A radical plan being considered by the NTFL would encourage clubs to develop local players and act as a disincentive to player poaching.
The plan is designed to even up the competition.
A rating is given to each player that takes the field: one point for every local player and a greater number for recruits, based on their age, where they came from, and how long they've been there.
A team is allowed a maximum 35 points a game and considering a team comprising only locals would attract 22 points, clubs will have to be careful about how many players they attract from neighbouring clubs or associations, for fear of exceeding points limit
In a departure from the Mornington Peninsula (Victoria) system, the NTFL is also considering awarding negative points values to young local players, encouraging local development...
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For example, Zeke Gardam would cost Burnie nine points.
As an under 21 player, his 16 senior games for Wynyard attracted 3 points, and his time as a Mariner adds five.
NTFL independent director Andrew Richardson said the proposal was still in its early days and plenty of changes were likely to be made.
He said the system was used on the mainland to control the number of ex-AFL players who flooded into the regional leagues.
However, he said the NTFL would prefer to use it to encourage clubs to develop their own young players.
Under the NTFL proposal, recruited players start with a high score and receive deductions based on when they last played at a higher level, whether they're coming back to their previous club and whether they've recently been out of top competition.
Ideas such as giving players recruited from country leagues a minus score to encourage clubs to look for talent in their own backyard could also be included.
