Tasmania’s AFL team identity to be revealed in statewide community event

Time is ticking down on when Tasmania’s AFL team identity will be revealed. Find out how no region will be left behind when the announcement is made.

Grant O'Brien Chair of the Tasmanian AFL Club, Damian Gill Head of AFL Tasmania, Jack Riewoldt, Kathryn McCann board member Tasmania Football Club. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Tasmania’s “hard-earned” AFL team is closer to fruition, with more details about the club’s launch unveiled.

The team’s name, logo, colours and foundation jumper will be revealed at a number of events happening simultaneously across the state.

The AFL team launch will happen at Queenstown, St Helens, Devonport, Launceston, Oatlands and Hobart on March 18.

The club’s executive director Kathryn McCann said while the events would feature AFL and AFLW stars, the focus of the launches would be on the community and letting them reveal the Tasmanian team.

“We’ve been spending quite a bit of time thinking about what this launch could be,” Ms McCann said.

Tasmania Football Club executive director Kathryn McCann. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“We could have done this big, flashy, glitzy show in Hobart.

“We had those proposals in front of us, and what we did was we stepped back and thought ‘actually, we’ve set this club up on a trajectory to be community-based. What would be the right thing for us to do in launching this club?’”

The six events across the state will be free to attend but will be ticketed to ensure they do not go overcapacity.

Tickets will be available from March 4.

Tasmanian AFL Club chair Grant O’Brien said it had been a long and difficult journey up until now.

“Kind of everything that Tassie earns is hard-earned,” Mr O’Brien said.

“And there were periods of time during the taskforce where we thought there was no way they were going to give us a licence.

“But Tassie was undeterred, and the taskforce built that support. Getting to 2028 will be hard-earned

“Let’s be clear: there is so much for us to do, so much to be put in place, and the right decisions to be made.”

Kath McCann is Tasmania Football Club's inaugural executive director. Picture supplied

Ms McCann said she expected that there would be a lot of support for the Tasmanian AFL team, especially once it takes the field,

“I can assure you there are many non-Tasmanians supporting this club, especially on the big island; there is a lot that just feel very strongly about this club.

“The fact is Tasmania has deserved this team for a long time. There’s an opportunity for belonging, for unification and for being part of something.”

“We’ve seen it with the Jackjumpers; imagine when we take it to the next level with the AFL, the opportunity for us to be proud of something as one.”