy’s finest mentors, the free Tasmanian Football Foundation Coaching Forums will give an overview of the new TFF Coaching Mentor Network, introduce the new Coach.AFL membership system.

The forum follows on from the first JLT Community Series match at Kingston Twin Ovals on February 24. Scott’s North Melbourne side takes on Melbourne from 2.05pm; tickets are on sale now.

Meanwhile in junior football news, aspiring AFLW players are training at their respective Tasmanian State League Women’s clubs ahead of the brand new Wrest Point TSLW Under 18 Development Series.

The new competition which will run next month, is a huge step in the Tasmanian Female Pathway, leading into State Youth Girls Academy selection and, in time, selection for the AFLW Under 18 National Championships. AFL Draft Central will be covering the TSLW Under 18 Development Series, working in conjunction with AFL Tasmania to promote the talented youngsters coming through the ranks. For more information on the development series, head to the TSL website.

Finally, earlier in the month, Trisha Squires took over from Rob Auld as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of AFL Tasmania. Ms Squires became the first female AFL state CEO and has held positions of partnerships and community engagement manager at AFL Tasmania, as well as CEO of the REACH Foundation.

Squires’ appointment came amidst recent crisis in the TSL, with longstanding club Burnie forced to pull out of this year’s competition.