Clarkson urge to help Tassie

Coach confirms he’s keen to back AFL team bid

FOUR-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has confirmed he wants to play an active role in landing Tasmania its team in the AFL.

Speaking on FoxFooty’s AFL360 on Monday night, Clarkson confirmed the Sunday Tasmanian’s report of his desire to help the state reach its big league dream.

While also stating he would not be coaching Carlton next season, arguably the AFL’s biggest name said he would be using 2022 for a number of personal goals, including assisting Tasmania’s push to get the 19th licence.

“I want to do some study and live abroad, it is a little bit difficult with the circumstances at the minute, but living abroad would be great, I've done that plenty of times before and the other thing I’d like to do is give something back to the game,” Clarkson said.

“I’ve been involved in clubland for 35 years as either a player or a coach and there’s things I would like to be able to do to push back into (the game).

“I’ve got an interest in it and it came out in a report over the weekend in terms of doing some stuff with Tassie.

“I’ve got a long association with Tassie through the affiliation with Hawthorn but I’d like to see if I can help in some sort of way them being able to see the feasibility of them having a team in this competition, if I can contribute in some small way.”

Tasmania’s bid for a standalone team will need the support of firstly the AFL commission and then the backing of at least seven presidents to stop the clubs overturning the state’s entry.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan announced on the weekend a final decision would be made by July-August next year – a slight delay on the original agreed time frame with the Tasmanian government of early next year.

However, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has accepted the new decision date.

“As I outlined last month, the decision on a Tasmanian AFL licence will be made, once and for all, in 2022 in line with the finalisation of the funding model for the AFL industry for the 2023 and 2024 seasons,” Mr Gutwein told the Mercury.

“I would hope that this could occur as early as possible during 2022, however, if it takes till July/August I welcome the fact that a time frame … is firmly on the agenda.”

Tasmania’s entry into the league was on the agenda of Monday’s AFL commission meeting with the clubs.