Tasmanian Premier opens the door for rival clubs to take over Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s lucrative deals

Tasmania has opened the door for rival clubs to swoop on Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s lucrative Apple Isle stranglehold, with Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman increasing the pressure on the AFL.

Tasmania has opened the door for rival clubs to swoop on Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s lucrative Apple Isle stranglehold.

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman has revealed his government is willing to explore options with “any number of other clubs” to play games in Hobart or Launceston as it seeks to establish its own stand-alone AFL team.

The Hawks and Kangaroos are contracted to play “home” games in Tasmania until the end of 2021.

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Asked if he expected to extend the state’s existing arrangements with Hawthorn and North Melbourne, Hodgman told 3AW: “That’s one option — (but) it doesn’t have to be a rollover of the same deals, it could be an entirely different thing and there could be any number of other clubs that are interested in playing here as well.

“So the AFL have an important role in my view to set down a time frame and a pathway for us to address any impediments that they see we have and we’ll get on with doing that between now and when that licence becomes available.”

Hawthorn played Carlton in Launceston on Sunday. Picture: AFL Photos

North Melbourne, which turned its back on a $100 million Gold Coast relocation package and flirted with playing home games in Ballarat, is heavily reliant on its multi-million-dollar deal to play four games a season at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

Hawthorn’s most recent five-year deal to play four games a season in Launceston is worth $19 million.

Hodgman told the Herald Sun: “(The) existing deals with the Hawks and Kangaroos … deliver strong social and economic benefits to Tasmania, but those deals will not and should not limit progression towards our own team.

“We will consider, in conjunction with all key stakeholders and partners, the preferred arrangements for AFL content in the state between 2021 and what we hope will be the establishment of a Tasmanian AFL team.”

The premier said going footy-free beyond 2021 until Tasmania secured its own team was not an option.

“I don’t know if the Tasmanian footy-loving fraternity would enjoy not having AFL footy here — I think we can do both, walk and chew gum at the same time,” Hodgman said.

“We’ve got to make sure that we keep the levels of content up here.

“We’ve got fierce rivalry now from the NBL, they want to look at a team down here, the A-League are interested and so the AFL needs to get with the program and be aware of the competitive nature of what’s happening in Tasmanian sport.

“We can systematically work through a way where we respect our Hawthorn and North Melbourne arrangements but can transition to that team of our own.”

The Roos were given priority access to North Launceston young gun Tarryn Thomas because of their next generation academy in Tasmania, while the Kangaroos’ AFLW team has exclusive access to the state’s best female talent and plays two matches a season in Tassie.

The view from Hawthorn’s clash with Carlton in Launceston. Picture: AFL Photos

Hodgman stressed Tasmania would want its own team, not a relocated club.

“I think for it to be a success it would need to be,” Hodgman said.

“We’ve had really constructive discussions with the AFL and other key stakeholders who can influence a move to finally get a Tasmanian team into the national competition — and the AFL are listening now, which is great.

“We’ve got to build a business case … and get our act together and talk with one voice.

“We’re going to get a taskforce together to build that business case so we can put an irrefutable case for this state to have the next licence.

“That’s the challenge that has been set to us by the AFL and so we are getting on with delivering it.”