TAS Tassie... happening?

[Bunk Moreland]

I know there's plenty of threads elsewhere but this is starting to sound serious. And Caro certainly has a direct line to Gil.

"No longer if but when"

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...for-a-tasmanian-afl-team-20190322-p516mb.html

Key:

- The Tasmanian government is rallying a powerful group of corporate and sporting heavyweights charged to transition Hawthorn and North Melbourne out of the island state and to establish its own AFL club by 2026.

- The AFL is privately endorsing the project, which is being driven by Tasmanian Treasurer Peter Gutwein.

- League chief Gillon McLachlan has emerged as a cautious advocate for a historic Tasmanian AFL licence, unofficially advising Premier Will Hodgman as his government puts together the charter for the project group with a view to gaining entry into the national competition by 2026.

- The AFL advice is that the state would require at least 50,000 members and an initial commitment of $40 million to enter the league.

- Tasmania boasts 91,000 members across the 18 AFL clubs and contributes an estimated combined $10 million to the Hawks and the Kangaroos.

- Framework for 2026 almost finalised:

/ 50,000 members
/ A capital commitment of $40 million
/ A unified Tasmanian football community
/ AFL-standard venues
/ Increasing the Australian rules talent pool from junior ranks through to double-figure representation in the AFL
/ Designing a "respectful" exit strategy for Hawthorn and North Melbourne

It won't happen tomorrow, but sounds like this is very much on.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Amazed by the 91k members stat. You'd have to like their chances of getting 50k for a local side.

Govt is already contributing $10m, it's just going to North and Hawthorn.

They already have two home grounds at AFL standard.

Need some more corporate support, and to get some kids coming through to the league.

 

[Muddiemoose]

Will be interesting if it’s a matter of relocating an established club or adding another team into the comp

 

[The_Reaper]

Where does North Melbourne go after this?
Darwin? Cairns? Newcastle? Albury? back to Canberra with GWS going Sydney full time?

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Will be interesting if it’s a matter of relocating an established club or adding another team into the comp

I’m sure it’ll be a new club. The value for the AFL is in having a tenth game. So club 20 may be the key thing to it happening.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Where does North Melbourne go after this?
Darwin? Cairns? Newcastle? Albury? back to Canberra with GWS going Sydney full time?

It’ll be interesting to see what North and Hawthorn do. Will they just bring those games back to Melbourne? Will they look at another location, that could get some AFL footy?

 

[King Elvis]

I would love to see a team in Tassie; but I genuinely think the biggest issue is going to be player retention.

It's a beautiful place, but how many AFL players are going to want to live there?

 

[Dazzler9]

This can't happen soon enough.

Until Tassie has a side, it will feel like a member of the Aussie Rules family is missing. Like we are not yet whole.

 

[Supercoach Bargain]

A unified Tassie footy community may be a challenge. Hope it happens.
The split b/w York and Bellerive will be thoroughly debated. If there is a split.
Where do you sign up for membership? (on a promise).

 

[pjcrows]

Is there a legitimate possibility of a third WA team at all?

 

[Supercoach Bargain]

I would love to see a team in Tassie; but I genuinely think the biggest issue is going to be player retention.

It's a beautiful place, but how many AFL players are going to want to live there?

48 minute flight to Launny from Tullamarine, it ain't that far.

 

[Chism]

Will be good for Tassie and they will get a heap of support for their team that they truly have as their own.

Crowds and membership numbers for a team they can actually call their own will not be a problem at all IMO.

Choosing between Launceston and Hobart for the most home games ( Training Base and team HQ etc ) will be the biggest obstacle and those 2 cities hate each other from what i am told from a few mates that are from Tassie.

 

[Dazzler9]

Will be good for Tassie and they will get a heap of support for their team that they truly have as their own.

Crowds and membership numbers for a team they can actually call their own will not be a problem at all IMO.

Choosing between Launceston and Hobart for the most home games ( Training Base and team HQ etc ) will be the biggest obstacle and those 2 cities hate each other from what i am told from a few mates that are from Tassie.

The Tassie cricket side plays out of Hobart. I presume cricket folks from Launceston still support Tasmania in the Shield.

So I don't reckon the location of the footy team's main base will be a major stumbling block.

 

[joop]

I would love to see a team in Tassie; but I genuinely think the biggest issue is going to be player retention.

It's a beautiful place, but how many AFL players are going to want to live there?

nail. head.

everyone wants a team in tassie, but the players wouldn't wanna stay there.

 

[Gavin Excell]

19 teams?

 

[Chism]

The Tassie cricket side plays out of Hobart. I presume cricket folks from Launceston still support Tasmania in the Shield.

So I don't reckon the location of the footy team's main base will be a major stumbling block.

Hope not and Tassie deserve their own team the whole state can call their own.

It is a beautiful part of our great country.

 

[Dazzler9]

nail. head.

everyone wants a team in tassie, but the players wouldn't wanna stay there.

why not?

 

[Gavin Excell]

nail. head.

everyone wants a team in tassie, but the players wouldn't wanna stay there.

Christ id choose Hobart over Sydney any day of the week

 

[Chism]

nail. head.

everyone wants a team in tassie, but the players wouldn't wanna stay there.

Why not?

 

[joop]

why not?

because its freezing in winter.
there is f all to do in terms of entertainment. If you're in nature and hiking and camping its a different story.

I love tassie and I love hobart, but if you get offered similiar money to your job in Melbourne it'd be a pretty easy decision.

 

[joop]

Why not?

As a young AFL player with a fair bit of coin, what would be the attraction of living full time in Hobart/Launceston over Melbourne, Sydney, Perth ect?

 

[Dazzler9]

because its freezing in winter.
there is f all to do in terms of entertainment. If you're in nature and hiking and camping its a different story.

I love tassie and I love hobart, but if you get offered similiar money to your job in Melbourne it'd be a pretty easy decision.

Everyone's different, some will like it, some won't. You can say the same about any of our cities. I don't think your concerns are valid, but hopefully we will get to see.

 

[spudmaster]

Where does North Melbourne go after this?
Darwin? Cairns? Newcastle? Albury? back to Canberra with GWS going Sydney full time?

China.

 

[Professor Knowall]

This is all Madmugs fault!

 

[Dazzler9]

As a young AFL player with a fair bit of coin, what would be the attraction of living full time in Hobart/Launceston over Melbourne, Sydney, Perth ect?

I hear the Gold Coast is an awesome place for young cashed-up types. The Suns must have awesome player retention.

Oh wait...