Kangaroos footy boost
Name still up in the air, but at least we can expect ...
A PROPOSED North Melbourne AFL Women’s team is likely to play some home games in Tasmania and will be well represented by the state’s best talent, Kangaroos chief executive Carl Dilena says.
However, the name “Tasmania” in the team’s title appears to have been left off the map again following talks between North Melbourne and AFL Tasmania chiefs in Melbourne yesterday.
Mr Dilena and AFL Tas- mania boss Rob Auld have held preliminary discussions on the possibility of a joint AFLW licence submission between the Kangaroos and Tasmania, ahead of competition expansion in 2019.
Mr Dilena confirmed the talks centred on outcomes including: THE possibility of playing a number of home games in Tasmania. ENSURING Tasmania is well represented in the team. MAXIMISING opportunities for female Tasmanian talent to play in the AFLW. BUILDING on North’s existing Next Generation Academy work to further develop female talent pathways. CREATING a team with a strong Tasmanian connection and identity.
Mr Dilena said the meeting with Mr Auld involved discussing models to secure a joint AFLW team, with further talks to be scheduled ahead of the licence submission deadline on June 16.
“It was about sitting down for the first time to talk about how we might work together following the recent receipt of AFLW tender documents from the AFL,” Mr Dilena said.
“We want to create a compelling proposition for the AFL to consider and, together with AFL Tasmania, we’ll work out just how we can do that in the next few weeks.
“Tasmania will be a critical element of our proposal. An AFLW team in partnership with Tasmania would be an ideal way to provide further inspiration for young Tasmanian women to play the game and potentially participate on the national stage.”
Mr Auld was pleased with the discussions.
“We echo the sentiments of Carl and North Melbourne and feel comfortable with where we got to and look forward to more discussions,” Mr Auld said.
The talks came after Mr Auld said this week that AFL Tasmania would not be pushing for the state’s name in its joint licence submission with the Kangaroos, with a standalone team also off the cards.
A move away from the name “Tasmania” will likely cost the team a $1 million, fiveyear sponsorship with Zap Fitness, the organisation’s chairman Bob Cheek has warned.
Mr Cheek said he would not consider sponsoring a team titled North Melbourne and three criteria would need to be followed to secure his funding: the team must be named the Tasmanian Kangaroos, be based in Tasmania, and wear the green, gold and primrose of Tasmania.