Tassie’s Tiger cub
TEAM TALK: Kennett says put up or shut up as AFL boss seeks clubs’ thoughts
CLARENCE running machine Fraser Turner is following in the footsteps of Richmond star Jack Riewoldt after the Tigers swooped on the 17-year-old in the AFL draft. Turner was snared by the 2017 premiers at pick 58.
“There was screaming and a few tears from mum and dad,” an excited Turner said.
A STAND-alone AFL team for Tasmania is back on the agenda after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan canvassed club bosses on their views on the topic.
Mr McLachlan’s open question to the league’s club chief executives on Thursday met with a strong discussion as the league boss described the question as the elephant in the room.
The discussion comes as the Gold Coast admits it needs to start over with its list amid questions about its long-term viability, given the league continues to pour millions into keeping the club afloat.
It’s believed the AFL boss also let his own scathing opinion known about the current state of football in Tasmania.
If the AFL decided to play a stand-alone team in Tasmania it would raise the spectre of a potential relocation for a team like Gold Coast, currently a drain on the AFL’s resources.
There is a growing feeling in Queensland — made public by AFL legend Leigh Matthews — that there is only room for one team in the state.
An AFL team in Tasmania would need as much as $40 million of revenue to stay afloat. But one AFL chief executive pointed out on Thursday given the AFL and State Government’s investment into a team, Tasmania might need to find as little as $10-$12 million of extra investment to make it financially viable.
It was supported by Richmond chief executive and Tasmanian Brendon Gale, who believed a Tassie team would be viable with AFL support.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett yesterday urged Mr McLachlan to “put up or shut up” over a Tasmanian team.
An angry Mr Kennett last night told News Corp that Mr McLachlan was toying with the emotions of the Tasmanian public if he was only playing politics instead of committing to a stand-alone team.
“All I can say to Gill is to stop posturing. You are either serious or you are not,’’ Mr Kennett said. “If you are serious, put up enough money for a Tasmanian team for the next 20 years.
“I simply say to him and the AFL Commission — put up or shut up. The AFL is going to have to put up $30 million or $40 million a year because it will cost the AFL $60 million a year to field a competitive team in Tasmania.
“Stop throwing red herrings out there. Tasmanian people are sick and tired of the AFL posturing and playing one club off against another or both clubs off against the rest of the competition.”
An AFL Tasmania spokesman said the noise surrounding a state-based team wouldn’t go away.
“It is always an ongoing conversation because of the incredible passion for the game within Tasmania.”
Tasmania’s football riches were strengthened on Thursday when Launceston pair Tarryn Thomas and Chayce Jones were taken with top 10 picks in the national draft.
It comes after a troublesome period for football in Tasmania when this time two years ago no players were drafted out of state, and earlier this year Burnie followed Devonport out of the state league.
Premier Will Hodgman said Tasmania’s strong showing in the draft, which also saw Fraser Turner drafted at pick 58, was a sign of the strength of football in Tasmania.
“It’s great and it shows that Tasmanian football isn’t dead as some have suggested,” he said. “We can produce some of the best players in the country. Unfortunately there isn’t a team here for our players to be drafted to but there will be one day and the sooner the better.”
Both North Melbourne and Hawthorn believe Mr McLachlan is trying to push the Hawks out of Tasmania to allow the Roos to play seven games here, saving the AFL cash under its funding model.
Both clubs play four games in Tasmania under contracts which finish in 2021.
North Melbourne chairman Ben Buckley as recently as Thursday made it clear the Roos would never relocate to Tasmania.
“We have no appetite to play more than four games in Tasmania and we have made that explicitly clear to the AFL,” Mr Buckley said.
“We are committed to growing the game and the development pathways of players in the state, but will not entertain more than four games under my leadership.”
The Tasmanian Government hands Hawthorn $19 million over five years in the current deal, which the league would ideally hope was funnelled to North Melbourne on a seven-game deal.
Mr McLachlan last month repeated his belief that the Suns will turn around their fortunes. With no likelihood of a 19th team in the near future, any team moving to Tasmania would likely be relocating from the existing 18 teams rather than starting afresh.
Last year, Mr Hodgman urged Gold Coast to relocate to the Apple Isle, a suggestion slapped down by Suns officials.
Mr Kennett said yesterday that Mr McLachlan and his predecessor Andrew Demetriou had treated Tasmania poorly.
“I am supportive of a Tasmanian team but I have always argued it was financially unviable. If Gill is now saying it is time then he has to stop playing funny fellows and put up or shut up.”