AFL 2022: All the latest news on Tasmania’s push for a licence
Despite threatening to withdraw a $150 million offer just 24 hours earlier, the Tasmania Government could step up its negotiations with surprise new deal in its push for a 19th licence.
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Tasmania could be prepared to lengthen its commitment to a new AFL team past 10 years of guaranteed money as detailed talks on a new waterfront stadium continue despite Saturday’s threat from the premier to withdraw the bid.
The AFL and the Tasmanian taskforce believe the bid for a Tasmanian team is on track even after the strong statement from premier Jeremy Rockliff, which has been put down to posturing as the Tasmanian opposition wavers on their support for the financing of the team.
Premier Rockliff lashed the AFL and threatened to withdraw the current $150 million bid on Saturday despite constructive talks with AFL executive Travis Auld on Friday.
New contracts for Hawthorn and North Melbourne worth a total of $8 million per season have been put on hold and would likely be scrapped if a bid failed.
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The government has made clear it would instead invest that sum in the NBL and A-League, which would have a significant impact on grassroots development in the state.
Auld and a delegation of AFL officials toured several prospective sites for a new AFL stadium and a training headquarters in what were seen to be strong and encouraging talks.
Rockliff’s strongly worded statement saw him adamant “the government will withdraw its offer if the AFL doesn‘t respect the magnitude of this offer”.
It led to speculation the AFL had made clear it was going cold on the 19th licence or had put unreasonable demands onto the state at the last minute ahead of a decision next month.
But the AFL and Tasmanian taskforce believe the bid is on track despite his statement.
A new Tasmanian stadium on the Hobart waterfront would be a partnership with funds contributed from the AFL, Federal government, Rockliff government, and private partnerships.
The Tasmanian government wants to know how much money the AFL would contribute to the stadium and elite training facility as well as the governance levels of the new club.
It has made clear it will not lift the yearly commitment of $10 million a season plus $50 million as a start-up fund.
But it is understood it could be prepared to lengthen the commitment to 12 or 15 years to underwrite the bid.
That could guarantee $20-$50 million of extra money to ensure a team.
But the league believes its movement towards a 19th licence is on track despite the growing pessimism from clubs.
The significant commercial opportunities from a waterfront stadium on the edge of the Hobart CBD would be of significant appeal for partners who would also lure concerts and entertainment to the city.
The league has been able to deliver massive infrastructure projects including Metricon Stadium, Perth Stadium and Adelaide Oval and is confident it can orchestrate a similar result in Hobart.
The AFL said on Sunday its productive discussions were continuing with the Tasmanian government.
“The AFL continues to work through the 11 agreed workstreams with the Tasmanian government.”
$150m dollar question: Tassie frustrated by league’s silence
The Tasmanian Government has had enough of the AFL’s disrespect, threatening to withdraw its $150m offer for a team and stating it would not pay for more than half for any new stadium.
The government has been waiting since May on its offer for $10 million a season for 10 years on top of $50 million for a high performance centre — believed to be the best ever offer proposed for an expansion side in Australian sporting history — but is still waiting on a response.
In a statement reminiscent of his predecessor Peter Gutwein, premier Jeremy Rockliff has come out swinging at the AFL following the visit by AFL chief finance officer Travis Auld to Hobart on Friday who said it was a new stadium or bust in the state’s long campaign to land a team.
The premier has passed on his frustrations to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan directly.
“No expansion club has ever come near replicating an offer like this, and while there is value because Tasmania will derive a significant return, the Government will withdraw its offer if the AFL doesn’t respect the magnitude of this offer,” Rockliff said.
He also said a decision on a new stadium would be made by Tasmania for Tasmanians — not the AFL.
“While the AFL business case outlined the need for a stadium to ensure the success of the team in the future, and we are fully committed to a stadium and the substantial social and economic benefits it brings, the Government has made it publicly clear that we will not fully fund a stadium, and in fact we will draw a line under a maximum contribution of up to 50 per cent, delivered on a site and at a cost that is acceptable to Tasmanians,” he said.
He also called on a Tasmanian team to be treated fairly by the AFL in receiving funding from the league.
“Our offer also remains contingent upon several other assumptions, in addition to the start-up cost expectations and mutually agreeable governance structure, including funding both male and female talent pathways, the establishment of a Tasmanian VFL team, and a guarantee that games will be played in both Hobart and Launceston,” Rockliff said.
“The finalisation of these important details has been ongoing for sometime, however we are very close to a final decision and I have called on the AFL to make good on its commitments and to treat Tasmania with the same equity and respect it has provided other states.”
In response, an AFL spokesman said: “The AFL continues to work through the 11 agreed work streams with the Tasmanian Government.”
Radical roof may hold the key to a Tassie licence
A new Hobart multipurpose stadium was the last issue standing between Tasmania and the 19th AFL licence, league heavyweight Travis Auld says.
