How you can help secure an AFL team for Tassie

Saturday’s clash between North Melbourne and the Suns might not get the pulse racing, but this is much more than that. This is about sending a message to the AFL big wigs what a footy heartland looks like. JOIN THE CAMPAIGN >>

• How to take your family to the footy for free
• Tassie fires back at Gold Coast over ‘smack talk’

MOMENTUM is building.

Like Tassie great Matthew Richardson on a long lead, it seems unstoppable.

Interstate footy fans, media commentators and even players can’t stop talking about Tasmania’s case.

But there is one pantomime villain who refuses to believe or concede.

While overseeing the AFL’s problem child, Gold Coast Suns’ chairman Tony Cochrane has continually ridiculed Tasmania’s push for its own team – from the state’s weather, population size, socio economic and age demographic, he’s potted us.

But maybe this insecurity comes from jealously as Tasmania has what the Gold Coast does not – footy heritage and culture.

Premier Peter Gutwein and Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane.

This premade, plastic, novelty, flat pack of a franchise continually wallows on or near the bottom of the ladder, whether it be on the premiership table, or for memberships or attendances.

The only ladder it sits atop of is the one for AFL handouts.

By contrast, Tasmania has deep roots in the game. It is in our blood.

We’ve grown up hearing stories of how Huddo equalled the record for the most goals in an VFL/AFL season, how Darrel Baldock captained St Kilda to its only flag, how Tasmania’s 1990 state of origin team – made up of a handful of stars topped up with reserve players and local talent – defeated the mighty Big V in front of a packed North Hobart Oval.

Now is the time to keep the ball rolling.

Jack Ziebell of the Kangaroos leads out the team during the round 13 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Blundstone Arena on June 13, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Saturday’s clash between North Melbourne and the Suns in Hobart might not get the pulse racing, but this is much more than that.

This is about sending a message to the big wigs at AFL House and the one from the Suns.

With the Mercury, in conjunction with North Melbourne, offering free tickets to the game, let’s turn up and show Cochrane what a footy heartland looks like.

How you can help:

WE need to send a powerful message to the AFL big wigs

• Head along to the game this Saturday at 1.45pm
• Pick up Friday and Saturday’s Mercury. Every paper will have a QR code that will provide 2 x free double passes through Ticketek to the game so a family of four can attend.
• Pick up Saturday’s Mercury for your free Team For Tassie poster. Stick it in your window, hold it up at the game
• Share this story on social media tagging in @AFL with hashtag #teamfortassie

Originally published as How you can help secure an AFL team for Tassie