AFL boss Gillon McLachlan describes Tasmanian team as the ‘elephant in the room’

UPDATE: Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett yesterday urged Gillon McLachlan to “put up or shut up” after the AFL chief executive asked club bosses if it was time for a stand-alone Tasmanian team.

Tasmanian Tarryn Thomas was drafted by North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has urged Gillon McLachlan to “put up or shut up” after the AFL chief executive asked club bosses if it was time for a stand-alone Tasmanian team.

The Herald Sun revealed on Friday morning that McLachlan had canvassed club bosses at a Thursday meeting of chief executives on whether it was time to commit to Tasmania.

But North Melbourne and Hawthorn believe McLachlan is simply trying to push the Hawks out of Tasmania to allow the Roos to play seven games there, saving the AFL cash under its disqualised funding model.

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Both clubs play four games in Tasmania under contracts which finish in 2021, and the league says it will not attempt to disrupt those contracts.

An angry Kennett told the Herald Sun McLachlan was toying with the emotions of the Tasmanian public if he was only playing politics instead of committing to a stand-alone team.

“All I can say to Gil is to stop posturing. You are either serious or you are not,’’ Kennett said.

“If you are serious put up enough money for a Tasmania team for the next 20 years.

“I simply say to him and the AFL Commission — put up or shut up. The AFL is going to have to put up $30 million or $40 million a year because it will cost the AFL $60 million a year to field a competitive team in Tasmania.

“Stop throwing red herrings out there. Tasmanian people are sick and tired of the AFL posturing and playing one club off against another or both clubs off against the rest of the competition.”

If the AFL decides to play a stand-alone team in Tasmania it would raise the spectre of a potential relocation for a team like Gold Coast, currently a massive drain on the AFL’s resources.

There is a growing feeling in Queensland — made public by AFL legend Leigh Matthews — that there is room for only one team in the state.

North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley was adamant as recently as Thursday that the Roos would play four games in Hobart and no more.

The Tasmanian Government hands Hawthorn $19 million over five years in the current deal, which the league would hope was funnelled to North Melbourne on a seven-game deal.

McLachlan’s open question to the AFL’s club chief executives on Thursday sparked strong discussion as the league boss described the question as the elephant in the room.

It was supported by Richmond chief executive and Tasmanian Brendon Gale, who believes a Tasmanian team would be viable with AFL support.

McLachlan last month repeated his belief that the Suns will turn around their fortunes in a similar manner to Brisbane, which has established a healthy culture and stemmed the bleeding after a series of player losses to southern states.

But with no likelihood of a 19th team in the near future, any team moving to Tasmania would likely be one of the existing 18 teams relocating rather than starting afresh.

North Melbourne drafted Tasmanian Tarryn Thomas from its Next Generation Academy zone. Picture: Michael Klein

Last year Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman urged Gold Coast to relocate to the Apple Isle, a suggestion slapped down by Suns officials.

Kennett said that McLachlan and his predecessor Andrew Demetriou had treated Tasmania poorly.

“I am supportive of a Tasmanian team but I have always argued it was financially unviable.

“If Gil is now saying it is time then he has to stop playing funny fellows and put up or shut up.

“Gillon McLachlan is clearly Andrew Demetriou in costume. Put up with the clubs you have at the moment, many of which are draining the AFL’s resources by $100 million a year.

“That is a fact. It will cost the AFL $60 million to field a team in Tasmania and that money does not exist in Tasmania so stop posturing and administer the competition which is what you are charged to do professionally and stop throwing red herrings out there unless they are actually whales.

“If they are whales, put up the money and make the commitment.”