North Melbourne’s AFLW team likely to be called the ‘North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos’

IT MAY be a mouthful. But it looks like North Melbourne’s Tasmania-aligned women’s team will be known as the ‘North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos’.

The North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos

IT MAY be a mouthful.

But it looks like North Melbourne’s Tasmania-aligned women’s team will be known as the ‘North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos’.

North Melbourne chief executive Carl Dilena and Tasmania premier Will Hodgman fronted the media in Hobart on Thursday morning, spruiking the club’s successful AFLW licence bid.

Along with Geelong, North Melbourne was awarded a licence for 2019, with Richmond, St Kilda, West Coast and Gold Coast to follow in 2020.

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The Kangaroos’ bid was largely tailored around an alliance with Tasmania, with premier Hodgman optimistic that up to 50 per cent of the team will be made up of Apple Isle locals, a sentiment echoed by Dilena.

In expanding to Tasmania, the AFL now has a presence in all six states.

“We’re looking to make this a true joint venture ... it’s about player development and building talent pathways,” Dilena said.

“This year four Tasmanians played in the AFLW. We want to increase those numbers rapidly ... were aiming for half our list.

“Our official name is yet to be worked through but will reflect the joint venture ... it will likely be the North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos.”

The North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos show off their AFLW jumper.

Dilena said the club would scope where the majority of the Tasmania talent pool would come from before determining a training base in the state. He also said North Melbourne would employ additional staff in Tasmania.

North Melbourne was initially knocked back from receiving an AFLW licence for the inaugural 2017 season.

Despite the club’s disappointment, they took on the AFL’s advice to strengthen their pre-existing relationship with Tasmania to be successful at the next intake of licences.

Financing the teams has become one of the AFL’s main concerns with expansion, and aligning with the Tasmanian government certainly boosted the Kangaroos’ bid.

Hawthorn and Essendon’s bids were rejected, leaving both powerhouse clubs without a women’s team for the indefinite future.

Port Adelaide and Sydney didn’t lodge submissions for an AFLW licence.

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Originally published as North Melbourne’s AFLW team likely to be called the ‘North Melbourne Tassie Kangaroos’