Jeff Kennett tells Premier Will Hodgman ‘you got a good deal here’

HAWTHORN President Jeff Kennett says the Tasmanian Government is getting tremendous bang for its buck in the current AFL deal with his club to play four games a season in Launceston.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers report says Hawthorn injected $28.5m into the Tasmanian economy last year. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

IF the State Government thinks it will get rid of Hawthorn without a fight when its contract expires in 2021, it can think again – and Hawks boss Jeff Kennett has 28.5 million reasons why not.

That’s the dollar figure a PricewaterhouseCoopers report says Hawthorn injected into the Tasmanian economy last year alone, and over the course of its five-year deal Kennett says it will be about $142.5 million for a total State Government outlay of $20 million.

“This is the best sponsorship in the AFL without any doubt, in terms of measurable return to the organisation that provides the sponsorship,” Kennett said.

He then turned to Premier Will Hodgman and said: “We will be back for a renewal in the next three years and I’m sure, on these figures, we can count on your support.”

With speculation that after Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s contracts expire in 2021, a one-team model would be adopted for Tasmania, the Premier tried to keep a poker face when he said: “I look forward to that discussion. We might get a cheaper deal, who knows?”

Kennett: “You’ll get a more expensive deal because by God, have you got a good deal here.”

Mr Hodgman said the Hawks had a strong case to stay.

“The deal has worked very well. It returns extraordinary economic benefit for the state.

“It’s not going to be difficult to consider the opportunities to support elite level footy in Tasmania, and invest with an organisation that makes it worth every single cent.

“But that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to work with the AFL and expect from them to outline a long-term vision for football in this state.

“That goes from having a team of our own right down to getting the State League back into the shape it should be, getting more Tasmanians drafted and growing female participation in this great game.”