Tasmania & their own AFL Team.

I happened to catch a section of the 5AA sports show where they interview Caroline Wilson, which for me is one of the segments that I like the best on their radio programme, I dont always agree with what she says but like the way she brings up different issues and is a driving force in the media.

Anyway she brought up for discussion the current situation where there is no AFL club allotted to Tasmania along with a discussion on the new deal with Hawthorn for another five years of exhibition home matches. In the discussion she suggested that the current increased flow of $$$ indicated that the AFL could easilly support a side in Tasmania and made a good comparision with GWS who are funded and run by the AFL to exist in the western suburbs of Sydney where there is scant interset in Australian Rules Footaball.

Largely I tend to agree. If the AFL can put their hand in their pocket for a side in the Western Suburbs, it is not unreasonable to suggest that they might do the same in Tasmania, a traditional football state that draws reasonable crowds to the matches they already host.

Thoughts?

Yes agree BW
The next 2 teams in the AFL considerations morally should be teams in :
Tasmania
Northern Territory

That would make make it a truly national comp
Most certainly Tasmania , maybe Northern Territory

Not sure if they will go to a 20 team comp. There just aren't that many good players.

I would either move Gold Coast and all the money the AFL gives them, or a basket case like Melbourne to Tasmania. Give them some Tasmanian drafting concessions and the same hand outs as GWS gets for 5 years and they would not only be viable but successful.

Bound to be a team based in New Zealand within the next decade.

McLachlan is quoted in the press today as saying that one of the benchmarks a Tasmanian club would have to meet to gain entry is a membership base of 50,000. Why? When Gold Coast have a membership of 9000.

Wasn’t there a Tasmanian side in the vfl?

Why did that go pear shaped?

Agree they should have a team & should have been in before Gold Coast & GWS

I think the afl would rather splash the cash in the heartland of rugby & rugby league states than an already Australian Rules Football state

bayman wrote:

I think the afl would rather splash the cash in the heartland of rugby & rugby league states than an already Australian Rules Football state

Agreed. Excuse the crudeness but it's a dick-measuring contest from the AFL's point of view I reckon - 'look how much we can spend in your heartland'.

Flag No.10 wrote:McLachlan is quoted in the press today as saying that one of the benchmarks a Tasmanian club would have to meet to gain entry is a membership base of 50,000. Why? When Gold Coast have a membership of 9000.

If that is the base there are a few teams who should get the axe including St Kilda, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Bulldogs, Brisbane, Gold Coast, GWS.

So move one of those to Tasmania.

Shame we had Gold Coast come in before Tasmania.