Suns chief shuns Tassie

CONTROVERSIAL Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane has refused to come to Tasmania this weekend because of the “appalling” treatment he copped from local fans last year over his stance against the state’s bid for an AFL team.

Once the hero of Tasmanian motorsport fans for securing the original deal to keep what is the state’s biggest sporting event, the V8 Supercars, coming to Symmons Plains Raceway near Launceston, Mr Cochrane’s opposition to Tasmania securing a 19th AFL licence has made him an enemy of the state.

The Gold Coast Suns play Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium on Saturday and even though Cochrane travels to every game, including the Suns’ 10goal thrashing of the Hawks in Darwin earlier this year, he will not be in Launceston.

Mr Cochrane did not like the resentment of local footy fans in Hobart last year when the Suns played North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.

“I won’t be coming down to Launceston after the appalling reception I got from Taswegians last year,” he said.

“It’s too much of a distraction for the team and all the support staff.

“I called [Hawks president]

Jeff Kennett and apologised that I will not be a starter for tomorrow.

“A couple of the other directors are going down.”

It was an opportunity to meet Premier Jeremy Rockliff after Mr Cochrane (inset) says he “copped a mouthful” from former premier Peter Gutwein at last year’s game.

Mr Cochrane is adamant he is not anti-Tasmania.

“I’m against a 19th franchise, whether that be in Tasmania,

Timbuktu, Tailem Bend or Toowoomba,” he said.

“I understand Tasmania wanting a team and I wish you nothing but the best of luck.

“I have a big issue, as do many other presidents, with the AFL in the fact that we don’t believe the system can handle having a 19th franchise.”

The 18 club presidents are waiting to see Tasmania’s submission for a team, which is still being worked on by the state government and the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce.

“The AFL has promised us as presidents a very detailed paper outlining the substantial financial case they think can be made here,” Mr Cochrane said.

“Until all the presidents receive that document it is impossible to comment because we don’t know what’s in that document.

“We’ve always been told it would happen in August and we’re in August now so I can only assume it’s going to be toward the end of August.

“The presidents want that document in front of them at least a week before we meet on it because most of us want to run it past our club boards to get their feedback on it.”