AFL presidents to see Tasmania’s licence bid on Monday after the Brownlow Medal Count

The 18 club presidents will see Tasmania’s bid for a team licence for the first time, with the premier revealing his timeline for the answer and an AFL legend tipping good news.

TASMANIA’S AFL bid will be presented to the 18 club presidents in Melbourne on Monday and Premier Jeremy Rockcliff hopes within two weeks he will have “a very solid announcement” as the state’s dream of a 19th licence comes true.

The presidents will all gather for the Brownlow Medal count on Sunday and the following day go to league headquarters to be shown Tasmania’s bid proposal.

The presentation will be led by AFL CEO Gill McLachlan, who is gunning for a unanimous vote of support from the presidents, even though he only needs two-thirds support to make Tasmania’s proposal a done deal.

It is believed McLachlan will tell the presidents the AFL can afford a Tasmanian team after its landmark $4.5 billion broadcast rights deal, but the league is yet to come to a stadium agreement with the state government as it awaits a feasibility study on a Macquarie Point venue that could cost $750 million.

On the same day football lovers gathered for the 41st Bill Sorell Sports Luncheon, state’s biggest annual lunch, at Wrest Point with Tasmanian team champion Robert Shaw guest speaker, Mr Rockliff revealed how close the licence bid was to being finalised.

Robert Shaw at Wrest Point Picture: Linda Higginson

“We are not too far away,” Mr Rockcliff said. “There will be discussions with the presidents early next week and within a fortnight I would hope we would have a very solid announcement.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Tasmania.

“I’m looking forward to it being a done deal in the not too distant future. I’m confident, but also very excited.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Shaw said a Tasmanian team would restore the state’s passion for football and encourage youth to pull on the boots and aspire to playing in their own AFL team or just be fit and active.

“We can give Tasmanians a vision and hope by having our own team — it would be superb,” Shaw said.

“Grassroots footy will flourish because kids will want to play and it would grow participation.

“I had an opportunity to play at the highest level but I had to leave the state, and I want Tasmania’s young people to have an opportunity to play for their own team.”

Shaw hears great support for Tasmania team wherever he goes.

“From Perth to Punt Road, they love the thought of Tasmania joining the league, love it,” he said.

“My feeling is that we’ll get our team.”

The sports lunch gathered 550 people and Sorell, who was there when it began in 1981, said its popularity remained strong.

“It’s a great, fun afternoon with football people and 70 per cent of the people here have been coming for 30 years,” Sorell said.

JackJumpers coach Scott Roth was named Sports Personality of the Year and the lunch raised $12,000 to support community football through the Old Scholars association.

Originally published as AFL presidents to see Tasmania’s licence bid on Monday after the Brownlow Medal Count