A Tasmanian team is back on the AFL agenda (Herald-Sun)

[one-eyed]

A Tasmanian team is back on the AFL agenda
Herald-Sun
March 23, 2014

A TASMANIAN team in the AFL is back on the agenda.

While still shrouded in secrecy, it is understood the matter has been discussed at the highest levels of the AFL and AFL Tasmania, with a report being prepared to look at the social and economic impact on the state.

The failure of past bids, stretching back to the early 1990s, has been blamed on the state’s “North-South divide’’.

And despite public perceptions, outgoing AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou is understood to favour the team, as long as it is a team for all Tasmanians.

To date, state partnerships with Hawthorn and North Melbourne have been a commercial success and provided some comfort to a footy-starved public.

But some argue the two-team strategy has created further animosity between the regions.

It is not clear whether the AFL would consider pursuing a full relocation of an existing club.

The Hawthorn partnership has obviously proved fruitful, pumping tens of millions of dollars into the Launceston economy, but the Hawks are unlikely to make a full-time commitment to Tassie, given their strong Victorian support and healthy bottom line.

The state’s best hope of getting a deal done now appears to rest with the AFL Commission and whoever replaces Demetriou as CEO.

Gillon McLachlan is clear frontrunner and has been heavily involved in the Tasmanian discussions.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/a-tasmanian-team-is-back-on-the-afl-agenda/story-fnelctok-1226862117538

[dwaino]

Awesome, another few years of compromised drafts to look forward to.

[tigs2011]

Surely they learnt their lesson from the last 2 teams. You could send a bunch of recycled hacks down there and Tassie fans would turn up. 

[Diocletian]

Apart from the ready made fanbase, Tasmania should also have enough homegrown talent to not require the ridiculous level of concessions sides from the Rugby states are afforded. Also doubt the clubs would sign off on such foolishness again - besides a Tasmanian team's not going to boost the value of the broadcast rights that much, so the dollar signs in their eyes won't be so big as to obscure everything, like they did last time.

New team should play on the Queenstown Oval gravel pit. Not only will this get around the so-called North-South divide but will virtually guarantee the ground quickly becoming a graveyard for visiting sides.

[Coach]

Ready made fan base? Won't require concessions like the others?

What

[Judge Roughneck]

Won't happen not enough dollars

[tigs2011]

Ready made fan base? Won't require concessions like the others?

What

People like footy there.  People in Western Sydney and GC couldn't give 2 poos.

[Coach]

I know people like football in Tasmania, I have lived there. That means the people there are already supporting/have memberships at other AFL clubs.

[Penelope]

yeah, good point. some would jump ship. but not all

[tigs2011]

I know people like football in Tasmania, I have lived there. That means the people there are already supporting/have memberships at other AFL clubs.

don't tell the AFL. I want to have a pick before 40 in the 2030 draft.   

[Diocletian]

I know people like football in Tasmania, I have lived there. That means the people there are already supporting/have memberships at other AFL clubs.

Many people in Perth & Adelaide had VFL teams they supported too. VFL was the premier comp. with the best players and had nationwide coverage.

People will get behind a Tasmanian club, some will support two clubs, many will go to games because they want to see football played at the highest level by the best players, others will go when their current AFL team is visiting. Kids & future generations will grow up supporting the local side.

Stands to reason that Tasmania already being an Football state will only make things a lot easier.

[Penelope]

population numbers helped big time for perth and adelaide, as well as a feral patriotism (hate of anything east of them).

tassie has a total population of not much over 50k, while perth and adelaide have well over a million, each, without taking into account those living outside the cities.

[WilliamPowell]

tassie has a total population of not much over 50k, while perth and adelaide have well over a million, each, without taking into account those living outside the cities.

Hope that was a typo al and you mean "not much over 500k" 

[Penelope]

 
def typo

[WilliamPowell]