Tasmanians back state’s AFL bid

More than 50,000 people have signed the ‘United We Stand’ petition calling for Tasmanian teams to be admitted to the AFL and AFLW competitions.

Encouraging those with a passion for AFL in Tasmania to become non-financial backers of the campaign, Brett Godfrey, leader of the Tasmanian AFL taskforce says the result is a "lovely milestone" but "just one step on a long journey."

Commenting on the pledges, Godfrey explained “hopefully it will send a number of messages to the AFL about the positives of a Tasmanian team and this is just one of the boxes that needs to be ticked off it but I don't want our outcome to hang off this.

"It was to show unity. It was to discredit those who continue to say the state is hopelessly divided and that's been successful.”

Backing the campaign, Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman explained that “(the) 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.”

Meanwhile, backed by a $500,000 investment from the Tasmanian Government, new grandstand facilities for the Kingborough District Cricket Club have been opened at the Twin Ovals.

The Twin Ovals complex now caters for domestic, national and international cricket matches, and importantly the new facilities will enable the club to host Sheffield Shield games and more Women’s Big Bash League games.

Commenting on the project, Premier Hodgman added “this investment and extension at Kingston cements the Twin Ovals as one of our premier regional sporting facilities.”