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AFL Taskforce have their say on Hobart stadium situation

The state government’s plan for a state-of-the-art AFL stadium built on Hobart’s waterfront has conditional support from the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce but its boss Brett Godfrey says “show me the money”. LATEST >>

Gillon McLachlan praised for being a ‘very good steward’ of AFL

The state government’s plan for a state-of-the-art AFL stadium built on Hobart’s waterfront has conditional support from the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce but its boss Brett Godfrey says “show me the money”.

AFL CEO Gil McLachlan made Tasmania’s bid for a stand-alone license conditional on a bespoke stadium when he visited Hobart on Thursday to meet with the government and stakeholders.

Premier Jeremy Rockcliff said it would be “a game changer” and while Labor and the Greens both support a Tasmanian AFL team they oppose the stadium that McLachlan says we have to have.

The AFL Commission will see Tasmania’s final submission for an AFL license before it heads to the club presidents for the vote in August, but it is believed the presidents will hold informal discussions in Melbourne on Tuesday ahead of the 2022 AFL Hall of Fame.

A new stadium could sweeten the deal.

“Whether it is contingent, or however you want to frame it, this team needs and will have a new stadium if you want a license,” McLachlan told the media when he emerged from the Executive Building.

“If there is going to be a 19th license there is a lot to go through and there will be a new stadium and the Premier understands that and I think every Tasmanian would agree.

“They change cities and they change states, so let’s get onboard and build something that knocks everyone’s socks off.”

The $750m price tag had Godfrey concerned about how the state would run a team and pay that bill.

He wants answers before providing unconditional support for what would be a visually spectacular $750m, 27,000-seat, multi-purpose stadium with a retractable roof situated on reclaimed land on the banks of the Derwent at Regatta Point near the Cenotaph.

“The devil will always be in the detail, when would it need to be built and is it subject to AFL support?” Mr Godfrey said.

Chair of AFL Taskforce Brett Godfrey at UTAS Stadium, Launceston. Picture: Chris Kidd
Chair of AFL Taskforce Brett Godfrey at UTAS Stadium, Launceston. Picture: Chris Kidd

“Would it be funded by private money and what will the Feds kick in. Can it be built cheaper or smaller?

“None of these are anywhere near being understood, and $1.2m has been allocated to find some answers. Everyone understands the $750m was a vision, subject to the above.

“The taskforce is interested in those economic answers before jumping on board but we are 100% behind the vision as our 2019 business case. Nothing’s changed.”

McLachlan said theoretically a Tasmanian team could play at existing Hobart AFL venue Blundstone Arena while its proposed replacement was under construction.

“It’s about what it would look like in terms of timing and the build, and the right time if a license was granted for it to come online,” he said.

“Technically, you could play games if it wasn’t finished but you need to have line of sight on both.”

Labor is also concerned about the outlay for a stadium.

“We offered our full support for the government’s bid based on the briefing we were provided, which did not include a floating stadium,” said a Labor spokesperson.

“It now appears former Premier Gutwein might have overplayed his hand by announcing an unfunded floating stadium commitment, with no plan for delivery, that has been caught up in the bid for an AFL team.

“Tassie deserves an AFL team but we shouldn’t have to pay $750 million to join the national competition.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor believes the stadium money would be better spent elsewhere.

“Given the health, housing and cost of living crisis in Tasmania, we made it clear to the Premier and the AFL Taskforce that we did not support the proposed $750M floating stadium,” she said.

Cassy O’Connor(leader). Picture: KIM EISZELE
Cassy O’Connor(leader). Picture: KIM EISZELE

“Gill McLachlan must have a hide of steel, rocking up in Tasmania_ while people are sleeping in freezing conditions in their cars, and in tents _ and demanding we build a needless stadium.

“Tasmanians have been paying for rich Melbourne teams to play here, all without a pipedream stadium, in our great existing stadiums north and south.

“After years of sending our best and brightest players to the national league, as well as the millions the state has poured in to the Hawthorn and North Melbourne deals, we deserve more respect from the AFL.”

