Tasmanian AFL team: Peter Gutwein fires back at Eddie McGuire’s hybrid proposal

One of the key architects behind Tasmania’s AFL bid says Eddie McGuire’s plan to make a Melbourne-based club the state’s unofficial team is “bulls**t”.

Eddie McGuire says North Melbourne should consider playing 11 games in Tasmania.

Former Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has called Eddie McGuire’s call for a hybrid Tasmanian-North Melbourne AFL team as “bulls**t.”

McGuire used Wednesday night’s Footy Classified to push his case for North Melbourne to play 11 home games in Victoria and 11 home games in Tasmania with a $20 million injection from the state government, a new stadium and draft concessions instead of the island state becoming the 19th club.

SCROLL DOWN TO SEE FULL DETAILS OF MCGUIRE’S PLAN

His call, which has been repeatedly rejected by the state government, North Melbourne and even AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan just last week, has seen Mr Gutwein – one of the state’s strongest proponents for a 19th team – re-enter the fray ahead of a final decision in August.

“Eddie McGuire has a lot of ideas, some sillier than others but on this one you’ve just got to call bulls**t,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Tasmania has made its position clear now over a number of years.

“The 19th licence is what we want, it is what the state deserves and importantly it would be good for football.

“It is incumbent on the AFL to carry through with what they said they would, that is to put the case for a 19th team to the presidents in August.

“There is a compelling case, a case that has been built over a number of years, and we shouldn’t have off the cuff ideas such as the one Eddie floated us diverting us from the main task — to ensure Tasmania gets the team it deserves, a team that would be good for football not just in Tasmania but right across the country.”

His sentiment was shared by Tasmanian Sports Minister Nic Street who said he was frustrated by the continued push for the state to be the answer to solving the AFL’s North Melbourne issue.

He also took aim at certain sections of Melbourne media and Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane.

Cochrane has been an ardent opponent of expansion and has grave doubts over a new team’s sustainability, the drain on talent and the cost of maintaining a brand new stadium in Hobart.

Mr Street was not impressed with Cochrane’s contribution to the debate around Tasmania’s campaign.

You’ve listened to nothing we’ve said for the last 2 years Ed. We’re not interested in being part of your solution to one of the AFL’s other problems. We want our team, in our colours or don’t bother 1/2

— Nic Street (@nstreet03) June 15, 2022

He said the state’s business case – done by the state’s AFL Taskforce and reviewed and ticked off by former AFL commissioner Colin Carter — stacks up

“The cheek of Tony Cochrane to talk behind closed doors and publicly to be fair to him, he hasn’t been shy about giving his stupid opinions,” Mr Street said.

“Is the chairman of the club that takes the most money out of the AFL coffers to barely survive, they haven’t played finals football in the 10 years they’ve been in existence and he’s got the cheek to try and talk down Tasmania’s bid for its own team.

“It is just self-serving rubbish and I’m just sick of it.”

Former Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein speaks to Nick Riewoldt and Alastair Lynch during a game.

AFL Players Association chief executive Paul Marsh said it was “wrong” Tasmania was not part of the national competition, and added he did not think player retention would be an issue.

“My brother (Dan Marsh) moved from South Australia to Tasmania to play cricket and has never left,” Marsh said.

“Tasmania is a great place, it may not suit everyone but it’s a great place and I don’t think they’d have any issues attracting footballers down there.”

MCGUIRE UNVEILS PLAN FOR HYBRID TASSIE TEAM

Glenn McFarlane

Eddie McGuire has unveiled a radical proposal that could see North Melbourne play 11 games in Melbourne and 11 games in Tasmania each season with legendary coach Alastair Clarkson at the helm.

The former Collingwood president told Footy Classified on Wednesday his hybrid plan involving the Kangaroos could swiftly turn them from struggling club into football superpower, due to a raft of financial, drafting and coaching concessions he said could be on offer.

He stressed there was a growing number of AFL clubs reluctant to grant a stand-alone 19th franchise for Tasmania, which could torpedo the state’s dreams of having its own side.

North Melbourne has been steadfast in its resolve that it would never consider playing a large number of games in Tasmania and would never relocate.

The Tasmanian Government has also emphatically pinned its financial commitment to only a stand-alone new franchise.

