AFLW match talks to gain momentum

NEGOTIATIONS will ramp up next month over a possible $100,000 deal for the Brisbane Lions to play the first AFL women’s game in Tasmania.

It was revealed in June that the Lions were negotiating with the State Government to play one of their AFLW matches at UTAS Stadium in Launceston next season.

The negotiations also include the Launceston City Council and AFL Tasmania.

Launceston City Council general manager Robert Dobrzynski said a deal was yet to be signed but negotiations were continuing.

“The City of Launceston is currently working with the State Government, AFL Tasmania, the AFL and Brisbane around a deal to host a Brisbane AFLW game at University of Tasmania Stadium in 2018,” he said. “Those negotiations are ongoing at this stage and no deal has been signed at this point.”

AFL Tasmania community engagement and partnerships manager Trish Squires said more discussions would take place after the 2018 AFLW fixtures were finalised.

“We will know more than,” she said.

A Brisbane Lions spokeswoman said the club had no further information about the deal.

Two Tasmanians played with the Lions in the inaugural competition this year, Jessica Wuetschner and Britt Gibson.

Brisbane’s bid to bring a game to the state is supported by the North Melbourne Football Club, despite it seeing Tasmania as crucial to its bid for its own AFLW licence.

The proposed team would be called the Tasmanian Kangaroos and would train in the state and play in Hobart, Launceston and Melbourne.

It is possible the Tasmanian Kangaroos could enter the league in 2019.

Hawthorn also has put in an application with a Tasmanian component but it is believed that plan only includes playing some home games in Launceston.

The AFL will announce its decision on AFLW expansion this month.