Tasmania set to be granted AFL licence as soon as next week as PM commits funding
Tasmania’s wait for an AFL team is all but over, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to commit $240m for the development of a stadium.
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A Tasmanian team will face its AFL rivals in a brand-new waterfront stadium in Hobart from 2027 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walked the site for the Macquarie Point venue on Saturday and gifted $240m toward the build.
The state government will start the planning and design process of the stadium in concert with an urban renewal project that is part of the plan the Federal Government agreed to support.
Mr Albanese arrived on a sunny but cool Hobart morning to a media throng waiting to hear officially the Feds had backed the stadium.
The Prime Minister said the neglected Macquarie Point site was perfect for an AFL stadium as well as a vision to create a river-side precinct to rival other cities.
“We support the development plans to ensure we maximize the use of the site for the economy of Tasmania, for jobs and also for improving the amenity and liveability of this beautiful city of Hobart,” Mr Albanese said.
“The city [CBD] is just 2km away and the best cities in the world don’t have this sort of terrain on their waterfront.
“Look at Barangaroo and what it has done to transform Sydney, look at the Docklands in Melbourne, Elizabeth Quay in Perth, Southbank in Brisbane _ what this project will be is a very significant project that will lift up Tasmania and lift up this most beautiful city of Hobart.
“We will make sure we maximize it for those who live here and those who visit.”
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the Federal Government injection of funds would transform the site with a stadium as the show-stopper.
“We can transform this site in an urban renewal project like no other seen in Tasmania where we can unlock the potential and build a world class multi-purpose entertainment and sporting venue where all Tasmanians can enjoy and watch their favouirite footy team, which will be their own Tasmanian team after decades of wanting, hoping and dreaming of having our own side,” he said.
AFL STATEMENT ON STADIUM FUNDING
The AFL have welcomed the Federal Government funding announcement for Macquarie Point in a statement released this morning.
“The stadium was the last piece of the 11 workstreams that the AFL have navigated through the last 12 months, and with the announcement today, the AFL will now formally go to the 18 clubs for support of a 19th licence to be based in Tasmania,” the statement read.
“The AFL Commission will then meet and an official update from the AFL will be provided in the coming days.”
Gillon McLachlan also provided an update.
“For a club to compete and succeed on the national stage, it needs a home that enables and empowers it to compete from the start, on and off the field, and today’s announcement gives a potential Tasmanian club that opportunity,” McLachlan said.
“It is why so much work has been done between the AFL and the Tasmanian State Government to ensure not just a team for Tasmania but a destination club, playing in a destination stadium, in a destination state.
“The stadium at Mac Point is the final workstream, with the question on a 19th licence to be answered in the coming days.”
TASSIE TEAM COULD BE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK
Tasmania is set to be granted an AFL licence as soon as next week as the league prepared for AFL Commission approval by updating its presidents on Tasmania’s progress on Friday.
The AFL’s presidents gave an overwhelmingly positive reception to news of the impending funding deal, although the league will again canvass their opinions in an official meeting next week.
The league told the presidents it was hopeful of the funding and while not every president spoke in the hook-up, many were strongly supportive of the league’s position.
Several presidents wanted clarification on matters relating to the implementation of the new team, but one president remarked that the league had satisfied him on all of the issues he had raised across the year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday committed $240 million for the Macquarie Point stadium, with the wait for a new team for Tasmania all but over.
Albanese on Friday confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that the Federal government would match a $65 million funding commitment to Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
The AFL’s 18 presidents were invited to a 3pm telephone hook-up on Friday to inform them of the final details of the stadium investment as presidents made clear their position.
Collingwood’s Jeff Brown and Sydney’s Andrew Pridham have both raised their reservations about who would pay for a cost overrun for the $715 million 23,000-seat stadium.
But neither raised objections in the Friday afternoon hook-up.
The AFL has made clear to presidents it is not at financial risk of any potential cost blowout to the $715 million stadium so it should not be seen as a potential reason to vote down the licence.
It also made clear having secured around $800 million of total funding for the state and its football community it would be an extraordinary decision to let that money lapse because of uncertainty over costs.
The capacity of the AFL to facilitate a state government-run stadium that allows the team to secure the advertising revenue from within the 23,000-seat stadium will be a significant financial positive.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Friday the AFL Commission had to officially approve any decision to grant a new licence, with the stadium deal the final one of 11 “workstreams” that needed approval.
The presidents are likely to have one final meeting to reach a consensus position next week
But McLachlan is expected in Tasmania as early as Tuesday to announce the league’s decision on a 19th licence.
