Bid too good

Hawks, Kangas wait on verdict

THERE is no guarantee the Hawthorn and North Melbourne contracts will be renewed beyond this year should Tasmania miss out on gaining the 19th AFL licence, Sports Minister Nic Street said.

Last year both Hawthorn and North Melbourne signed one-year extensions on their previous contracts — worth a combined $8.4m a year to the clubs — to play four games in Launceston and Hobart respectively, while the state awaited the verdict on its push to join the AFL.

That decision is now due in August, and it is understood Hawthorn wanted to start negotiating its next contract before a verdict was given.

Mr Street said the future of all AFL football in the state was pending on the decision.

“No decisions will be made on the future of the Hawthorn deal,” he said.

“The North Melbourne deal is strictly not a matter for the Tasmanian government, that’s a matter for the TT-Line, but I would think there would be serious conversations after August if the decision is ‘no’ for a 19th licence on the future of AFL football in Tasmania.”

Meanwhile, opposition spokesman Dean Winter said his party was vehemently opposed to Tasmania forking out $750m for a new stadium at Hobart’s Regatta Point, but would discuss other options or funding sources if they arise from the government’s feasibility study.

“Now the government is talking about being able to attract substantial private investment to a stadium and also being able to gather federal investment,” Mr Winter said.

“If that’s the case we’ll wait and see, but what we absolutely won’t support is Tasmanian taxpayers paying $750m for a floating stadium in Hobart.”

Meanwhile, after copping criticism over his proposed Tasmania-North Melbourne hybrid team, Eddie McGuire has fired back at the state and its push for a stand-alone team, the AFL Players Association and the issue of player retention.

“If they can have their own team, knock yourselves out,” Mr McGuire said on SEN radio.

“You’re not going to win a game for 10 years and it is going to be heavy going. How about you (the AFLPA) do a survey of your 750 players and your 750 women players that will have to be there and see how many of them lie awake at night dreaming of Hobart.”

There is no other government in Australia putting in that kind of money to an AFL team. It is remarkable support to have a team that is government-backed