Gutwein now over dithering, says Ed

TASMANIAN Premier Peter Gutwein has given the AFL another shirt-front by telling boss Gillon McLachlan he would rather invest the state’s money on soccer, basketball and Olympic programs than spend one more cent on Hawthorn and the Kangaroos while the AFL stalls on a timeline for a Tasmanian AFL team.

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire (pictured) said Mr Gutwein revealed to him part of his conversation on Wednesday with McLachlan, which included the possibility that Hobart could host a final at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena.

McGuire said the premier was “frustrated” because he believed when the Carter report into a Tasmania AFL team was released last week Mr Gutwein had had a

“deal” in place with McLachlan that the

AFL would

“table a resolution to (club) presidents in December”.

If the AFL continues to sit on the fence about a timeline for Tasmania joining the league, Mr Gutwein would “pivot” the Hawks-Kangaroos millions into other sports.

“He (premier) told me exclusively for Footy Classified if it doesn’t happen, the Hawthorn and North Melbourne deals are off the table,” McGuire said.

“He will pivot the state’s resources into soccer, Olympics and the NBL, which is already there (JackJumpers).

“He said I can live with a no, but he said I won’t cop another 12 to 18 months of indecision. I’m not going to cop that.”

Mr Gutwein was willing to work with the AFL on its Covid recovery and economic recovery. “He was open to a discussion on private ownerships, which wasn’t addressed in the Carter report, and he can push (back) entry of a team to 2026-2030,” McGuire said.

“So he’s not dying in a ditch over a particular date, he just wants to know.”

McGuire said the AFL would address Mr Gutwein’s concerns. “Gill McLachlan told me that we will come together with Tasmania,” McGuire said.