It has been made clear to clubs the Tasmanian team would be set up to be immediately competitive so would likely be given some early draft picks it would need to trade off for experienced players.
It means a series of drafts leading up to the likely 2027 inclusion of the team would be less compromised than under the introduction of Gold Coast and GWS.
McLachlan on Friday morning hinted that he might be at Albanese’s announcement but it is understood he will leave the prime minister to make his own press tour of the Macquarie Point precinct.
“If ‘Albo’ has told you (the funds are coming then) I am very happy. There is speculation and some leaks,” he said.
“I would say we feel like we have prosecuted a good pitch to the federal government and nothing is out until its announced and it’s pretty hard for me to comment beyond that.
“You are still running ahead (of the timeline). The federal government have to make an announcement, a commission decision and presidents have to have their say.”
Tasmania is set to be granted an AFL licence as soon as next week as the league prepared for AFL Commission approval by updating its presidents on Tasmania’s progress on Friday.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese is this weekend expected to commit to the $240 million shortfall for the Macquarie Point stadium, with the wait for a new team for Tasmania all but over.
Albanese on Friday confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that the Federal government would match a $65 million funding commitment to Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
The AFL’s 18 presidents were invited to a 3pm telephone hook-up on Friday to inform them of the final details of the stadium investment as presidents made clear their position.
Collingwood’s Jeff Brown and Sydney’s Andrew Pridham have both raised their reservations about who would pay for a cost over-run for the $715 million 23,000-seat stadium.
But the AFL has made clear to presidents it is not at financial risk of any potential cost blowout to the $715 million stadium so it should not be seen as a potential reason to vote down the licence.
It also made clear having secured around $800 million of total funding for the state and its football community it would be an extraordinary decision to let that money lapse because of uncertainty over costs.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Friday the AFL Commission had to officially approve any decision to grant a new licence, with the stadium deal the final one of 11 “workstreams” that needed approval.
The presidents might still take part in one final meeting to reach a consensus position next week.
But McLachlan is expected in Tasmania as early as Tuesday to announce the league’s decision on a 19th licence.
It has been made clear to clubs the Tasmanian team would be set up to be immediately competitive so would likely be given some early draft picks it would need to trade off for experienced players.
It means a series of drafts leading up to the likely 2027 inclusion of the team would be less compromised than under the introduction of Gold Coast and GWS.
McLachlan on Friday morning hinted that he might be at Albanese’s announcement but it is understood he will leave the prime minister to make his own press tour of the Macquarie Point precinct.
“If ‘Albo’ has told you (the funds are coming then) I am very happy. There is speculation and some leaks,” he said.
“I would say we feel like we have prosecuted a good pitch to the federal government and nothing is out until its announced and it’s pretty hard for me to comment beyond that.
“You are still running ahead (of the timeline). The federal government have to make an announcement, a commission decision and presidents have to have their say.”
McLachlan’s legal counsel and football boss Andrew Dillon is believed to be his successor if AFL chairman Richard Goyder cannot convince McLachlan to remain in the job.
That decision is unlikely to come until after the Tasmanian decision is bedded down, with Dillon having fought off a strong challenge from Western Bulldogs president Kyle Watson-Wheeler.
But McLachlan was adamant the fury of AFL club officials over the lack of governance and transparency in the CEO decision had been overplayed.
“I have never run into one supporter who cares in any way. They are loving the game. Crowds and ratings are in record numbers. I don’t know who all these people are. Anonymous people who are furious but it’s playing out and the football is going well.
“Footy hasn’t missed a beat. The process is being played out and it will be resolved soon. I think we are a big very public organisation and what happens is every decision plays out in public.
“The game is the only thing that matters and supporters are loving their football in record numbers. I have never seen our supporters so happy. I go to a lot of footy and I have never had one of them talk about any angst about this. I don’t know what people are worried about.”
McLachlan also ruled out any chance to the eligibility of the Brownlow Medal despite a spate of one-week suspensions for players who have committed sling tackles which in past years would have been rewarded with free kicks for holding the ball.
“If you had different rules around eligibility of the Brownlow it would get confusing,” he said.
“People react week to week and I think it’s having an impact. You see a lot of players exercising duty of care with the way they tackle. I think people understand why the (crackdown) is there. Once you have accountability and you have a sling tackle and the guy hits his head on the ground you have to be accountable in the same way.
“I understand the argument (about the Brownlow Medal) but I think we are clear where we are at.”
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