Roos alignment with Tasmania bolstered following approval of AFLW licence

NORTH Melbourne’s joint venture deal which will see Tasmania represented in the AFLW competition has been described as a “natural extension” of the club’s established partnership.

NORTH Melbourne’s joint venture with the State Government which will see Tasmania represented in the AFLW competition was a “natural extension” of the club’s established partnership, chief executive Carl Dilena says.

For the first time at the elite level of football Tasmania will be officially recognised on the premiership ladder, with the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos to enter the female competition in 2019.

MORE: TASSIE KANGAROOS BOUND INTO AFLW

While Dilena had no doubts the Roos would have been successful in obtaining a stand-alone licence — Geelong will also field an AFLW team in 2019 before Gold Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and West Coast follow in 2020 — he said the deal with the island state will only further entrench the ties with the men’s side, which plays three games a season in Hobart.

Premier Will Hodgman and North Melbourne CEO Carl Dilena talking to reporters in Hobart today. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“I think we were positioned really well for a licence regardless, but it was the perfect opportunity to partner with Tasmania and bolster our commitment, given we were doing academy work with boys and girls, given the community work, given our presence down here,” Dilena said at Blundstone Arena.

“It is a natural fit and natural extension on that.

“It was a perfect opportunity to show our broader commitment to Tasmania and partner up with the Tasmanian Government.”

Dilena said the aim would be to have half of the squad from Tasmania as quickly as possible, with resources to be pumped into development programs to fast-track progression.

The side will wear a jumper featuring Tasmania for matches in the state, with UTAS Stadium likely to host northern games and North Hobart and Twin Ovals possible venues for southern fixtures.

“We are looking to make it a true joint venture ... aiming for half the talent base or playing list from Tasmania and really building on the talent pathways and encouraging female participation in the sport.

“This year there were four Tasmanian girls who played in the AFLW, there are more coming up this year eligible for the draft.

“With the work we are doing with the talent development, hopefully we will increase those numbers pretty rapidly.

“What we are trying to do is, as soon as we can, get that talent pool developed so there is a broader talent base to choose from for the AFLW.

Aspiring Tasmanian AFL players Nicole Bresnehan and Loveth Ochayi are excited about the announcement of the partnership between North Melbourne and the Tasmanian Government for the women's AFLW team. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“It is getting those girls up to that AFLW standard so they can play on the national stage.

“We are trying to combine our resources, the AFL has allocated funding to AFL Tasmania to bolster the resources around talent development, we will do likewise.”

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos model will be based on the one implemented by Adelaide his year, with the Crows winning the inaugural AFLW premiership.

“The model we will use for getting the groups together is a bit like the Adelaide-North Territory model,” Dilena said.

“They had a training base in Northern Territory and a training base in Adelaide, and in the lead up to certain games they would combine the group and have them training together.

“You would think if we were playing game down here, the Melbourne group would come down and train with the local girls down here and vice versa.”

The Government will invest $500,000 a year for five years.

“This is a great partnership, something we have been working on for some time, it’s an arrangement that serves very well the opportunity for young Tasmanian girls and women to be involved at all levels in this great game,” Premier Will Hodgman said.

“Most importantly it gives them line of sight to playing in the national league.”