Gym boss kicks in $1m for a Tasmanian women’s footy team

TASMANIA’S quest for a team in the AFL Women’s competition has taken a major step forward with a $1 million pledge over five years towards a stand-alone team.

Zap Fitness chief executive Bob Cheek pledges funding for a Tasmanian AFLW team. Picture: MEG SMITH

TASMANIA’S quest for a team in the AFL Women’s competition has taken a major step forward with the head of one of Australia’s largest gym franchises pledging $1 million over five years towards a stand-alone team.

Zap Fitness chief executive Bob Cheek, a former Clarence and Tasmanian footballer, said he would only commit the funding for a stand-alone team.

EDITORIAL: TASSIE HAS SCORE ON THE BOARD

AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld said last week the state could have a team playing in the AFLW when the league expands in the next two years. He said this could be­ a stand-alone Tasmanian team or a Hawthorn or North Melbourne side based in the state, if either club was granted an AFLW licence.

Expansion of the AFLW is to be discussed at an AFL Commission meeting on Friday and Mr Cheek said he wanted to lobby for a stand-alone state team.

“As an ex-state player and proud seventh-generation Tasmanian, I was excited to hear the news that Tassie was going to get a women’s team in the AFL,” Mr Cheek said.

“Then to learn that it would likely be a hybrid with North Melbourne or Hawthorn was bitterly disappointing. Tassie deserves its own team, not just a half of someone else’s.”

Senator Nick McKim said last year a Tasmanian women’s team would cost about $500,000 to $1 million a year, compared to Hawthorn (more than $6 million a year) and North Melbourne (more than $3 million a year).

Because Mr Cheek’s pledge would equate to $200,000 a year, the gym boss said he would issue a call to other sponsors. “I would work on my mates to chuck in a few bob too,” he said.

Mr Auld said it was an “incredibly generous” offer and AFL Tasmania would look to secure funding from corporate sponsors to make up the costs.

“It would be difficult to expect more from an individual, it’s a substantial amount of money,” he said. “I dare think there would be other [sponsors].”

Tasmanians Jess Wuetschner, Britt Gibson, Emma Humphries and Ellyse Gamble were drafted into the AFLW competition this season, and Mr Cheek said he wanted to see more at the top level.

“Green, primrose and gold is the traditional Tasmanian guernsey, going back generations. I’d love to see my grand-daughters playing in the classic Tassie colours one day in the future,” he said.

Mr Cheek will set up a petition on the change.org website.