Auld, the AFL’s chief finance officer and general manager of broadcasting and clubs, and the league’s general manager property development, Matthew Chun, as well as government representatives toured Regatta Point, Macquarie Point and the lower Domain on Friday to assess potential stadium sites.
While Auld remained non committal on site preference when talking to the media before heading back to Melbourne, the Mercury understands the league presented a plan to government representatives for Macquarie Point that allowed for the transferred Antarctic Division, the reconciliation park, residential accommodation and the multipurpose stadium.
The AFL, headed by Auld, and the Tasmanian Taskforce have been sifting through 11 work streams, ranging from finances to player retention, sponsorship, list build and talent pathways — and a new Hobart stadium.
Auld said the success of the licence bid now lay on answering the stadium question ahead of a decision later next month.
“We feel quite comfortable the others can be completed,” Auld said.
“A piece of work like this for a piece of infrastructure like this (the stadium) takes a lot of time to get to a point where we can recommend something like this through to the commission and then the clubs.”
He also reiterated AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s statement that no stadium meant no licence.
“We’ve been pretty clear a stadium sits as a fundamental pillar of a successful team and nothing has changed there,” he said.
The government’s proposed 27,000-seat roofed stadium at Regatta Point come with a guesstimate of $750m, but the AFL believes a stadium can be built for much less, especially if it is done at Macquarie Point.
One big saver is to change the retractable roof — quoted at $200m to $250m — for a fixed perspex-type roof similar to that used at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, known colloquially as “The Glasshouse.”
This 30,000 seat multipurpose stadium used mostly for rugby has a fixed transparent roof, which not only aids the health and growth of the playing field’s grass due to greater access to sunlight, but a much smaller bill of about $80m — an instant saving of between $120m and $170m.
Auld said the AFL would look at the stadium costs, as well as what such an arts, entertainment and sporting precinct would bring to the state.
“Looking at that precinct and what you think you could do to put a stadium on the doorstep of a city as you’ve seen in other states like Adelaide Oval for example has done for Adelaide and the businesses in Adelaide, not just the businesses out of football but for concerts, and other sports,” he said.
“You can see a real opportunity and you certainly can see an opportunity here that we would love to be part of.”
Tasmanian Sports Minister Nic Street said the state’s strong offer — $10m a year for the first 10 seasons plus $50m towards a high performance centre — was still on the table, but the government was also negotiating what contribution the AFL would make to a start up club.
“While details — such as the AFL’s contribution to establishing the team — are being worked through, we believe that offer is strong enough to make history for Tasmania,” Mr Street said.
‘Embarrassment’: Rival clubs outraged at Roos’ request
By Jay Clark
The Kangaroos have already traded out their second and third-round selections in November’s draft as part of moves that brought ex-Richmond tall Callum Coleman-Jones and draft X-factor forward Paul Curtis (No. 35) last year.
Coleman-Jones has played six games this year and was a solid contributor on Saturday with 18 disposals from five marks.
It leaves the worst team in the league relying on an extra charity selection from the league or needing to trade out other players to bolster their hand in this year’s draft.
The two Adelaide clubs want No. 1 pick Jason Horne-Francis, while tough goal kicker Cameron Zurhaar is also out of contract and has put off talks.
For a team entrenched at the bottom of the ladder, one pick inside the first three rounds is not a strong hand compared to others such as West Coast, Gold Coast and Sydney Swans.
The Eagles have three picks inside the top 26 selections, the Suns have four inside the first 33 and the Swans have three inside 31.
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Rival clubs are outraged the Kangaroos have requested a priority pick with one rival recruiter declaring it an “embarrassment” if they are given a bonus pick inside the top three.
“It would be back to the bad old days if North Melbourne is given an early first-round pick,” the recruiter said.
“The AFL abolished that system years ago, so there is just no way they can get a priority pick at the top of the draft order when they are winning games on the weekend.
“No one is going to cop that.”
The other more likely option is if the league hands over an end-of-first round pick to the Roos which would fall in the early 20s after father-son and compensation picks are added.
The Roos already took four picks inside the first 38 calls last year including Horne-Francis, Josh Goater, Curtis and Miller-Bergman.
The Kangaroos are known to be targeting some mature-age talent in the 22-26-year-old age bracket to beef-up a list which already includes star developing midfielders Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jy Simpkin and Tarryn Thomas.
The Kangaroos rolled Richmond in one of the upsets of the season at the weekend after leading Collingwood by 26 points at the last change the week before.
The boilover win over the Tigers, who are eighth and still gunning for a finals berth, prompted president Sonja Hood to again pump up the list, tweeting “Our list. Not bad” afterwards.
However, it is at odds with the Roos’ request to the league for a priority pick after a meeting which included a presentation about the team’s performances this year.
The Kangaroos will aim to produce their third-straight competitive performance against Hawthorn at Blundstone Arena this weekend.
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