But McGuire claimed his plan wasn’t a relocation, but a reshaping of the Kangaroos’ future with “22 home games” in two states, while still being based at their Arden St headquarters.

“This plan is to fast-track North Melbourne’s recovery and to give its supporters hope,” McGuire told the Herald Sun of his plan.

Eddie McGuire says North Melbourne should consider playing 11 games in Tasmania.

“This is actually about giving them something, not taking things away from them.

“Under this plan, the Kangaroos would end up essentially with 22 home games while still being based in Melbourne and the other clubs would have to suck that up.

“It means North Melbourne’s future would be secure and Tasmania would get a team that could come into the competition in a meaningful, highly competitive way from the outset.”

Under McGuire’s plan, the Kangaroos would receive:

● A GUARANTEED 11 games each season in Melbourne (one fewer than this year) and 11 games in Tasmania

● A $20 MILLION cash injection from the AFL as well as the possibility of financial support from the Tasmanian Government and the option for private investment

● SIGNIFICANT draft concessions for three consecutive drafts as well as academy access in Tasmania

● THE option of an ambassadorial/senior coaching role for four-time premiership coach and former Kangaroos player Alastair Clarkson, which he says would be akin to the recruitment of master coach Ron Barassi in the early 1970s, resulting in the club’s first two flags.

● COMMERCIALLY beneficial fixture arrangements for blockbusters matches in Melbourne and Tasmania as well as premium slots in the next TV rights deal

● FREE access to streaming platforms such as Kayo for its members.

McGuire said the AFL would need to help bankroll an aggressive attempt to land Clarkson, who is desperate to chase a fifth AFL premiership as coach.

He said the league would also need to allow for most of his $1 million-plus salary to be outside the soft cap to bolster the coaching team around him.

“Getting Clarkson would be like Barassi going to Arden Street in the early 1970s and instead of the 10-year rule the Kangaroos used back then, this time the AFL would give them significant draft concessions,” he said.

“I think Clarko would do this in a heartbeat if you gave the club all those draft concessions.”

McGuire also said embattled Kangaroos coach David Noble could potentially stay on at the club in a director of football role.

McGuire said former Carlton president John Elliott had a plan to access the Sydney market in a similar way when he led the Blues at a time when the Swans were under serious threat.

He too had a similar thought for Collingwood on the Gold Coast after North Melbourne knocked back moving to Queensland in 2007.

Eddie McGuire says St Kilda is one of the clubs which should be considered for relocation.

“This is not about relocating the North Melbourne Football Club,” he said. “It is about giving them the best chance for success while still being based in Melbourne.

“It is also about getting more football in Tasmania.

“If they do this deal, they would go from a team without much hope to a team that would become one of the exciting teams of the competition.”

McGuire said his plan would also be an option for other clubs including potentially St Kilda and Hawthorn, who have had connections to Tasmania, and could be enacted for the start of the next broadcasting deal.

North Melbourne coach David Noble. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images

KANGAROOS OFFER NOBLE NO GUARANTEES

North Melbourne held a scheduled monthly board meeting at its Arden St headquarters on Wednesday night as president Sonja Hood stressed embattled senior coach David Noble was “sorting out our problems right now”.

The Kangaroos sit second bottom with only one win from its 13 matches, but Hood said the club was singularly focussed on changing its fortunes in the second half of the season.

The club’s general manager of football performance Dan McPherson presented to the board before he and Noble joined Hood and the rest of the board in having dinner.

Asked whether Noble – who is on a rolling contract – is safe, Hood told Channel 7: “To be absolutely clear I am focused on right now and David Noble is our coach right now, and he is sorting out our problems right now.”

Hood also stood by star teenager Jason Horne-Francis after his two-game suspension for striking Josh Kelly, saying she didn’t care about media speculation that the No. 1 draft pick is keen to return home to Adelaide.

“I think it is outrageous to be honest,” Hood said. “He is 18 years old. I am interested in Jason’s opinion on Jason, I am interested in his mum and dad’s opinion and his coach’s opinion, and frankly, no one else’s (opinion).”

Originally published as Tasmanian AFL team: Peter Gutwein fires back at Eddie McGuire’s hybrid proposal