By Jon Pierik, Peter Ryan and Marnie Vinall
In your AFL briefing today:
- Tasmania Government yet to apply for Federal government funding for new stadium.
- Dean Rioli has become Essendon’s first Indigenous board member.
- Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has signed a two-year contract extension.
- The AFL will hold its inaugural magic round in South Australia in 2023.
Check back for more updates throughout the day.
Federal funding not yet sought for Hobart Stadium
The Tasmanian government is yet to submit a proposal seeking the federal funding required to build the stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart that will deliver the state a licence to field a standalone team in the AFL.
On Monday, a Senate estimates committee in Canberra heard that the federal department of infrastructure, which would be responsible for putting money into the stadium project, were still waiting on the state government to communicate what they might need to build the stadium.
“The department has not received any proposals from the Tasmanian government for a new stadium development in Hobart,” assistant secretary Tiffany Karlsson said.
She also indicated that the department believed any stadium development was contingent on the licence being granted while the AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said on Friday the league was waiting for a funding hole to be filled before committing the bid to a vote of club presidents.
That funding hole is Federal government funding towards the project with Tasmania’s Liberal Government expected to seek $250 million from Anthony Albanese’s ALP government towards a new stadium having already committed to funding half the project. A state government source confirmed they were still preparing the business case to present to the Federal government.
The politics holding up the approval of a licence are also complicated by the fact that Tasmania’s ALP opposition have questioned whether a new stadium is needed and the federal government prioritising the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032 when it comes to sporting infrastructure. There is also disquiet in the northern part of the state at the fact a new stadium in Hobart would need 11 AFL games to be played in the south. The federal and state governments had also developed a business case for an antarctic and science precinct at Macquarie Point.
On the positive side the investment will create jobs and is expected to revive Australian football in one of the game’s heartland states.
Clubs received details of the financials last month with most satisfied at the Tasmanian government’s commitment to the stadium and their commitment in September to provide $12 million in annual funding over a 12-year term to support an AFL team as well as an initial $60 million investment to build a high-performance training and administration facility.
“We have broadly reached an agreement with the Tasmanian government ... we have got a huge commitment from them into a venue in the city in an inner location. We are working with our clubs,” McLachlan said.
“We will be coming back to them [the clubs] in a couple of weeks - there is broad-based support, not universal support from our clubs, so we have just got a bit of a funding hole to close out. I think the direction is going very well.”
Rioli appointed to Essendon board
Marnie Vinall, Jon Pierik
Essendon have appointed their first Indigenous board member in Tiwi man Dean Rioli, who played 100 games for the club between 1999 and 2006.
On a significant day for the club, the Bombers also confirmed star ruckman Scott Draper had inked a two-year contract extension.
Rioli, a one-club player renowned for his goal sense and sharp skills, kicked 91 goals in his 100 games. He was drafted to the Bombers via the 1998 rookie draft under coach Kevin Sheedy.
Dean Rioli has joined Essendon’s board.Credit: Essendon Football Club
He will also chair Essendon’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council, which will include representatives from all states and territories, in a bid to enhance the club’s connection with Indigenous Australians across the country.
Essendon president David Barham said the club was delighted to welcome Rioli as the first Indigenous board member and that he would bring great football and professional experience.
“One of the key recommendations of the external review, was the appointment of an Indigenous director. We have acted immediately on that, and we are absolutely delighted to have someone of Dean’s calibre join our board,” Barham said on Friday.
“Dean will help us reset our club so that we again become a destination for all young Indigenous talent around the county. We want more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and players to be connected to the Essendon Football Club and the role of the Advisory Council will be to drive this across Australia.
“He is a great role model, as well as being one of our past great players. This is a great step forward for our club.”
Rioli also runs the Dean Rioli Aboriginal Employment Services based in Essendon and in 2012 was the unsuccessful Australian Labor Party candidate for the Northern Territory seat of Arafura.
