AFL great Kevin Sheedy renews push for a team in Newcastle

With what’s happening in Apple Isle, AFL great Kevin Sheedy isn’t confident Tasmania will be the 19th team in the competition – and he has the perfect replacement.

AFL great Kevin Sheedy has renewed his push to have an AFL team in Newcastle, saying the Hunter Valley region was the ideal destination if the Tasmanian team falls over.

Frustrated with the politicking in Apple Isle, the former Essendon and GWS Giants coach is not confident the proposed Tasmanian Devils will be the 19th team in the AFL competition.

“No, I’m not confident,’’ Sheedy said. “If people want to wobble in Tasmania, that’s telling me no. They don’t like each other, north and south Tasmania. Even Jeff Kennett said the other day ‘put the team in Launceston’, but that’s like saying we don’t put a team in Melbourne where most people live and put it in Bendigo.’’

“There’s too much indecisiveness from Tasmania and if it has to go to the polls, that’s just unbelievable.’’

Kevin Sheedy, right, with Leigh Matthews. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Tasmania is headed to the ballot box on March 23 after the state’s Liberal government this week called for an early election, where the future prospects of a Tasmanian AFL team may be decided. The cost of building a stadium, and whether it should have a roof or not, is one of the hotbed issues of the election.

Sheedy’s campaign for a Newcastle team started in 2014, when he was still involved with the GWS Giants. He believes the Hunter Valley area is talent-rich and a boom area for expansion.

“If you want to keep building the game, you go right up the east coast and Newcastle is the next best town, which is going to get a million people. And it’s a beautiful city,” he said.

“I think the Giants and David Matthews (chief executive) and Tony Shepherd (former president) have done a magnificent job in the first 10 years of that club.

“I’ve got no doubt the same could be replicated in Newcastle. I’ve always felt NSW needs three teams … and we definitely need a team between Sydney and the Gold Coast.’’

Originally published as AFL great Kevin Sheedy renews push for a team in Newcastle