Forget Tasmania’s win over Victoria at York Park in 1960 or the landmark State of Origin victory over the Big V at North Hobart Oval in 1990, both games honoured in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame.
Tasmania is on the verge of gaining something it should have been given in the first place — its own team in the AFL.
It was a gut-punch when so-called “expansion teams” Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast Suns were gifted to non-AFL states NSW and Queensland respectively.
That injustice is only weeks — maybe a month or two — away from being put right.
When AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says: “We are looking to build a team that is competitive from the start, sustainable with a unique brand that unites Tasmanians” and “We will work hand-in-glove with this government on securing the funding and getting the stadium built”, that’s code for Tassie’s dream team is almost here.
Sports editor JAMES BRESNEHAN looks at how it will come together.
THE LICENCE
The AFL and state government have signed an in-principle agreement on a Tasmanian AFL team, a major milestone has been reach on the journey.
The next step is a binding agreement, and after that McLachlan will fly into Hobart to declare Team Tasmania has been born, its debut scheduled for 2027.
“This is a big decision for our game, a big decision for the code and a big decision for Tasmania,” McLachlan said.
“There is a determination from the AFL to not lose the opportunity.
“I think Tasmanians want this and they want it to be the best-in-class and compete at the top level on the field and off the field, and so we are committed.”
READ MORE: AFL reveals what Tassie city stadium could look like
THE STADIUM
The AFL is certain a new stadium at Macquarie Point would be an asset for Tasmania, citing the impact other stadiums have had on their cities and states.
“Optus Stadium in Perth cost $1.5 billion and it changed the state,” McLachlan said.
“It doubled the number of people travelling to Western Australia to watch games.
“We are just finishing a $250m refurbishment at Marvel Stadium. It will be an incredible multipurpose stadium for Melbourne with over 80 events a year and 700 functions.
“Metricon [Gold Coast] hosted the Commonwealth Games, concerts and they’re probably going to use it for the Olympics. It has completely changed the city.
“Adelaide Oval completely changed that city and it gave South Australians pride. It doubled the economic impact of every game of football played there and every game of cricket.
“This team [Tasmania] needs a stadium and finally we have a destination, that’s Macquarie Point.
“We will work hand-in-glove with this government on securing the funding and getting the stadium built.”
The AFL says a Macquarie Point stadium would deliver a $2 billion cash injection into the state’s economy in its first 20 years, numbers hard to ignore.
THE MONEY
The state government has already committed $375m of the estimated stadium cost, and the other half needs to be found.
McLachlan pitched the stadium to investors at the Sohn Conference in Hobart on Friday and will lobby the Federal Government for its input.
“I’ve spent many years walking into rooms pitching ideas and business cases and visions,” he said.
“The AFL has a track record of doing what it says. The impact our game has on cities and states and this country, that track record is clear, and we’ve just got to make our case.
“I do believe the business case stacks up for this state and it’s our job to prosecute it.”
Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown said the Albanese government welcomed the in-principle agreement but did not believe a new stadium should be a prerequisite for a Tasmanian team.
I don’t believe that the awarding of a Tasmanian football team should be contingent on a brand new stadium,” Senator Brown said.
“Having said that, there is no business case before the Australian government to assess.”
THE OPPONENTS
About 300 people attended a meeting at the Hobart Town Hall last week to voice their disapproval of a proposed $750m roofed stadium, which would be accompanied by a cultural and arts precinct.
Organised by Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania, numerous speakers said Hobart had higher priorities than building a stadium.
Booker Prize-winning author Richard Flanagan led the charge.
“It’s a shameful con job buttressed with a set of figures so fanciful that the much vaunted PricewaterhouseCoopers report reads like a fantasy novel missing only the dragons,” he said.
“Hobart needs homes for its homeless who camp on the Domain looking down on Macquarie Point.”
Premier Rockliff, who did not attend the meeting, said: “There are people that will always say ‘no’ to major projects and to change”.
“There is an industry around saying ‘no’ in Tasmania. I don’t want any more of that. I’m sick of that.
“I just want to take this state forward. And this is a project and an opportunity that will do exactly that.”
McLachlan wanted to “stay out of the politics”.
“It needs a unified approach. I think it is solvable in various forms and I am hopeful of having conversations with people looking to the bigger picture,” he said.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Good things come to those who wait, McLachlan says, but this one has been excruciating for true believers.
After initial trepidation, the 18 club presidents are now on board the Tassie team train, but insist the stadium deal must be set in stone before the AFL hands over the keys.
“It will take as long as it takes,” McLachlan said. “I point to Optus Stadium and Adelaide Oval. They are a case in point that this is worth waiting for.”
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