Grant O’Brien announced as Tasmanian AFL Club’s first chair, Gill McLachlan says ‘we’ve sold dream well’

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has launched an impassioned defence of the competition’s Tasmanian strategy, while inaugural club chairman Grant O’Brien revealed his vision for the team.

Grant O’Brien is set to be announced as Tasmania’s first AFL chair this morning.

A defiant Gillon McLachlan has slipped under the tackle of stadium naysayers, declaring that “deep down everyone knows” that a roofed home away from “windswept Bellerive” is what Tasmania’s team deserves.

Mr McLachlan, the AFL’s outgoing chief executive, travelled to Penguin, on Tasmania’s North-West Coast, on Friday morning to formally announce ex-Woolworths chief executive Grant O’Brien as the club’s inaugural chair.

Asked whether he had been disappointed by the tenor of the debate, Mr McLachlan replied, “This is life – people are entitled to their views.”

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon with the Tasmania jersey at Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Grant Viney

“There will be lots of ups and downs. Change is difficult, there is always conflict. It requires continued communication,” he said.

“In the end, if a proposition is clear and compelling, I trust the leadership and public to come to the right decision.”

Mr McLachlan said the $2bn redevelopment of Adelaide Oval a decade ago – initial, vociferous opposition melting away to universal acceptance – guided his feelings towards the current stadium debate.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and AFL CEO-elect Andrew Dillon at Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Grant Viney

“Football itself in South Australia was opposed – now it would be impossible to find someone in SA who didn’t think it was the best thing that happened to the state,” Mr McLachlan said.

He voiced his opinion that the AFL had, far from coming the raw prawn with Tasmania, offered it a sweetheart deal.

“The federal government has put an unprecedented amount of money into the new team. So have the AFL: $360m over the next decade, including $230m for grassroots and development,” he said.

Tasmanian AFL Team Chairman Grant O'Brien. Picture: Grant Viney

“Progress sometimes comes at a cost but this is one of the better deals I’ve seen.

“I think we’ve sold it well.”

He said that Tasmania’s winding, often heartbreaking, journey towards AFL acceptance was about to enter its “fun” phase.

“We’re moving forward. In a minute Tasmanians will be choosing the team colours. I think you can get the Devils name if you want it,” Mr McLachlan said.

“This is the fun part, choosing the team name, colours, song, looking at talent who are 13 to 14 years’ old now, who will play for Tasmania.

Official announcement for Tasmanian AFL Team Chairman Grant O'Brien at Penguin Football Club, Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Grant Viney

“[And when they do], rather than going to windswept Bellerive, they go to a roofed stadium that competes with places like Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium right in the heart of Hobart.

“Going to bars and restaurants, bringing your family down from the North-West, dreaming that your son or daughter will play for this team.

“This is real and it’s spectacular for Tasmania. It’s what you’ve always wanted. And you want it in a first-class venue. You want to compete on that national and international stage. Deep down everyone knows it, everyone wants that vision.”

Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaking to players of the Penguin Junior Football Club and Penguin-Riana Auskick at Dial Park, Penguin. Picture: Grant Viney

‘2028 is not that far away’: AFL team’s first chair voices vision

Grant O’Brien, the North-West Coast reared former Woolworths chief executive announced on Friday morning as the Tasmanian AFL Club’s inaugural chair, says that the announcement represented the “starting gun” on the long road to Round 1, 2028.

Speaking at Dial Park, home of the Penguin Two Blues, with whom he won a premiership in 1980, Mr O’Brian, joined by Premier Jeremy Rockliff, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, and other dignitaries, Mr O’Brien inaugurated the new era.

“This team has got a very deep history already but it hasn’t played a game. We’re going to fix that,” he said.

“We’ve got a licence, we’ve got the money. We’ve got to get on with it. 2028 is not that far away.

Asked whether he already felt the pressure-cooker effect, in light of ongoing debate as to whether Tasmania is getting a fair return on investment, and whether a stadium at Macquarie Point is the right way forward, Mr O’Brien comfortably shepherded the ball over the sideline.

“In terms of trepidation — I don’t have time for that,” he said.

Mr McLachlan and Mr Rockliff both hailed the team’s new figurehead.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan with Tasmanian AFL Club’s inaugural chair Grant O'Brien at Dial Park, home of the Penguin Two Blues.

“We could not have chosen a better person to lead our AFL team, he is what we need in setting the team up for success. That’s about strong leadership, good governance and strategic oversight. Grant can provide all of that and more,” Mr Rockliff said.

Mr McLachlan said that a club’s chair is “simply the most important decision that can be made in terms of the profile and success of a club”.

“He is Tasmanian to his core, he’s risen to the top of Australia’s business ranks, he fits this role perfectly,” Mr McLachlan said.

Mr McLachlan cited the attendance at last Saturday’s Tasmania vs Queensland state games at North Hobart Oval as evidence that the competition and state government were both on the right side of history.

“When see 7000 turn up to state of origin and the crowd proudly wearing the map jumper, you know this team is gathering momentum and the excitement is incredible,” Mr McLachlan said.

Why O’Brien is the ‘perfect’ man to lead Tassie’s first AFL team

A former shelf-stacker, Penguin football player, apprentice electrician and father of three will be announced as inaugural chair of Tasmania’s AFL team in his home state on Friday and a former AFL Taskforce member says Grant O’Brien is “perfect” for the job.

Julie Kay, one of the most powerful women in Tasmanian football, worked with O’Brien on the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce along with Brett Godfrey, Errol Stewart, Paul Eriksson and James Henderson.

She was impressed with O’Brien’s professionalism, corporate know-how and commitment to the cause.

The former Woolworths managing director, now chairman of Tourism Tasmania and CEO of the Port Arthur Authority, is understood to have been earmarked for the flagship role.

Minister for Sport Nic Street said on Tuesday the Tasmanian team’s chair would be announced “later this week” making Friday D-Day for the “reveal”.

It is understood Sydney-based O’Brien will be in Tasmania for the announcement, along with top brass from the AFL and members of the state government.

The AFL said the chairman role would “establish the strong foundations, governance and leadership of their AFL and AFLW teams and more broadly the club and its standing in the community”.

Kay was “not in the know” regarding who would be appointed as Tasmania’s inaugural chair, but believes there were few better choices than O’Brien.

“He’s from the North-West Coast, he understands the Tasmanian culture and football world,” Kay said.

Former Lauderdale Football Club president Julie Kay ahead of the announcement as to if Tasmania will get their own AFL team. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“He played with Penguin Football Club, his whole family is from there, and from there he has made his way to one of the biggest supermarket chains in Australia.

“So he has an extremely wide knowledge of the corporate world and has a passion for Tasmania and Tasmanian football and his work on the taskforce was outstanding.

“He was very supportive and passionate for this to happen, he has an incredible amount of experience in governance, corporate governance, so he would be fantastic — he’s perfect, really.”

Official announcement for the 19th AFL licence for a Tasmanian team at North Hobart Oval. Picture: Chris Kidd

Former Premier Peter Gutwein was overlooked for the role.

He was believed to have been too political for the job and too close to a government under fire for its push to build the Macquarie Point stadium, which is a must-have if Tasmania’s team is to go ahead.

Gutwein was considered a front runner for the role as Tasmanian team chair based on his drive to secure a Tasmanian AFL licence, for the way he stood firm against the AFL by refusing to extend Hawthorn and North Melbourne contracts to play games in Launceston and Hobart respectively until the AFL gave the state a timeline for joining the big time.