Kennett hits out over Tassie team

HAWTHORN president Jeff Kennett has warned Tasmania will be worse off if the state has its own AFL team and the Hawks stop playing home games in Launceston.

Kennett has written an open letter on the Hawks’ website, attacking Labor leader Bill Shorten’s election promise to commit $25 million towards Tasmania having its own team and questioning if a club in the Apple Isle is “feasible”.

The former Victorian premier says Hawthorn will back out of its deal in Tasmania, where it has played games in Launceston since 2001, if the club isn’t wanted.

“Hawthorn has been in Tasmania for the best part of 18 years,” Kennett wrote. “We have been building our relationship with the Tasmanian community for years.

“Independent research released earlier this year stated Hawthorn’s presence in Tasmania brings in $30 million a year in economic activity and that’s before you consider the promotion of Tasmania we deliver.

“I fear a Tasmanian team, regardless of how it performs, will negatively affect the hospitality and tourism industry in Tasmania.

“One thing I am sure of, given our considerable efforts, is if Hawthorn is not wanted in Tasmania, just tell us and we will go back to the mainland.

“The best Tasmanians can do is embrace the model released by the AFL, and use it as an opportunity to build the case for their own AFL team some day.”

Kennett described Shorten’s offer to back a Tasmanian team as “crass intervention” and warned those excited about the promise to “consider the foolishness of his offer”.