United We Stand: Tasmanian AFL team push reaches target of 50,000 sign-ups

UPDATED: The AFL Taskforce has reached its target of 50,000 pledges of support for a Tasmanian AFL team.

TASMANIANS have sent a strong message to the AFL — this is a state united not divided when it comes to entering the big league.

The unitedwestand.com.au website, set up by the State Government’s Taskforce, hit the significant 50,000 milestone for pledges of support for Tasmanian AFL and AFLW teams this morning.

Taskforce chairman Brett Godfrey said the target had been reached earlier than expected.

“For me it shows a degree of unity not ever evident before in the history of this sort of process,” Mr Godfrey said.

“For me it says the state isn’t divided, it has gotten behind one football team, being Team Tasmania, not Team North, Team South or Team North-West.

“That for me is the wonderful statement that this sends.”

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The AFL declined to comment on the milestone.

Premier Will Hodgman said the number of pledges “clearly demonstrates the passion Tasmanians have for a team of our own”.

“That’s 50,000 people saying the time has come for Tasmania to enter the AFL and AFLW,’’ Mr Hodgman said.

“The Tasmanian Government is committed to strengthening football in every region of our state and strongly supports the campaign and the AFL Taskforce, which is building a strong case. We look forward to its report and recommendations later this year.”

Opposition sports spokesman David O’Byrne said the milestone illustrated the passion for a Tasmanian AFL team compared to the soulless expansion clubs the AFL has created in rugby league heartlands on the Gold Coast and in Greater Western Sydney.

“This is a massive achievement but we shouldn’t be surprised. Tasmanians are very passionate about their state,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“My understanding is it is not just people in the state making the pledge but also those Tasmanians living on the mainland.

“Tasmanians have more heart and passion for their state than the expansion teams the AFL has brought in in other states.”

Tasmania Devils players Oliver Cunningham, 12. of New Town, and Claire Ransom, 15, of Mount Stuart, are excited that Tasmania has reached the 50,000 pledge target. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Mr Godfrey said earlier analysis of the initial pledges was split evenly between North and South. There were sceptics of the level of commitment given the pledges were free to sign up to, but Mr Godfrey said it was all positive.

“They are right, but we also haven’t given people anything,” he said. “It is quite an effort for people to do something for nothing and that’s what this shows. It shows there is a deep desire. Sure it doesn’t mean they are going to sign up as members, but it shows an inherent degree of commitment to actually get online and show their support. In this day and age it is pretty clear people don’t do things for free.

“They have done this without being given a scarf or a sticker or anything, just they want to jump on board a unifying statement.”

The pledge campaign is a key part of the plan by the Government’s AFL Taskforce to prove to the AFL that Tasmania should be the next site of a new club in the big league.

The special campaign was launched simultaneously out of all three of Tasmania’s daily newspapers at the end of August.

The Government Taskforce is building a business case to present to the AFL in the hope of winning a provisional licence by the end of this year.

They believed we needed 50,000 pledges for the AFL to finally take us seriously.