Tasmania interested in being hub in AFL reboot, but only after coronavirus passes

The AFL has pricked Peter Gutwein’s interest with its hub proposal, but the Premier has a deal-breaking stipulation.

Marcus Bontempelli tries to land a tackle on Scott Pendlebury during the round 1 AFL match between the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood on March 20. Picture: GETTY

THE  move to make Tasmania a hub for six AFL teams in the reboot of top-flight football gained traction yesterday when Premier Peter Gutwein said he was open to the concept, but not before he guided the state through the corona­virus crisis.

The AFL is considering numerous options to get its season re-started when safe to do so. That includes whether Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia host six teams each to play round-robin series to get the AFL season back on track.

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Mr Gutwein said he had not heard from the AFL about the proposal, revealed on Monday by Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who is a member of the AFL’s coronavirus cabinet.

However, he did find it intriguing.

“I saw Eddie McGuire’s comments and they are interesting,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I have to say my only aim at the moment, my key focus, is keeping Tasmanians safe.

“If we can get through this quicker than other states, then opportunities may arise.

“Right now, at this moment, it’s about making sure that people stay safe and making sure that we can keep Tas­manians alive.”

In the Tasmanian hub proposal, the state would host six clubs — three in Hobart and three in Launceston, to play home-and-away fixtures against each other, while six teams did the same in each of South Australia and Western Australia.

“There will be a lot of ideas thrown around about this, and Tasmania may be in a position where it can come out of this earlier,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Right now the message is stay at home, save lives, and we are going to make sure we put all of our focus into that.”