AFL boss Andrew Dillon tells the Premier “timelines critical” in Macquarie Point Stadium build

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has declared he is “really excited” about the progress of the Tasmanian team. He met with the state’s premier to discuss three key areas.

Andrew Dillon CEO AFL. AFL executives in Hobart for a meeting with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

AFL boss Andrew Dillon said hitting timelines was “critical” in the $715m Macquarie Point Stadium build but was left in no doubt the 23,000-seat roofed venue on Hobart’s waterfront would be ready to rock as scheduled in 2029.

Dillon met with Premier Jeremy Rockliff and his team at the Executive Building for more than an hour in a sweeping update in Mac Point 1 stadium, the development of the High Performance Centre slated for Rosny, and the progress of the Tasmania Football Club, which now has 195,000 foundation members.

However, despite the comprehensive review, the football supremo was denied a sneak preview of what the stadium might look like, even though the first designs are due to be released next week.

Brian Walsh Executive General Manager, Andrew Dillon CEO AFL, Judith Donnelly Head of Government Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility AFL. AFL executives in Hobart to talk with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff in relation to progress on the proposed stadium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Dillon revealed the Tasmanian Devils VFL team would be fast-tracked to 2026 — a year before previously thought — and TFC boss Grant O’Brien said the Devils women’s team was almost certain to join the AFLW the same year.

“It was a good catch up with the Premier — it’s a regular meeting that we’ve been having but we’ve been doing it online so it was great to be down here to do it in person,” Dillon said.

“We gave them a bit of an update on AFL Tasmania, on how our participation is going, how the Devils Boys and Girls teams are right next the top of the Talent League [under-18s], and the successful representative games over the weekend as well.”

Grant O'Brien Chair of the Tasmania Football Club. AFL executives in Hobart for a meeting with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Top of the agenda was Macquarie Point Stadium, which is also now backed by the state Labor after its ferocious initial opposition.

“We are really excited about the progress that has been made on the stadium,” Dillon said.

Dillon and his AFL team visited the Macquarie Point, which was a hive of high-vis and heavy machinery activity.

Macquarie Point Stadium artist’s impression.

“There’s a lot of work to do but we are really excited — it’s going to be a great addition for Tasmania,” he said.

“The timelines are really critical for us and I haven’t heard anything that would change us from the timelines that we have agreed with the government.

“Everything is on time and we are really looking forward to the team, kicking off in 2028.”

Opponents of the Rosny site for the HPC has left the Twin Ovals at Kingston in the background as a viable second option.

“We’ve got two really good sites that are being looked and the due diligence is being done there,” Dillon said.

“There’s a lot of work to be done but we are really excited about the opportunities there with the two sites.

“Rosny is the preferred site, but there is another great site, and work is being done on both of them.”

Dillon could not help be impressed by the support for the Tasmania Devils.

“How could you want anything more than 195,000 people signing up to be members of the club,” he said.

“It’s just exciting times for all of us and we are really pleased with the progress.”

Originally published as AFL boss Andrew Dillon tells the Premier “timelines critical” in Macquarie Point Stadium build