Tasmania chair Grant O’Brien denies Macquarie Point stadium behind schedule

Tasmania’s AFL arrival isn’t too far away, and with the club’s first birthday looming, chairman Grant O’Brien has been quick to shut down any suggestions their new home won’t be ready on time.

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Tasmania chairman Grant O’Brien has categorically shut down suggestions that the team’s stadium timeline has been set back, despite construction being yet to start on the showpiece facility at Macquarie Point.

As Tasmania eyes two key football posts - and early success - as it marks its “first birthday” as the Devils, O’Brien has maintained that the “generational opportunity” presented by the stadium is “not behind”.

“First one is what’s got to be done to deliver this thing on time, and the government put in place the Project of State Significance process, and that’s got a legislated timeframe,” O’Brien told this masthead.

TOMORROW: THE MASCOT, THE COACH, AFL WOMEN’S

Hobart's proposed AFL stadium at Macquarie Point. Picture: Macquarie Point Development Corporation

“That timeframe has to spit out a decision in September this year. On the basis that we get planning approval, we’re underway.

“When people talk about ‘it’s behind’ or worried about it, it’s not right.

“The process has been known since September last year, because it’s a 12-month process and it’ll pop out at 12 months on the dot. It’s not behind.”

A six-person panel is currently examining some 5,000 pages of reports compiled by the Macquarie Point Development Corporation, which encompasses elements such as heritage assessments, urban planning and the $780 million stadium’s potential economic impact.

The project still has to pass through both of Tasmania’s houses of parliament, with the stadium a crucial part of Tasmania’s licence agreement with the AFL, which will see the team join the competition in 2028.

But O’Brien, in an expansive interview on the eve of the club’s anniversary on Tuesday, said the lengthy timeline had always been part of the club’s plans.

“Some of the coverage of that’s (the supposed delay) not been either accurate or particularly helpful, because it makes people worry,” he said.

Brendon Gale and Grant O'Brien. Picture: Tasmania Football Club

“I would also say that the second part of this for me is understanding how this sort of infrastructure gets delivered, no matter what the city.

“You’re going to get a lot of feedback. Whether it’s heritage related or neighbourhood related or economic concerns.

“I went back through the chronological history of the Adelaide Oval, and I reckon we’re getting off light compared to what Adelaide went through.

“As (Devils CEO) Brendon (Gale) has said, there’s no good time to build these things.

“The reality is, this is a great opportunity for the state. This is a generational opportunity for Tassie which, along with the club, will be transformational from the state.

“Yes, football will be played there but it will be seven events out of hundreds of events that will take place in the stadium. That’s just the nature of how this has come to be.

Grab this opportunity and run with it.”

THE JOBS

Appointing a coach is on the agenda for 2026 — more than two years before the men’s team is forecast to enter the AFL competition.

But O’Brien said two key football appointments were more pressing and would be in place before a coach is sought.

“We’ve just gone to market for three different positions, two of which are general manager of footy and the list manager,” he explained.

“The football department now has to grow and Brendon needs those sorts of people in place. “The number of people will grow greatly over the next 12 months.”

And the phone has already been running hot — before the jobs have even been advertised.

“Before we’ve gone anywhere near the market, we’ve had many, many approaches from very senior people who are in the AFL system already,” O’Brien said.

The Tasmania coaching search continues. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

“Because they, like Brendon, I think see the unique opportunity to start a club from zero.

“Your fingerprints are all over it more than any other role that you would undertake within the AFL system. That has great appeal to – not everyone – but some very high-quality candidates who have already made approaches. Some of them Tasmanians, others not, and the reality is to have the very best it will be a shandy of both locals and also those who have got the right sort of experience in AFL.

“What’s really important, I know to the AFL but certainly to us, is that we have a level of success from very early doors. The AFL have made their expectations really clear and we are putting things in place that are going to give us the best chance to do that, and that largely relies on the quality of people that you attract to the club.”

THE NUMBERS

The Devils have turned one and like any infant, “now it’s time to walk”, O’Brien laughs.

One surge that has surprised even the chairman has been tangible.

“Tassie, 20 years ago, had the highest per capita participation in football of any state. It was higher than Victoria. Since 2001, it’s been on the slide,” he said.

“The taskforce studies revealed that if nothing was done, state basketball would overtake football as the number one sport in Tassie by 2030 if nothing was done.

“That was written before the JackJumpers (NBL team) were actually in place, so you can imagine that that actually accelerated with their success.

“One of the most motivating statistics for me has been to see an increase in participation across the state of 27 per cent, and more excitingly for me was that the Auskickers went up 40 per cent.

“In the south of the atate, the Auskickers went up by 104 per cent. Ands thy’re all running around with Devils shirts on.”

Originally published as Tasmania chair Grant O’Brien denies Macquarie Point stadium behind schedule