Tasmania Devils vow to continue fighting on

As Tasmania faces political upheaval and a new election which could spell trouble for the AFL’s potential 19th team, the Devils have vowed to fight on.

The Tasmania Devils have vowed to keep fighting on as uncertainty over the club’s future intensifies.

Concerns have been raised about whether the club’s bid to become the AFL’s 19th team will go ahead after a motion of no confidence against Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff passed the lower house on Thursday afternoon.

It’s now expected Tasmanians will go to the polls for a state election in the coming weeks.

“We will continue to work with our government, elected members and community more broadly to build Tasmania Football Club,” a statement from the Devils said.

“We may not have played a game yet, but we are a strong club steeped in tradition, belief and Tasmanian toughness.

“These strengths and the power of our 210,000 founding members and community of support will stand us in good stead as we continue to build.

“We believe in the power of the Devils to bring Tasmanians together and we remain focused on building a club for all Tasmanians.”

The statement comes as Mr Rockliff told parliament he had no regrets about pursuing the AFL team bid.

“I believe in this team so passionately. It’s working now. Young kids right now aspire and believe and it’s creating an energy,” he said.

“That’s why, I believe, I’m standing here right now.”

‘Rip the heart out of the state’: Collingwood star’s emotional Tassie plea

Collingwood star and Tasmanian native Jeremy Howe has declared if the Devils were to fall over it would “rip the heart out of the state”.

Concerns have grown about the club’s bid to become the AFL’s 19th team this week after a no confidence motion was filed against Premier Jeremy Rockliff by Opposition Leader Dean Winter.

Parliamentary debate was continuing on Wednesday but if Rockliff is ousted, there are concerns for the Devils and whether the controversial Macquarie Point Stadium would be built.

Speaking on Triple M’s The Rush Hour with JB & Billy, Howe, who grew up in Hobart, spoke openly about the political unrest.

“I think it would rip the heart out of the state if it doesn’t go forward,” he said.

“The carrot has been there dangling for decades and then all of a sudden it’s in reaching distance and everyone has become attached to it.

“Politics is an interesting one, I don’t take a lot of it in but when it comes to something like this, I start taking notice.

“Everyone’s talking about it, there’s a genuine excitement about it. If it doesn’t get done, I fear for what the state might look like.”

On Wednesday, Winter wrote to AFL boss Andrew Dillon to reaffirm Labor’s support for the AFL team.

Mr Rockliff then on Thursday morning said he would be prepared to call an early election, just 12 months after the last, if the motion passed.

The government needs a majority vote in the House of Assembly, where it is supported by both Liberal and Labor members but opposed by the Greens and independents, to move the stadium bill forward to another critical vote in the Upper House.

The bill was tabled in parliament this week and was due to be debated and put to a vote in the last week of June before heading to the Upper House for debate and a vote in the first week of July.

That process is now on hold.

‘Reaffirm our strong support’: Winter backs Devils bid

— James Bresnehan

Despite moving a no-confidence motion in parliament on Wednesday to give Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff the boot, Opposition Leader Dean Winter says Labor “steadfastly” backs the Devils AFL team and Macquarie Point Stadium Development.

Tasmania’s House of Assembly was a hot-bed of debate for and against the major issues facing the state government and the Macquarie Point Stadium was squarely in the firing line.

In a letter he sent to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Winter made it clear Labor backed the Devils and the 23,000-seat roofed stadium on a prime piece of Hobart’s vacant waterfront land.

“As leader of Tasmanian Labor, I reaffirm our party’s strong support for the Tasmania Devils Football Club, a Macquarie Point Stadium, and the licence agreement struck between the AFL and the State of Tasmania,” he said.

Mr Winter’s attack on the Premier was unrelated to the end game of having a Tasmanian AFL team and a multi-purpose venue.

“I moved a motion of no confidence in the Premier, Jeremy Rockliff, relating to three serious specific failings of his leadership,” he said.

Mr Winter’s claims related to Labor’s perceived budget mismanagement by the government and the “long-term damage it is doing to Tasmania”, the Premier’s plan to privatise public assets “with no mandate from the Tasmanian community”, and Mr Rockliff’s handling of the Spirit of Tasmania “fiasco”.

“It has become clear over the past 24-hours, the Premier has lost the confidence of a majority of members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and should now resign,” Mr Winter said.

“Tasmanian Labor supports the team and the stadium, and we understand and accept the timeframes and conditions in the provisional licence.

“It has also become clear through the Parliamentary debate this morning both major parties remain steadfastly committed to the AFL licence and the stadium development.

“Whatever the outcome of today’s motion in Parliament, there should be no doubt on this point, or our Party’s commitment to the success of the Devils and a stadium development at Macquarie Point.”

