‘Pull their heads out of their backsides’: Eade’s message for Devils doubters

Tasmania football legend Rodney Eade admits he’s “staggered” by the possibility of the state’s AFL dream crumbling, urging detractors to take a more wide-ranging view of its benefits.

Rodney Eade with Tasmania players Jake Beams and Shaun Kongwa during last year’s Tasmania Football Club Launch at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmania football legend Rodney Eade has implored Macquarie Point stadium’s detractors to take a more holistic view of its potential benefits, adamant they “need to pull their heads out of their backsides” if they believe the Devils can survive without it.

The future of the state’s AFL team hangs in the balance as Tasmania’s political uncertainty continues, after a no-confidence motion against premier Jeremy Rockliff by opposition leader Dean Winter passed on Thursday.

Eade believes local competitions could be severely affected should the Devils be scrapped, and pointed to the wider ranging economic, employment and social benefits the team and stadium can offer communities.

The four-time Hawthorn premiership winner and 377-game AFL coach was part of the Devils’ team launch in Hobart in March last year, and is “staggered” the state’s AFL dream is now in jeopardy.

“Obviously I’m coming from the point of view of footy, but I think it’s bigger than that,” Eade said.

“I think it’d be great for the state for younger people’s aspirations, for jobs and employment.

“I just did some figures the other day. Say Tassie plays Collingwood in Hobart and 6000 people come over. If 3000 stay for a week and 3000 just for two nights, it would be millions for the week, (taking into account), accommodation, restaurants and car hire, going to Cradle Mountain or Barnbougle, food and drink.

“I know most supporters of clubs will have one interstate trip a year. They’ll go to Gold Coast or Sydney. Even Hawthorn fans, they go to Launceston when they play GWS or Fremantle, and the hotels are full.

“They’re coming in four times a year, so imagine Hobart. They’ll all be full up and some people will stay for a week.

“How many Tasmanians fly to Melbourne for the footy? They do it consistently and put money into the Victorian economy with hotels, taxis, food, all that adds up.

“It’s just a no-brainer, with the jobs it will create for young people to stay in Tassie, and the money it generates for the government to put into education or other things.”

Rodney Eade (second from left) with fellow Hawthorn premiership legends at the club’s recent 100th birthday celebrations. Picture: Jonathan Di Maggio

No AFL club is likely to impact Tasmania’s quest to join the VFL/W, which officials hope will begin next year.

Eade fears that could have a huge impact on clubs with players who have remained in Tasmania with making those squads as a motivating factor.

“I think the local competitions will be completely devastated,” he said.

“About 25 youngsters have left the last two years to play interstate. That’s already happening. Now with the carrot of the (regional) academies and the VFL team they’re less likely to leave, but if you don’t have that (VFL) I reckon it will get worse.

“Footy in Tassie will just be community football, it will lose a major comp and kids if they want to play (a high level) will go interstate, no doubt.

“If they’re aspirational and want to play the best footy they can or try and get in the draft, people will see that as a vehicle to maximise their talents.”

Brisbane premiership coach and fellow Tasmanian Chris Fagan has floated the prospect of the Devils playing matches at Bellerive and UTAS Stadium if the stadium is delayed, before moving into the new venue.

But Eade is adamant that alternative isn’t viable.

“There’s stadiums at Bellerive and Launceston, but they’re not at the level needed for the club to generate funds, and survive and thrive,” he said.

“The (AFL club) presidents vote, and they’ve made the condition of having a stadium because they want financial viability. The only way to do that is to have a really good stadium and if the presidents don’t see that, they’ll vote against it.

“People who want a team but no stadium, well they’ve got to get their heads out of their backsides and realise it won’t be there.”

“There’s a lot of people in Tasmania who are anti-growth. They don’t want Tasmania to improve or grow with the world.

“I can only see benefits with this. I don’t know what their negativity about it is and they keep changing their reasons why.

“I’m astounded by it, I just can’t see why they can’t see the benefits of it for all Tasmanians.

“I’m a proud Tasmanian and not just in football, but in everything it’s got to offer.

“My main driver is apart from the footy it’s going to help communities round the state. Hopefully it can come to fruition.”