Tassie footy legend Brent Croswell backs North’s move south

TASMANIAN football legend Brent Croswell says it would be “fabulous” for his former club North Melbourne to make a big move on Tasmania.

Multiple premiership player Brent Crosswell at his elevation to Icon status at a Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame ceremony.

TASMANIAN football legend Brent Croswell says it would be “fabulous” for his former club North Melbourne to make a big move on Tasmania.

The four-time AFL premiership player and two-time cup-winning Kangaroo believes a touted increased presence here by his former club would be great for Tasmania and even better for the Kangas.

MORE: GO SOUTH, NORTH TOLD

Ever since Footy Show host Craig Hutchison proposed on Footy Classified that North Melbourne play nine games a year in Tasmania, nine in Melbourne, and establish a permanent training base in the state, the football fraternity has been abuzz.

Crosswell, 66, is a member of the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame for his 222 games in the big league for Carlton (98, and 92 goals), North Melbourne (76, 108 goals) and Melbourne (48, and 57 goals) between 1968 and 1982, including premierships with the Blues (1968 and 1970) and two as a Kangaroo (1975 and 1977).

The man known as “Tiger” joined the excitement over Hutchison’s concept.

“I’m all for it,” Crosswell said.

“This state would be 90 per cent behind it — people will identify with it.

“It actually gives Tasmania a club. If we got nine games here then we could really say we’ve got a team.”

Brent Crosswell marks over Peter McCormack in the 1979 Preliminary Final.

Former North Melbourne, Carlton and Melbourne star player Brent Crosswell.

Crosswell said Tasmania deserved more reward for its contribution and its unwavering support to the game.

“It’s about time the AFL gave Tasmania greater prominence in the greater scheme of things,” he said.

“It’s a traditional AFL state and it’s just ridiculous we’ve been ignored for so long.

“I think it’s a fabulous idea and it would be good for North Melbourne and people here would get behind it. I’m right behind it.

“Whether it eventuates is another thing.”

Crosswell would prefer Tasmania to have its own team.

“But this would be a move in the right direction,” he said.

“I’ve always believed that Tasmania has been hard done by. Always.”

North Melbourne declined to comment on the proposal and the AFL said general manager of football operations Simon Lethlean’s comments on Melbourne radio on Tuesday summed up the mood at league headquarters.

“Everything is a possibility,” Mr Lethlean said.

“Our preferred model probably is one team in Tassie, but we’ve also been pretty clear too that there are two clubs there at the moment with five-year deals to play matches and that’s not changing any time soon.”