Opinion Nickname

[The_JHF_Clinic]

When I say run, I meant have a say.

Like when/if the shit hits the fan and no-one wants to come to Tassie to watch, or/and the team has been dreadful on field, they decide who goes and who comes in, or just pull the plug on funds.

Are you 100% sure that won't happen, because that's what governments do, they hate associating with losers.

Anyway, don't bother answering, you lost me when you started the derisive posts, it told me you think you know everything and can't handle others not agreeing.
Calling a club Tasmania and propped up by a state government, to me is a state side, not a football club.

Well state of origin footy is long dead, because (aside from Victorians) no other AFL player has had the opportunity to represent their state in the last 20 years so what does it really matter if the club has a state name anyway?

For this club to be a success, it needs to be set up right from the start so it’s fully embraced by the whole state. From my experience, I’d say the majority Tasmanians now seem to be okay with the team being called Tasmania, wearing green, playing in the North + South etc. There was a public vote completed 4 years ago about the nickname for our NAB League teams and Devils was the overwhelming favourite (74%) with the second choice being only 12%.

It seems to me that many Tasmanians hold similar views about how the club should be branded. You know, the people who are actually from the state, are familiar with its footy culture and history, and will actually be the ones buying memberships, merchandise etc.

Quite happy for non-Tasmanians to contribute to the discussion and add their ideas but it’s pretty annoying when others’ say “that’s stupid”, “shouldn’t do that, no other club does that” and the like, when they appear to have no understanding or appreciation for the fact that setting up club in Tassie is a unique case requiring unique solutions. It’s not meant to be set up like any other current AFL club, because if it was, then it won’t be successful. I think Clarkson realises this, which is why he has been investigating different models that have worked in the US so some of those ideas can be adapted to the Tasmanian context.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Well state of origin footy is long dead, because (aside from Victorians) no other AFL player has had the opportunity to represent their state in the last 20 years so what does it really matter if the club has a state name anyway?

For this club to be a success, it needs to be set up right from the start so it’s fully embraced by the whole state. From my experience, I’d say the majority Tasmanians now seem to be okay with the team being called Tasmania, wearing green, playing in the North + South etc. There was a public vote completed 4 years ago about the nickname for our NAB League teams and Devils was the overwhelming favourite (74%) with the second choice being only 12%.

It seems to me that many Tasmanians hold similar views about how the club should be branded. You know, the people who are actually from the state, are familiar with its footy culture and history, and will actually be the ones buying memberships, merchandise etc.

Quite happy for non-Tasmanians to contribute to the discussion and add their ideas but it’s pretty annoying when others’ say “that’s stupid”, “shouldn’t do that, no other club does that” and the like, when they appear to have no understanding or appreciation for the fact that setting up club in Tassie is a unique case requiring unique solutions. It’s not meant to be set up like any other current AFL club, because if it was, then it won’t be successful. I think Clarkson realises this, which is why he has been investigating different models that have worked in the US so some of those ideas can be adapted to the Tasmanian context.

You say they are unique, I call it unstable.

If 1/2 the state get the shits with the other 1/2 it might turn into a war and 1/2 don't turn up.

So we need to call it a state side just to get them to turn up, yeah I suppose that is unique.

So what happens if we do go back to SoO, nothing changes? That would seem weird.

 

[madmug]

You say they are unique, I call it unstable.

If 1/2 the state get the shits with the other 1/2 it might turn into a war and 1/2 don't turn up.

So we need to call it a state side just to get them to turn up, yeah I suppose that is unique.

So what happens if we do go back to SoO, nothing changes? That would seem weird.

Cricket Australia started a T20 competition. The Big Bash League. One team is called Hobart Hurricanes based in Hobart. Guess what, they play games in Launceston & people actually go to them!!!

The NBL team, one year old Tasmanian Jack Jumpers, based in Hobart. Guess what, they played games in Launceston & people actually went to them!!!

The proposed Tasmanian team in the AFL is slated to be based in Hobart & play games both at Bellerive & UTas grounds.

So whether called Hobart or Tasmania, people tend to want to go & watch elite sports teams that represent them.

North Melbourne supporters rarely live in North Melbourne but they follow the team which represents them. Very few people in Hobart go & watch North Melbourne because they don't represent us. They are just here for money & everybody knows it.

So the name is important, but it matters that they actually represent you. In this case, not a suburb, a city, but the state & probably a lot of expatriates as well.

 

[Father Jack]

I don't see the need to complicate things, Tassie Devils FC works fine for me.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Surely Tasmania United would be up there? Solves a few issues around Launie vs Hobart and its strong, traditional sporting branding.

The name would mean absolutely nothing if the team is too far based in one place.

 

[megadeth86]

Go for it, I don't care, but you're using a state league to play against suburban teams.

You might not think it now, but it will be used to heckle, you win and it will be, "you needed a state team to do it" you lose and it will be, "you may as well fold, your whole state can't beat a suburban team"

That was what happened in the beginning with Wast Coast but it's an old historical problem now and people have got over it and moved on.

And "West Coast can be anywhere". As a resident, let me just say that the West Coast of Scotland doesn't want them!

 

[megadeth86]

I think you’re conveniently ignoring the fact that Tassie is the smallest state in the nation (540,000 pop). The AFL has used the population size in the past as reason to deny the state’s entry into the competition so it would be incredibly stupid for the club to take on a city name instead of a state name.

Sydney has a population of over 5 million (10 x the state of Tassie). When they won the premiership did the supporters of Vic clubs criticise them and say “you needed the support of a whole city to win the flag” ? No, of course they didn’t. Your argument is based on flawed logic.

As I keep pointing out to others, the vast majority of Tasmanians have no issue with the club having the name of the state and having multiple home grounds. The only people who seem to have an issue with it are: a) not from Tasmania and b) will not be supporting the club anyway.

