AFL to decide on Tassie team by August

THE AFL has declared it will have a definite position on a Tasmanian licence by August next year, as it prepares to talk to clubs on Monday about the new timeline.

In a week in which News Corp revealed Alastair Clarkson would be a driving force for a new team’s push for a 19th licence, the AFL’S Commission will meet on Monday in Perth. It was revealed on Sunday that as few as seven clubs would need to vote for a new licence for it to be approved per the AFL’S rules, instead of a two-third majority.

Mclachlan said, ahead of the meeting of club presidents, the league would put a decision to them by July or August next year.

“The (Tasmanian) discussion will pick up post the grand final. The framework has been laid out,” he said. “The alternatives are a new licence, a hybrid mode, or a relocation. I think people will feel pretty comfortable there are not any clubs putting their hands up to relocate, so it’s a race in two.

“A critical part is what it looks like for the Tasmanian government and the commerciality and clearly it’s in working out if it’s feasible.

“We have a meeting on

Monday with club presidents and it will come up there and that will frame up our discussions with the state government. Probably by July or August next year is when a decision will be rolled out.”

Mclachlan told ABC Radio the league would not break even compared with a grand final at the MCG, but had done well given the expanded corporate areas at the Perth venue.