Funds to create 'new talent pathways' but AFL confirms no team for Tasmania

Just days after Tasmania learnt that its plans for an A-League team had been rejected, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan has today advised that Tasmania will not field its own AFL team in the near future, although it is to be granted a provisional VFL licence as of 2021.

In Hobart to release the findings of a three-month review into Aussie Rules in Tasmania – a review prompted by concerns about the future of the state league and diminishing talent pathways – McLachlan confirmed that the Tasmanian State League will remain the premier competition in the state, while also announcing a return to the under-18 TAC Cup in 2019 and the VFL in 2021 to create new pathways for talented players.

McLachlan said all state teams would play under the same ‘Team Tasmania’ banner, with a name to be decided by the public, advising “today is a step in the right direction, a clear plan that speaks to all levels of Tasmanian football with unprecedented funding.

"This is an opportunity for Tasmania to unite to ensure all Tasmania's men, women, boys and girls have every opportunity to play football at all levels."

McLachlan said the AFL would spend an extra $1.4 million on Tasmanian football next year, and set up three administration hubs - in the state's north, north-west and south.

He added "I'm very confident in the TAC Cup team working in with the new talent pathways and working in with the community and TSL football.

"The (VFL) licence is provisional because we need to establish a unified push for the VFL team - it needs unity, it needs to be sustainable and it needs the talent there to support it and that's the challenge of all of Tasmanian football."

However, McLachlan made no guarantees about the state having a standalone team in the national league, stating “what we're trying to do is put the building blocks in place today.

"I think that looks to the success of the next three or four or five years because right now Tasmanian football is fractured and fragmented.

"We need to deal with (those issues) and build the base and get a united Tasmanian football before Tasmania's really in a position to bid for a licence."

McLachlan advised that the Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast teams were built for "very different strategic reasons ... around growth in huge growing markets, and I've been really honest about that in the past.”

McLachlan would not comment on whether the Tasmanian Government should extend its multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne in 2021.

Image: The Tasmanian Government's sponsorship of Hawthorn, which commenced in 2001, sees the club play four roster games and a pre-season game on the island each year.

29th June 2018 - 10 BIDDERS INVITED TO CONTEST NEXT STAGE OF A-LEAGUE EXPANSION PROCESS

21st March 2018 - ‘HARD DECISIONS’ AHEAD FOR AFL IN TASMANIA 

13th March 2018 - HAWTHORN PRESIDENT JEFF KENNETT SLAMS AFL’S INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION PLANS 

5th May 2017 - AFL LOOKS TO ESPORTS TO ENGAGE WITH NEW AUDIENCES

4th June 2016 - NEW DEAL KEEPS NORTH MELBOURNE PLAYING AFL FIXTURES IN HOBART FOR FIVE MORE YEARS 

1st March 2016 - AFL REVENUES TOPPED $500 MILLION IN 2015 

29th January 2014 - NEW LIGHTING UNVEILED AT AURORA STADIUM 

29th July 2013 - GRANT FOR FLOODLIGHTS AT NORTH HOBART OVAL

12th June 2013 - $30 MILLION BELLERIVE OVAL REDEVELOPMENT UNDERWAY

14th April 2013 - BUMPER CROWD DEMONSTRATES ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF AFL

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.