PREMIER SINKS THE BOOT IN

… and the Opposition agrees

We believe the AFL should return [our] loyalty and investment to our state

— WILL HODGMAN

THE AFL has not returned the same level of loyalty or investment that Tasmania puts into the league, says Premier Will Hodgman.

Politicians from both sides of politics were left far from impressed by the steering committee findings handed down by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.

It is believed the lack of a plan or pathway to the state’s own AFL team is the main sticking point for both the State Government and the Opposition.

Mr Hodgman will meet TSL and community league representatives to discuss the findings.

“Tasmanians are loyal supporters and the Government is a big financial backer of football, we believe the AFL should return that loyalty and investment to our state,” he said.

“We will work through the detail with Tasmania’s football community.”

Tasmania provides about $7 million annually to Hawthorn and North Melbourne to play a combined seven home games in Launceston and Hobart, as well as another $500,000 a year to AFL Tasmania.

While welcoming the additional funding and development of elite junior pathways, Opposition sports spokesman David O’Byrne said it was disappointing there was no path to the big time for Tasmania.

“We have no pathway to the AFL while committing to an uncertain future in the VFL — a league with serious questions about its future,” Mr O’Byrne said.

“The AFL continues to ignore its role in the current state of footy in Tasmania — for the AFL to say that it’s up to Tassie to prove ourselves is offensively disingenuous. The fact remains that if the AFL wanted us to have a team, we would have a team. They just need to be straight with us.”

The AFL continues to ignore its role in the current state of footy in Tasmania

— DAVID O’BYRNE