Tasmania’s hopes of receiving an AFL license have gained a major boost, per SEN’s Chief reporter Sam Edmund.
The issue of a 19th AFL license came to a head last year in April following Colin Carter’s report into the issue, which found that Tasmania deserved to host its own team.
A meeting of the AFL club presidents has been put on the agenda to vote on the potential club, which will come in 2022.
Edmund joined SEN Breakfast to reveal a change to the voting process for the Tasmanian team, as well as when the meeting is likely to take place.
“The presidents’ meeting, early next month, maybe a week or two away … this bid by Tasmania for an AFL team will be at the top of the agenda,” Edmund began.
“It’s at this meeting that a date will be set for the all-important vote from the presidents. We think that will take place sometime in August, but I’m told the AFL and the Tasmanian taskforce that has been set up for this team have been in regular discussions over the Christmas period and the new years’ period, and there’s now real optimism from the island state.
“The two parties have come a long way from the immediate aftermath of Colin Carter’s report, where Peter Gutwein, the Premier, and Gil McLachlan, went head-to-head and Gutwein threatened to ban the AFL from the state.
“A lot of bread has been broken since then.
“Now I’m told the AFL has been supportive of Tasmania’s bid for a 19th team at an executive level, so what this means voting wise - which has been very muddy, the voting process for this team - is with the AFL’s support, I’m told what Tassie needs from the 18 Presidents is only a one-third majority.
“Prior to this, if the AFL just fully delegated, it was a two-thirds majority, 12 of the 18 presidents had to say, ‘we tick the box and you’re in’.
“But with the AFL on board, I’m told it will take two-thirds of the presidents to actually vote it down.
“Now Tassie only needs the six presidents.
“It’s a bit like Olympic bidding, they’re working the room all the time… and it’s all building towards August.”
In response to the report, former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley outlined his reservations about bringing in an additional team.
The AFL confirmed in 2021 it had suffered a $22 million loss for the year prior, while the league also sustained a $43 million loss last year as the pandemic continued to interrupt cash flows.
Clubs’ soft caps have been cut and Buckley provided a unique insight into seeing some of his co-workers lose their jobs.
He ultimately believes it’s not a viable option to bring in a new team as things stand.
“I’ve just come out of clubland and having football department funds slashed and a lot of coaches have lost their job, that’s with 18 teams in the competition,” Buckley stated.
“The only way you can do to the 19th team is if it is absolutely commercially advantageous to the rest of the competition.
“They (AFL) are leaking cash, everywhere, and there are clubs that are having to be propped up, so how can you even consider bringing another team into the competition.
“It doesn’t get you an extra game (per week), one time has a bye and you have the same amount of games, so you don’t get anymore broadcast (money).
“I’m not from Tassie, I’m sure everyone from there wants a team. I’m from the NT, and I know an NT has been speculated.
“One thing I’d be quick to say about that is that you’re not going to have many Territorians in your side, and a Tasmanian team isn’t going to have many Tasmanians in their side either.
“So don’t start thinking it’s a state team.
“They’ve been a massive contributor to football over a number of decades, (but) I don’t think it stacks up.
“It needs to work commercially, because right now there’s a drain on the league.
“The only way it happens (is) if another club drops out, and that’s a bigger discussion.”
If a 19th license is voted for by club presidents, the team would not join the league for at least several years, likely more.
Buckley believes it’s a topic worth coming back to in the future, but added there’s a long way to go.
“You’ve always got to have that dream alive and keep thinking in Utopia we should have a team in Tassie, and I think there should be a representation from a football state like Tassie because it has contributed so heavily to footy over the years, and I think that would be a fair thing to do,” he continued.
“But there’s still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge.
“Not now, no.
“(And for the future the) 19th team should only come in if the 20th team is going to come in, I don’t think you should have teams sitting out.”