Devil leader sheds tears over uncertain future

One of the leading voices in Tasmania’s push to field its own AFL team has launched an emotional plea to the state’s political leaders to not undo all the hard work to become the competition’s 19th team.

Kath McCann, the club’s general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact, broke down in tears at a press conference on Wednesday morning as uncertainty surrounds a parliamentary vote.

The media event was being held to support the Tasmania Academy of Leadership and Sport. When taking questions, McCann needed a moment to step away before continuing.

“This club is powered by future generations,” she said.

“I’ve got 50 students out here in my sight line, they power us every single day and they will keep doing that.

“We’re going to play on. We want to see this team become a reality because our young people deserve it.”

On Tuesday night, Labor leader Dean Winter tabled a motion of no-confidence against Premier Jeremy Rockliff as parliament prepares to resume on Wednesday.

Rockliff has long been a supporter of the Devils’ bid to join the national competition and has led the push for a new stadium at Macquarie Point, a condition required to join the AFL.

The motion came after the state government tabled legislation on Tuesday which will allow the construction of the stadium before public consultation on the draft bill was due to close.

“One thing I’d like to remind everyone is the optics of this nationally and internationally is really bad for Tasmania,” McCann said.

“What this looks like is uncertainty, what this looks like is a risk to invest, what this looks like is a state that isn’t unified.

“I think we’re better than that and our leaders need to think about the consequences of their actions.”

It is a case of now or never for Tasmania’s AFL licence, which will only be confirmed when the 23,000-seat roofed stadium at Macquarie Point component of the deal gets the green light.

“This is Plan A, and there is no Plan B,” McCann said.

“There is a reason this deal exists. The conditions that are sitting in this deal were conditions and requirement that the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce actually put to the AFL.

“That was done to see this team and this club be successful and sustainable for the long term.

“If those contractual terms can’t be met, there’s no Plan B.

“There is no understanding from the club’s perspective that any renegotiation with the AFL would be entered into.”

Matthew Richardson voices fears for AFL team

Richmond and Tasmanian football great Matthew Richardson says it would be a “massive disaster” for the state and the game if the Devils’ 19th licence fell over amid Tasmania’s political unrest.

A change of leadership could result in delays on the stadium build at Macquarie Point in Hobart which could derail the Devils’ AFL entry for 2028.

Richardson, who is one of the state’s greatest footballers after booting 800 goals amid a brilliant AFL career for the Tigers, said it would be devastating if the state let this opportunity slip.

“It’s on our doorstep, it is that close, and I just think of how many young boys and girls a Tassie team would inspire to go and play footy and have big dreams,” Richardson said.

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‘Great concern’: Devils fear political uncertainty

The Tasmania Football Club has expressed its “great concern” about the possible future of the AFL’s 19th club as political unrest hits the state.

On Tuesday night, Labor leader Dean Winter tabled a motion of no-confidence against Premier Jeremy Rockliff as parliament prepares to resume on Wednesday.

Rockliff has long been a supporter of the Devils’ bid to join the national competition and has led the push for a new stadium at Macquarie Point, a condition required to join the AFL.

The motion came after the state government tabled legislation on Tuesday which will allow the construction of the stadium before public consultation on the draft bill was due to close.

“The political uncertainty that is currently unfolding in the Tasmanian parliament is of great concern to Tasmania Football Club,” the club said in a statement.

“Like the rest of the community, we are unsure what will happen today and what the impacts of any actions taken might be.

“What we do know is that uncertainty presents a serious risk for jobs, investment and growth, and for the future of Tasmania Football Club.

“Tasmania Football Club remains steadfast on building a club for all Tasmanians. We are also steadfast on staying out of politics.

“We ask that our political leaders understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state for all Tasmanians, a future which we know Tasmania Football Club can play a significant part.”

Jack Riewoldt has spoken on the concerns ahead of the parliamentary vote. Photo: James Bresnehan.

Tasmanian football royalty and Devils ambassador Jack Riewoldt didn’t comment on the parliamentary vote but said if the Devils were to fall over it would be a “big opportunity lost”.

“These things don’t come around very often and who’s to say it might come around ever again. It would be extremely disappointing and hopefully we’re not having that conversation,” he said.

“It’s critically important for us to exist. We are so driven to put the best product out there on field and off field to make sure it represents all of Tasmania and all of the Tasmanians in the 210,000 members that have signed up.

“We’re really focused on what we want to do. We’re really focused on what we’ve done so far which is united a state.”

If the motion against Mr Rockliff is successful it could lead to his resignation or a state election.

Originally published as Tasmania Devils vow to continue fighting on