Four-time AFL premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, an advisor to the taskforce driving Tasmania’s AFL’s bid, is adamant the sudden exit of premier Peter Gutwein, won’t impinge on the push for a 19th licence.
As Tasmania prepares to host its first two AFL matches of 2022, the man replacing Gutwein as the new premier, Jeremy Rockliff, has also promised to deliver the Apple Isle an AFL club “once and for all”.
North Melbourne and Geelong will do battle on Sunday at Blundstone Arena in Hobart, before Launceston’s University of Tasmania Stadium plays host to Hawthorn and Sydney on Anzac Day.
Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff.Credit: James Brickwood
Rockliff, who will be in attendance at Monday’s clash, said he had already picked up conversations with the AFL - previously done by Gutwein - about his state’s bid for an AFL club.
“Tasmanians have waited decades to have a team of their own and I am convinced that moment is closer than ever before,” Rockliff said.
“We have demonstrated that we can take our place on the national sporting stage. Tasmania deserves and should have its own AFL and AFLW teams, and as I have made clear to the AFL, I am determined to finish what this Government started, and deliver Tasmania its own team, once and for all.”
Monday’s Anzac Day clash will be one of four in Launceston this year, while Hobart is also pencilled in for four, including the North Melbourne vs Hawthorn contest in round 19.
“I am looking forward to seeing Tasmania back in the AFL spotlight with two games scheduled for this weekend, including a blockbuster on Anzac Day that I am attending,” Rockliff said.
“Tasmanians turned up in droves last year as we hosted a record 14 AFL games, including two historic finals, and we have proved time and again that if we have the big matches, Tasmanians will be there.”
Rockliff’s comments come as Hawthorn premiership coach Clarkson, currently in America, said he was learning about how the structure of the Green Bay Packers NFL operation could assist Tasmania’s bid.
Clarkson is spending time with the four-time Super Bowl champions in the city of Winconsin. He said similarities could be drawn between the NFL franchise and the proposed model for a club in Tasmania.
“I was really fortunate before Christmas to spend about three months in the Warriors program, and then I’ve got another three or four weeks here [at the Packers] now,” Clarkson told SEN this week.
“The reason I’m up in Green Bay now is we’re continuing on consolidating our work for Tasmania and doing some more research into what we can do to put a pitch forward to the AFL so that the 19th team is a good option for the competition.
Alastair Clarkson in a Swans scarf.Credit: Michael Wilson AFL Photos via Getty Images
“In terms of Tasmania and the model we’re trying to put to the AFL, in terms of the ownership and the equity model, then Green Bay is such a good club to research.
“Their whole culture and community and the way they play is so similar to the culture of Tasmania, there’s so much to learn over here.”
Clarkson said he did not believe Gutwein’s exit as state premier last month would hinder the Tasmanian push.
“We’re just getting on with the job and the only thing that’s going to stop us is the AFL Commission in July or August knocking us back,” he said.
“But until then, we’re going to do everything we possibly can to put a pitch to the AFL that’s going to be pretty hard to refuse.”
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