Gill just loves Tassie

But AFL boss trots out same line on getting our own side

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says he loves Tassie — but the state is going to have to wait to get its own AFL team.

Mr McLachlan is enjoying one of Tasmania’s world class tourism destinations and is excited at the prospect of competing in some worldclass polo action.

But his enthusiasm for the island state’s push to have its own AFL team is more subdued.

Mr McLachlan was among a group of polo players at the Barnbougle Polo field in the northeast yesterday to take part in a practice match before the tournament on Saturday.

The Barnbougle golf resort added a polo field to its boutique offering in 2015 and, for the first time this year, teams will be competing for honours rather than simply putting on an exhibition match for an expected crowd of 3000-plus.

Mr McLachlan will be saddling up with the Fulton’s Lane team. But the Tasmanian team, boasting Australian’s women’s polo captain Alessia Russo, is tipped to win, or at least be crowd favourite.

“I grew up riding and there was a polo club around the corner from where we lived,” Mr McLachlan said, as his family packed up the car to head to the nearby beach.

“We arrived today and the weather is perfect. I love Tassie. This really is one of the better polo fields in Australia.”

When asked if he could also announce that there was concrete support for the establishment of a truly Tasmanian team in the AFL while he was in the state, Mr McLachlan became less animated.

“Our focus in Tasmania is on community football and on building up the Tasmanian football brand,” he said.

Barnbougle Polo organiser Penelope Sattler said all of the 60 ponies competing in the event had arrived safe and sound. Last year’s event was marred after 16 of the ponies shipped in to compete died during their return to Victoria.

She said the “tragedy” had not deterred owners bringing their animals across the water.

“If their transport systems are fit for purpose and TTLine follows its usual protocols they have nothing to be concerned about,” she said.

There was a competitive buzz on the field yesterday as ponies and riders were put through their paces.

“The Tasmanian team will be out there to win on Saturday,” she said.