Tasmanian Premier savages AFL report into 19th licence

The AFL has revealed the findings of the Colin Carter report into expansion into Tasmania but it’s sparked some furious backlash.

Carter, the former president of the Geelong Cats, looked into the viability of handing out a 19th licence to Tasmania, which would be the first AFL side the state has ever had.

But the findings came back with three options — a 19th licence, sharing a licence with a Melbourne team or merging with a Melbourne side.

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And he suggested the relocation or merger being the best option.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan back the report, saying that a 19th licence would put a team in the middle of the bottom third of teams in regards to the wealth ladder of clubs, while a combination with a Victorian club would put it in the middle of the wealth ranks.

“The case can be made for a 19th license, but relocation of an existing team – if a club is prepared to take that path – or a joint venture between Tasmania stakeholders and a Victorian team that secures strong support in two markets from the outset would arguably produce a more sustainable outcome and therefore should be considered before a 19th license,” he said.

McLachlan also said that any merger or relocation would be from Melbourne, saying that the Gold Coast Suns would not be moving.

The Hawks’ James Cousins kicks a ball at UTAS Stadium.Source:Getty Images

While McLachlan said that he did support the move for Tasmania, the state’s Premier reacted furiously to the news.

Having hosted games from North Melbourne and Hawthorn as well as during the Covid-19 bubbles last year, Premier Peter Gutwein has threatened to pull funding from the AFL and use the money for other sport in the state and major events in Tasmania.

“That immediate response from them I don’t think is good enough,” Gutwein said.

“I’m very disappointed with the AFL this morning. This is unacceptable, I’ve been clear from the outset we need a timeline.

“We will not finalise those contracts, we will not roll them over with Hawthorn and North Melbourne until we have a starting point from the AFL … in regards to a new Tasmanian AFL team.

“Once again they’ve attempted to kick the can down the road. We don’t want to rent our own team, we want our own team.”

Premier Peter Gutwein isn’t happy.Source:News Corp Australia

And fans have sided with Tasmania.

Podcaster Josh Lloyd tweeted: “I know the answer is yes, but with this Tasmania situation (farce, fiasco, confusion), does the AFL just f*** up every decision?”

SMH health reporter Rachel Clun wrote: “Just let Tasmania have an AFL team already”.

Former Port Adelaide great Warren Tredrea also pointed out that fans calling for the move would once again turn on North Melbourne, a club with 152 years of AFL history including being one of the foundation clubs in the Victorian Football Association, the precursor to the VFL.

North Melbourne have been financially struggling in recent years as well as on the field having missed the finals in each of the last five seasons, and not making the top four since 2007.

Why does Tasmania having a team in the @afl always turn to @NMFCOfficial being relocated?

Kangaroos are a proud part of VFL/AFL history.#leavethemalone#createanewteam

7 News Tasmania’s John Hunt said it was unlikely that any deal with a Melbourne team would see Tasmania get a lion’s share of home games.

No team is on the radar to relocate, despite the COVID financial hit. And I can't imagine a Melbourne club risking the ire of its supporters by move a large chunk of home games to Tasmania.

With the NBL coming south and the A-League on the radar, this may be a missed opportunity down the track.

North are always in the conversation regarding relocation or merger.Source:Getty Images

Richmond president Peggy O’Neal backed the move to Tasmania for the AFL, although her club would likely not be list of merger clubs as one of two clubs with more than 100,000 members.

“My bias would be yes … overall I’m a big fan of Tasmania and what it’s brought to football over all these years so I think from that perspective they should,” she said on ABC Melbourne.

Similarly Tigers star Jack Riewoldt, who was born and raised in Hobart, was against the idea of a merger or relocation.

“I feel like that is just tokenism if they do that. It’s not the way forward for Tassie footy,” he said on SEN, speaking before the release of the report.

“I’m certainly of the belief that I don’t think a relocated team would work and I don’t think a joint venture (would work).

“Hawthorn and North Melbourne play four games at either end of the state. While it’s great to have AFL football in Tasmania, I think the 19th licence is certainly the one – and the main driver in this has been premier Peter Gutwein. I think he sees this as his legacy piece.”

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