Lock in a 2019 AFLW team for Tasmania, says state’s footy chief

AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld has all but guaranteed the state’s entry into an expanded AFLW competition by 2019.

AFL Tasmania CEO Rob Auld says the state will be in the AFLW competition by 2019. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

AFL Tasmania chief executive Rob Auld has all but guaranteed the state’s entry into an expanded AFLW competition by 2019.

The vote of confidence follows Friday’s AFL Commission meeting in Sydney.

The AFL Commission is seeking further information before deciding on how many teams to add to the eight-team competition. Once that decision is made, Mr Auld said he and his organisation would make a submission to the AFL executive and were determined to see Tasmania get some national action, but in what format he was unsure.

“I’m conservative by nature but without getting ahead of ourselves, I have as good a confidence levels as I could have. Without being the person who puts the pen to paper, Tasmania will have involvement in 2019,” Mr Auld said.

“It is just how that is going to look is the thing we need to shake down.”

Womensport and Recreation Tasmania president Dana Faletic said it would be a great day if, or when, the state gained entry.

She said it would do wonders for women’s health and self-esteem.

“But also seeing as the game progresses at a national level and the more media coverage, it is just great to see women out there playing a sport that is traditionally male-dominated,” Ms Faletic said.

“It can break down those perceptions that women can’t do things that men can do.”

Zap Fitness chief executive Bob Cheek has pledged $1 million over five years to a Tasmanian AFLW team, but only a stand-alone team.

MORE: GYM BOSS KICKS IN $1M FOR A TASSIE WOMEN’S FOOTY TEAM

Mr Auld said it was more likely Tasmania would share a licence with either North Melbourne or Hawthorn than be a completely new start-up club.

“I think they will go with [existing AFL] clubs and then assess how that will look for Tassie, basing it in Tassie, how many games here, how many Tassie girls playing — they are the areas we are going to drive hard for,” Auld said.