Suns insider says AFL needs to treat Tassie much better over team bid

An insider who witnessed the Gold Coast Suns deal for an AFL licence says Tasmania deserves to be treated ‘much better’ by the footy powerbrokers. See how the deals compare>>>

A QUEENSLAND Senator has called out the AFL’s hypocrisy when it comes to the establishment of a Tasmanian team when compared to that of the Gold Coast Suns.

Labor Queensland Senator Anthony Chisholm was state secretary for the Queensland Labor Government when the AFL came with an agenda to establish a 17th team, the Suns, on the Gold Coast.

While the Tasmanian Government is offering an ongoing $10m a season financial commitment for 10 years plus $50m for a high performance centre – an investment the Taskforce business case believes will return $110m annually back into the economy and create 360 new jobs – there has been some reports suggesting the AFL is seeking as much as an ongoing $20m a season investment from the state.

Matt Rowell of the Gold Coast Suns. The conditions of entry into the AFL for Gold Coast was far less restrictive, says a Queensland Senator. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Mr Chisholm, said there was no such financial commitment sought from the Queensland government prior to the Suns first season in 2011.

“Absolutely, I can only speak from my experience from when the Suns were being established and the only call on government for help at that stage was some remodelling at Carrara (Metricon Stadium) to bring it up to standard,” Mr Chisholm said.

“The state government contributed in the vicinity of $20m to $30m and I think the federal government did the same and part of it was the AFL also contributed money to the stadium as well.

“That was the only prerequisite required to establish the Suns, which the AFL has obviously gone and poured tens of millions of dollars into over the last 10 years.”

He has family ties in Tasmania and is a strong believer in the push to land the 19th team in the island state but was struck by the large investment required from the state when compared to the Suns.

“It is chalk and cheese what they are attempting to put Tasmania through compared to what my experience was with Gold Coast,” he said.

“The state of Tasmania deserves to be treated so much better than what it is.

Labor Senator for Queensland Anthony Chisholm. Photograph: Cameron Bates

“In my experience they (the AFL) have been incredibly professional over a long period of time and their results in securing support from all governments of all persuasions at all levels shows you they have been very effective at it.

“Names may change at AFL House, but their effectiveness never does.

“They drive a hard bargain, there is no doubt about that.

“But what is being missed here is the AFL community will be the biggest beneficiary no doubt of including a team from Tasmania, not the other way around.”

The Tasmanian Taskforce and the AFL is currently working on a final submission to be put to the state government, which – if ticked off – will then go to the 18 club presidents for a vote for inclusion around 2027-28 in August.

Originally published as Suns insider says AFL needs to treat Tassie much better over team bid