Time to sit up and take notice
TASSIE FOOTY
WHEN two of AFL’s greatest sons, Leigh Matthews and Mick Malthouse, come out on the front foot and advocate so strongly for a Tassie team in the national league most footy fans would probably take heed ( Mercury, May 15).
There is absolutely no doubt western Sydney and the Gold Coast are AFL backwaters in predominantly NRL environs at the expense of Tasmania getting a foot in the door.
If, as has been suggested in the past, the AFL is propping up the Suns and Giants with bucketloads of cash in an endeavour to compete fiercely and beyond with an historically rugby opposition is true, then this is the root of the problem.
Tassie ticks so many boxes but ultimately what does it take to convince the AFL hierarchy Tasmania is far more deserving of a national team than others in predominantly rugby league states? with a round robin to define the state premiers. If it doesn’t work, try something else, but the TSL is a non-floater. Never give up trying. statistics, each of them would have to stay seven nights to deliver $28.5 million. A stretch but let us accept PwC’s approximations. So: four competition games and one pre-season match earn the state an annual $28.5 million.
How valuable, then, would be a Tassie team with full AFL representation? Such a team would play 11 home games (and preseason matches) against visiting teams, and – extrapolating Hawthorn’s PwC figures – would thus pull in more than $70 million.
When you consider that the visiting clubs would include behemoths like Collingwood, Richmond and Essendon, the figure would climb higher still.
Kennett’s $40 million claim was made to assert that Tasmania couldn’t afford to end its relationship with Hawthorn. A more compelling argument is that the state can’t afford not to have its own AFL team, bearing in mind the asset it would be.
We can agree on Springs
THE ReachTEL poll on the Mt Wellington cable car told us what we already knew, it has Hobart divided. But the more interesting number was relating to Robert Morris-Nunn’s development at the Springs: 69.6 per cent in favour. Sadly, the developers have put that on hold while a cable car and pinnacle development are on the table. Let’s ditch the tired old idea of a cable car, and move forward with the proposal most of us agree on – a new development at the Springs.
Robocalls too much
AM I the only one getting Chinese robo-calls on their phone? I know that we will become part of China Inc. but the phone calls are pushing things too far.
Bums on seats
WHERE are all the AFL fans in Hobart? The Kangaroos played the Giants on Saturday: 7000 attended. We will never get a team if Hobart people don’t go to games. Capacity crowds or bums on seats is one way to argue in our favour. At this stage Launceston is favourite. At least they have decent crowds. Come on Hobart, join in the chorus.