Jack Riewoldt says AFL team in Tasmania would be ‘fantastic’ and have statewide support

The argument is a Tasmanian AFL team might not stack up financially. Richmond star and proud Taswegian Jack Riewoldt disagrees, saying his home state is on board. HAVE YOUR SAY

Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt says adding a Tasmanian AFL team is a “no-brainer” and believes it is justified regardless of whether the numbers stack up financially.

Riewoldt, a proud Tasmanian who played junior football for Clarence, said the state deserved a team and was united behind being granted one.

“I think it would be fantastic,” Riewoldt said.

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A young Jack Riewoldt in action for Tasmania at under-18 level.

Things are getting serious in Tassie.

“There’s an old wives tale that the state’s divided at Campbell Town between the north and the south. But if you saw the media and what they’re doing at the moment with the Tassie team push, the state’s certainly united behind getting a team.

“There’s so many great players in the competition, present and past, that have come from the Apple Isle and it just shows for me that it’s a real no-brainer.”

Riewoldt said even if the AFL’s bean counters could not stack up a case for a team, one was warranted and he hoped 2023 could be the year, with the current AFL broadcast deal set to end in 2022.

“The numbers might not stack up financially for the AFL to look at it and see it as a money earner but there is tradition in this game, there is history in this game and Tasmania is one state that has provided its fair share,” Riewoldt said.

“There’s obviously a lot of things to go under the bridge and the media rights is one of them. That’s tactically where they’ll aim and shoot for. Whether it’s 2023 or 2025, what happens to the media rights will be will be.”

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Nick Riewoldt is a member of the Tasmanian Government-formed AFL Taskforce building the state’s business case.

Originally published as Jack Riewoldt says AFL team in Tasmania would be ‘fantastic’ and have statewide support