New ball in play

A-League goal for Tassie

TASMANIAN Premier Peter Gutwein has set his sights on getting a state-based A-League team as the clock ticks on his ultimatum with the AFL.

Buoyed by the state’s entry into the National Basketball League, Mr Gutwein said no national sporting competition was complete without a Tasmanian team.

“We’ve had some very positive discussions with Football Tasmania and with interests that are considering the opportunity for A-League side here and we’ll continue to progress those,” he said.

“But I think off the back of the NBL side and the work that (NBL owner) Larry Kestelman is doing, this is Tasmania’s opportunity as a state in a federation to actually to end up with teams in the national leagues which are a true and clear demonstration that Tasmania is a part of this federation and our people deserve the same opportunities.”

Mr Gutwein said he was standing firm on his ultimatum with the AFL, which has to consider its future in the state.

“I think one of the key points I’ve made to (AFL chief) Gillon McLachlan, is that it here in Tasmania, Australian football, the base is decaying,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Around the country, numbers are increasing. We’re not seeing that occur in Tasmania, and in fact we’re seeing more clubs close and put into mothballs. That’s not a healthy football league.”

The state government has a five-year $19m deal with Hawthorn to play five games a year in Tasmania. It expires at the end of this year. North Melbourne receives about $3m a year from government-owned Bass Strait ferry operator TTLine, which also ends this year.

“We will not finalise the arrangements for the next contract with Hawthorn or North Melbourne until we have clarity from the AFL in terms of our own licence,” Mr Gutwein said.