Some people did say in the past though that West Coast was a state team playing suburban teams.

 

[madmug]

Some people did say in the past though that West Coast was a state team playing suburban teams.

'People' say a lot of things.

A team playing in a regular league, under the rules requiring a salary cap, recruiting via a draft system & under an 'equalisation' tax is definitely not a state team.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Why do people think Tasmania, and Tasmania United would be any different?
People are united by action, not a name.

 

[JPetro83]

Thylacines

 

[Foxx]

The 2 bigger issue are - it can't be named Tasmania.
And if it's built in Hobart or Launceston, the other half of Tasmania won't support it.

 

[Bjo187]

The 2 bigger issue are - it can't be named Tasmania.
And if it's built in Hobart or Launceston, the other half of Tasmania won't support it.

These issues have been discussed and debunked more than 100x on this forum.

 

[Father Jack]

The 2 bigger issue are - it can't be named Tasmania.
And if it's built in Hobart or Launceston, the other half of Tasmania won't support it.

... which is why it has to be named Tasmania

 

[Foxx]

... which is why it has to be named Tasmania

If it's built in Hobart, Northerners will get their noses out of joint about it.
If it does get named Tasmania, then there goes any chance of a future second team.

 

[terrybull]

If it's built in Hobart, Northerners will get their noses out of joint about it.
If it does get named Tasmania, then there goes any chance of a future second team.

Hobart is the capital.

Launceston can wait and support the Hawks if they want.

 

[madmug]

If it's built in Hobart, Northerners will get their noses out of joint about it.
If it does get named Tasmania, then there goes any chance of a future second team.

With a population of some 540k, on what planet would that mean we'd possibly get a 2nd club. ever????

 

[Cringle]

Surely the Tasmanian population aren’t going to spit the dummy if they get a team that’s home base is Hobart or Launceston?

It’ll invoke some State pride and unity, the rivals will be the teams from the mainland.

I don’t know though. But I just can’t subscribe to the concern over one location getting more exposure than both.

Hobart has the main stadium and hosts 7-8 games.

Launceston gets the remaining 3-4 games.

Like it’s a two hour drive. Not a completely unreasonable trip if you desperately wanted to watch a couple of games in Hobart that year.

I live on the Northside of Brisbane and have absolutely no qualms with driving to Gold Coast if I want to watch a live match at Metricon. That’s a 90 minute drive at best.

Just feels like a few of these feasibility concerns are clutching at straws and unsubstantiated.

 

[Foxx]

With a population of some 540k, on what planet would that mean we'd possibly get a 2nd club. ever????

The population increases every year.
You've got to take that into account the population increases, and the success of the side.
If they name it Tasmania, there goes any chance of having a Launceston side in 10-20-30 years from now.

 

[madmug]

The population increases every year.
You've got to take that into account the population increases, and the success of the side.
If they name it Tasmania, there goes any chance of having a Launceston side in 10-20-30 years from now.

Be realistic!!! Launceston will never get to the level it could support a team, so just forget it.

Whole of Tasmania is the only possibility, in any time frame, ever.

 

[Foxx]

Be realistic!!! Launceston will never get to the level it could support a team, so just forget it.

Whole of Tasmania is the only possibility, in any time frame, ever.

Yeah righto, you can obviously see 50 years from now.
All I'm saying is they will leave no chance for another side if they name it Tasmania.

And look up the 42nd parralel divide between North and South.

 

[madmug]

Yeah right, you can obviously see 50 years from now.
All I'm saying is they will leave no chance for another side if they name it Tasmania.

And look up the 42nd parralel divide between North and South.

Well you cant see 50 years from now either.

Over the last 50 years tell us how Launceston has grown?

Maybe that'll give you some indication

 

[Foxx]

Well you cant see 50 years from now either.

Over the last 50 years tell us how Launceston has grown?

Maybe that'll give you some indication

They were saying that about Hobart 50 years ago.

 

[Father Jack]

Surely the Tasmanian population aren’t going to spit the dummy if they get a team that’s home base is Hobart or Launceston?

It’ll invoke some State pride and unity, the rivals will be the teams from the mainland.

I don’t know though. But I just can’t subscribe to the concern over one location getting more exposure than both.

Hobart has the main stadium and hosts 7-8 games.

Launceston gets the remaining 3-4 games.

Like it’s a two hour drive. Not a completely unreasonable trip if you desperately wanted to watch a couple of games in Hobart that year.

I live on the Northside of Brisbane and have absolutely no qualms with driving to Gold Coast if I want to watch a live match at Metricon. That’s a 90 minute drive at best.

Just feels like a few of these feasibility concerns are clutching at straws and unsubstantiated.

A Tasmanian team has to be split equally or it just won't work. Yes, Hobart is the biggest city and the capital, but there's a reason why Launceston got regular AFL games nearly a decade before Hobart did. If anything Launceston having the main stadium would work better than having it in Hobart, but an even split really is the only way forward imo.

 

[Father Jack]

If it's built in Hobart, Northerners will get their noses out of joint about it.
If it does get named Tasmania, then there goes any chance of a future second team.

In the unlikely event that a second Tasmanian was to come about, you would either split the team and have two new ones or rename the original. No need to poison the well now for something that is extremely unlikely to happen in the future, and even if it did happen could be easily remedied.

 

[Foxx]

In the unlikely event that a second Tasmanian was to come about, you would either split the team and have two new ones or rename the original. No need to poison the well now for something that is extremely unlikely to happen in the future, and even if it did happen could be easily remedied.

That could get ugly. They could very well refuse. They'd have nothing to gain, and a lot to lose.
But yes they could rename themselves South Tasmania, and create a rivalry with North Tas.