‘Knock our socks off’: AFL boss says build a stadium to impress

No stadium, no team and AFL boss Gill McLachlan has encouraged Tasmania to build a state-of-the-art stadium that “knocks everyone’s socks off”.

A Tasmania team must have a brand new base and that was the underlying message from McLachlan after his fly-in fly-out meeting with Premier Jeremy Rockliff about a Tasmanian AFL license in Hobart on Thursday.

McLachlan said he and the Premier were “on the same page” but Tasmania may have to dip deeper into its pocket to fund a team after the AFL CEO described the government’s offer of $150m over 10 years as “a strong start”.

And McLachlan may have inadvertently given away the time frame for Tasmania entering the AFL as a stand-alone 19th license as 2025 or 2026.

The 19th license is contingent on a bespoke stadium and that was a main talking point in their hour-long meeting in the Premier’s conference room in the Executive Building.

“If you look around this country and look at the AFL and the cities where AFL and other sports are being played, you need a stadium that can compete in 2022 _ or 2025 or 2026, whenever it is _ a stadium will be built.

“Whether it is contingent, or however you want to frame it, this team needs and will have a new stadium if you want a license.

“Tasmanians would expect that. You need to have a stadium that delivers for this state, like Adelaide does for South Australians and the city of Adelaide, where it gives economic stimulus.

“It’s not just for football, it’s cricket and soccer and events like Dark Mofo that would go there and provide a sense of pride and what that does and the energy it gives, like Adelaide Oval has given Adelaide and Optus Stadium has given in Perth.

“If there is going to be a 19th license there is a lot to go through and there will be a new stadium and the Premier understands that and I think every Tasmanian would agree.”

McLachlan said tailor-made stadiums leave a valuable legacy.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan in Hobart after meeting to discuss the possibility of a Tasmanian based AFL team. Picture: Brett Stubbs
Premier Jeremy Rockliff with AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan in Hobart after meeting to discuss the possibility of a Tasmanian based AFL team. Picture: Brett Stubbs

“We’ve been down this path before, whether it’s on the Gold Coast with Metricon or Western Sydney with GWS, and with Adelaide Oval and in Western Australia, they are heavy lifting in terms of getting funding, in finding the right site, and in terms of getting them built,” he said.

“But they change cities and they change states, so let’s get onboard and build something that knocks everyone’s socks off.”

McLachlan said they worked through “11 substantive points”.

“We got alignment on what needs to be done over the next six to eight weeks to put together something to go the Commission and ultimately the club presidents,” McLachlan said.

“If the deal is right for football they will support it and if it’s not, they won’t.

“We have spoken a lot and we’ve come together today to work out where we need to spend some more time. The work that is being done on a 19th license.”

McLachlan would not say if the government’s $150m was enough.

“It’s a strong start and a strong statement by this government that they want a 19th license and I’ve thanked the premier for being serious about it,” he said.

Mr Rockliff left the meeting with a smile and said the government’s $50m for a high-performance centre and $10m per year for 10 years for the team was firm commitment.

“It says to the AFL we are bloody serious about this,” he said.

“We had some terrific discussions, productive discussions and we are on the one page in terms of progressing a Tasmanian license.

“We believe as a state government we have got a very good and strong offer on the table.

“There are matters that we will work through and discussions will continue.”

The AFL Commission will seek “unanimous support” for a Tasmanian team from the club presidents, but it is understood only a firm majority is needed for the bid to be successful.

A decision on Tasmania will be made in the second half of August.

AFL chief to talk footy with Jeremy Rockliff

June 9, 10:30am

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has touched down in Tasmania for his highly anticipated meeting with Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

The two will meet face-to-face for the first time since Mr Rockliff became Premier and will thrash out the final details for the state’s submission for entry into the league as the 19th team.

The main issues sure to be on the agenda is finance and a new Hobart stadium as the AFL and Tasmania prepare to take the submission to the league’s commission and the club presidents in August.

MORE TO COME

brett.stubbs@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/sport/gil-mclachlan-in-tas-to-hear-rockliffs-afl-bid/news-story/0b585d50968ca14afdd0de8d018e0a63