Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett is adamant that each of the Victorian teams should play a game against the Hawks in Tasmania once every four and a half years.
I’ll be the first to admit that, considering Tasmania does not have an AFL team, the arrangement which Hawthorn is currently working under with the Apple Isle deserves recognition.
But that does not mean every other club should jump on board the Tasmanian train.
Under Kennett’s arrangement, two of the nine Victorian teams (aside from Hawthorn) will play a game in Tasmania on a rotation basis each year.
We are all sympathetic towards Tasmania’s plight to get an AFL team up and going. But why would big-drawing teams, such as Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon, want to go and play a game at Aurora Stadium, considering the capacity is just 22,000?
This may service the fans in Tasmania, but thousands of Victorian members are then deprived of a home-and-away game.
I get the feeling Kennett has offered his views and not considered the other side of the argument.
Take his words on the weekend, for example, when he was asked how Collingwood would view the proposal: “If it was our home game, I don’t think Eddie (McGuire) would mind at all.”
Opposition clubs will mind because a game in Tasmania – especially for the power clubs – will cost them money and, perhaps, a home game on the fixture.
Kennett wants to service the Tasmanian community and give them the opportunity to see all Victorian teams over a four and a half year period.
That’s fine, but the AFL has shown their hand on the prospects of a team in Tasmania and it can’t be left to other clubs to foot the bill.
Kennett believes it is not asking much for each Victorian team to play a game once every four and a half years, but not all of his fellow presidents will see it that way.
If Tasmania got the nod ahead of the new Gold Coast team, would all clubs be made to adopt the Gold Coast and play regular matches there?
I don’t think so.
Why should Tasmania be any different? The relationship with Hawthorn is sufficient in my view.
There is already enough trouble with the poorer clubs selling home games. Let’s not make the problem worse.
Timmypig
Guest
I was in Hobart in Sep 2006. Last round of the tri-nations; NRL finals underway .... did these get ANY air time in Tassie? Did they my @rse! It was AFL AFL AFL. Tassie is loyal to the point of obsession to Aussie Rules, and the AFL treats it as a nursery - we'll take your players, we'll let Hawthorn pretend they have some kind of association for 40 pieces of silver - but when push comes to shove ..... We all know how that ends up. This proposal is eminently fair, and if it costs the wealthiest sporting organisation in the country a few hundred thousand bananas then they really ought to have some decency and be a good corporate citizen.
Brian
Guest
Would Carlton give up their Visy money or Geelong their Ford money? Obviously not but the Tassie govt is free at the end of the contract to negotiate will whoever they like, not just Hawthorn. As it was they signed the current deal with Hawthorn. If $50m can be poured into West Sydney & GC every year forcing Collingwood to travel every two years why such a fuss over the same clubs travelling to Tasmania every 5 years.
Redb
Roar Guru
Brian, To take my point further. Would Hawthorn be willing to give up some of the sponsor money from the Tassie Govt to allow North Melb, Melbourne or the Western Bulldogs to play home games in Tassie? It makes sense to play the interstate clubs in Tassie as these games draw low crowds, but for bigger games the AFL has always tried to maximise the number of fans who can attend games, this flies completely in the face of that policy which I happen to agree with. Who could argue that Melbourne v Fremantle this weekend would not be a perfect candidate for a ground switch to a smaller venue. They will be lucky to get 12,000 at the MCG this weekend. Redb
Tom
Guest
It's not the end of the story at all. Why should the away team dictate where the game should be played? If this is what Hawthorn want to do with their home games, then fine. No loss to the away team, at least in a financial sense. It makes good business for the Tasmanian government to push for this as well. One of the big boosts for their tourism industry is Melbourne based fans flying over for the matches. If they rotate the game between all the clubs it's likely to increase the number of people who make the trip at least once.
Luke D'Anello
Guest
Well, with a capacity of 22,000, compared to 80,000 at the 'G, there is an obvious difference. But it depends if the deal is done with incentives?? And, with the way the fixture is, the two teams who find themselves playing the Hawks in Tassie that season may find themselves a home game short to accomodate for the system. I have no trouble with teams playing in Tassie - if they want to. It's not up to Jeff Kennett to come out and speak on behalf of other clubs about how "great" it would be for everyone. Clubs will play in Tasmania if they want to - end of story.
Jamie McTaggart
Roar Rookie
Considering Tassie are not going to get an AFL team within next 5 years, I think the partnership between the Hawks and Tassie has been great for everyone. By committing long term, hawks grow their membership, Tassie government sees the tourism numbers increase and the population can connect with a 'local' team and see competivie AFL footy. The next step is to start rotating all the away teams through Tassie over the coming years so everyone on the Apple Isle can see their team during the season. I agree it is restrictive compared to numbers who would go to MCG but there is more to it than attendance numbers and money. It is easy to be cynical but i have still to hear any viable alternative and more importantly I would like to hear what some footy fans in tassie have to say who I am sure value this engagement.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Hawks, I believe, get 400k per game when they play in Tassie. All Kennett wants to do is thank Tassie by inviting bigger clubs to play matches against them in Launceston. What a great Samaritan... Not!!
Brian
Guest
A few years ago St Kilda did play 2 home games in Tassie and it was St Kilda's wish to get out of their own contract for 2 games a year that saw Hawthorn's quota increase from 2 to 4. Hawthorn has never objected to other clubs playing in Tasmania.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Agree with redb - silly concept to cut your attendance by up to 50,000 for a game in Tassie. Only last week we had the top team play down there (a team with strong links to Tassie I might add) - but you can't blame the AFL for not wanting to swap a full MCG for a game in Lonnie.
Redb
Roar Guru
Not sure of the value for the Essendon, Carlton and Collingwood clubs or fans. We make up the big 'away' crowds in the Melbourne market. It is robbing tens of thousands of fans a chance to see their team. Funny how Hawthorn aren;'t willing to give up Tassie for another Melbourne team to play 'home' games. If he was I would take this more seriously for the benefit of Tassie football. So what about letting North Melb, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs play Freo and Port in Tassie each year, that would create even more AFL games in the Apple Isle? Redb
Michael C
Guest
Having a guarantee of Hawthorn hosting each of Coll, Carl, Rich and Ess at Launceston once each over each 4.5 yr period, would provide momentum to increase capacity say to 30,000 which would assist for any future more to have a permanent Tassie AFL side...........but, what would the good folk of Hobart think about that?
Brett McKay
Guest
Of course they could fix the problem by putting the 18th team in Tasmania and ending this Western Sydney charade....
Brian
Guest
The proposal seems logical to me. What Collingwood can't play 1 away game every 5 years in Tasmania? The trouble starts with teams having a say in where they play their away games. Surely all clubs should play their home games wherever they wish
Tom
Guest
"Opposition clubs will mind because a game in Tasmania – especially for the power clubs – will cost them money and, perhaps, a home game on the fixture." Can you explain this Luke? Why would Collingwood or any other club lose money or a home game by playing an away game in Tasmania?