Surprise details in Tassie AFL report

New details on Tasmania’s aspiration for an AFL team have been leaked, and the proposal is surprising.

DETAILS on Tasmania’s AFL business case have been revealed.

A Tasmanian AFL team would be based in Hobart but initially play clashes against the big teams in Launceston.

The Tasmanian Government’s AFL Taskforce recommended the team be based in the state capital as a vital weapon in player retention, but as compensation, the first infrastructure spend would be at University of Tasmania Stadium to take capacity up from about 20,000 to 30,000.

Launceston would then host Tasmanian home matches against the likes of Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon while the club becomes established and become a truly statewide body.

It is understood the Taskforce has even sounded out the University of Tasmania in regard to its Sandy Bay campus and its adjacent sports grounds as the team’s high performance centre and administrative base as the education centre relocates to the city centre.

Player retention was a focus of Taskforce member Nick Riewoldt, who witnessed the impact on culture as captain of St Kilda when the Saints left their traditional home at Moorabbin for a regional setup at Seaford on the Mornington Peninsula.

Player retention was a focus of Taskforce member Nick Riewoldth. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The Taskforce’s business case, handed to the State Government but yet to be made public, says a Tasmanian team would be economically feasible on a member base of 35,000 and an average home crowd of 14,000.

The case also includes a Tasmanian taxpayer contribution of $8 million a year, with an emergency fund of $2 million.

With 11 home games a season, this public contribution would work out cheaper per game than the current deal of $8.5 million a season for eight AFL roster games shared between North Melbourne in Hobart and Hawthorn in Launceston.

Eventually the business case recommends a new stadium be built at Hobart’s Macquarie Point but the report points out this would require Federal funding.

With light rail to the northern suburbs, ferries from the Eastern Shore and the south and a short walk from the central Hobart, a Mac Point stadium would be ideal from transport perspective as well as following the success of Adelaide Oval and Perth’s Optus Stadium as venue’s close to the city centre.

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However, after much speculation the State Government ruled out a new football stadium at Mac Point late last year.

The entire business case is built around the premise of a 19th AFL licence.

Earlier this week, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said it was unlikely a Tasmanian team would enter the competition within five years, but this timeframe fits in the Taskforce’s plan to build a successful team and club for post 2025.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said he was keen to continue current deals with the Kangaroos and Hawks – set to expire at the end of the 2021 season – to continue post next year as the state transitions into its own AFL team.

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