Ive no doubt that Tasmania could get the main sponsors, but would it get the tertiary and seconday sponsors if they were say subject to the same criteria as Gold Coast and GWS.
As GWS and Gold Coast are also showing - massive membership and crowds is not the be all and end all, and crowd averages are second to tv audiences when establishing new teams.
If Tasmania could meet the sponsorship criteria - which is more than say Mars and Tasmania - then theres no reason they couldnt get a team in the near future. If I was the Tasmanian goivernment Id be severely considering our options at the end of the current hawthorn deal.
The Government based its application on the Gemba report & with advice from its Treasury & economists such as Saul Eslake & Dr Bruce Felmingham.
The application covered the criteria that the AFL set. The AFL however were clearly set on a course of expansion into northern states & supporting chronic Victorian clubs.
Totally unfair IMO, & in many other peoples opinion as well. As I've said, much opinion of the doubters is just that. It doesnt have any knowledge of the application criteria or any other research for that matter. The Tasmanian application was accepted, NOT REJECTED by the AFL. They wouldnt do that unless the application met the AFL criteria.
Demetriou & his board just made the same quasi economic & 'political' decision to go ahead with their own strategic decision.
Them's the facts ma'am