Draper, meanwhile, will remain a Bomber at least until the end of 2025. The 24-year-old played every game last season, averaging more than 24 hit outs, and is central to new coach Brad Scott’s plans of having the Bombers in premiership calculations.
“I absolutely love this footy club, and I’m really excited for this next chapter at the Bombers under Brad,” Draper said.
“I’m committed and willing to do everything I can to take this great club back to where it needs to be. My heart is with Essendon and I can’t imagine myself anywhere else. We have a strong pre-season ahead, and I look forward to working hard alongside my teammates to be the best we can be.”
List chief Adrian Dodoro said the club was excited by Draper’s potential.
“Sam has developed enormously since arriving at the club in 2017 and has become a crucial player for the future of our club,” Dodoro said.
“He is a popular member of our playing group with his infectious energy being very influential throughout the club. We look forward to seeing Sam continue to refine his craft and become a dominant force throughout the competition.”
Developing tall Josh Eyre has been delisted but will be invited to train-on over pre-season in the hope of winning a spot back as a rookie during the pre-season supplemental selection period.
South Australia’s footy festival as league announces new round
Jon Pierik
The AFL has yet to close the door on a grand final rematch to open season 2023, as league officials eagerly look forward to a new 24th - but as yet unnamed - round.
League chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed on Friday that South Australia will host the added round, that being between April 13-16 in round five when all nine matches will be held in and around Adelaide in what the league wants to be a celebration of the sport.
The Adelaide Oval will host matches on Thursday and Friday nights, and double headers on a Saturday and Sunday, with three matches taken to other venues, including potentially to the Barossa Valley.
South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas pitched hard for the event, spending a major slice of his state’s $40 million major events budget to outbid NSW.
McLachlan said the added round “is going to be massive for the game”, with each club to pocket about $500,000, of which much of this will be spent in football departments, while players will also be rewarded through their collective bargaining agreement.
The new round means there will be one less pre-season match, the AFL raising the idea of the new round after watching how intense the final practice match had become, for no financial or premiership points gain.
The home-and-away season fixture, to be unveiled within weeks, will mean each team will play 23 games over 24 rounds.
Club members who travel to South Australia will be able to watch their team for free.
The new round had been based on the NRL’s magic round concept.
However, McLachlan stressed the AFL’s version would not be called magic round, admitting the theme suggestions of his staff so far had been “terrible”. He urged his staff and the football public to come up with a name which “reflects the game” and “is in our DNA - whether it’s road-trip round, or big round, or Mallee round”.
McLachlan said the round will be rotated, with NSW and Western Australia also in line to host from 2024.
AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh said the players supported the introduction of the extra round, and had suggested a similar idea midway through 2020, with the decision to direct additional revenue towards the football department soft cap warmly welcomed.
“As partners in the game, we believe in working in conjunction with the AFL to find ways to grow the popularity and revenues for the game,” Marsh said.
“The players will receive their agreed normal share of revenue from the extra round, which is aligned with the partnership model ingrained in the CBA. We have consulted widely with players and they are supportive of the extra game offset by a reduced pre-season game schedule.
“We are also pleased to see revenue from the round will be used to increase club soft caps. This is something strongly supported by players and will be beneficial to players and football staff.”
League chiefs are finalising next season’s full fixture, and have not ruled out the Cats and Swans opening the campaign on a Wednesday night. The introduction of the grand final rematch this season between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs at the MCG was met with a mixed response, although this game was held at a time when the pandemic and its restrictions were still prevalent.
However, a major issue for the Cats is that their home ground at GMHBA Stadium is still undergoing a major upgrade.
“The Geelong, Sydney rematch, GMHBA won’t be available in a full capacity now until May, June so there is a challenge with that. You could start that at the MCG, but I think when you are unfurling a flag … we will work through that,” McLachlan said.
Regardless of that decision, Carlton and Richmond will still have their Thursday-night blockbuster at the MCG.
McLachlan said the league was close to finalising whether the medical substitute would be abolished in favour of a pure five-man interchange.
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