Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has been pushing the AFL to set a timeline for the introduction of a Tasmanian team. The problem that Gutwein has is that he is working on the assumption that a Tassie team is actually going to happen at all.
The reality is that this is about as likely as Albert Einstein being the young Tasmanian apple farmer who invented the electric guitar.
The biggest, and most obvious problem, is actually nailed by Guitwein himself – the southern island is AFL heartland. They love footy in Tassie.
This means there is very little new exposure to be gained, whereas expansion teams like Greater Western Syney and Gold Coast have, at the very least, added 12 seconds of AFL coverage to the nightly sports news in rugby-dominated states.
Putting a team there would be like Coles building a new supermarket in a suburb where the nearest supermarkets are already Coles – there aren’t any new customers being pinched from Woolies.
This is even more important considering the AFL is shipping games in – they are potentially already soaking up the possible attendances, and creating a nice sponsorship model with little need for investment.
There are demographic issues, too. Assuming the new team is based out of Hobart (population 226,884), you would be trying to expand into a city smaller than Geelong (253,269), and with no massive growth areas like the western corridor of Melbourne.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The population is overwhelmingly Caucasian and English-speaking, leaving little growth for new multicultural groups.
Not only is there a small population, but the incomes are also lower – census data shows the median weekly family income for a household is $1100, compared to $1438 for the rest of the country. In all, there are fewer people with more limited means to sell memberships to.
This will probably lead to a boatload of passengers with pitchforks leaving Launceston on the Spirit, but I’m going to throw it out there – when I think of Tasmania, the mental image doesn’t match up to elite AFL.
I think of beautiful natural areas, sleepy Rosehaven-like towns, and cold and wet.
The point is – I don’t think of growth and AFL expansion when I think of Tassie.
The bid itself has an image problem as well.
Green, red and yellow-wearing Tasmanian Devils? Again?
It’s been done so many times, and it’s so predictable – let it go, I cry! Show us something else (and no, not a tiger).
It is also worth acknowledging the effect a new team would have on the competition. Would the new team mean the end of existing sponsorship deals with Hawthorn (worth a cool $20 million over four years) and North Melbourne ($3 million)?
If it does, will this money gravitate towards the new team, or just disappear? Even if it does go toward a new team, it is awfully brave to base a club on being underwritten on government policy.
I wonder about the player drain – do we have enough elite-level players to make it worth it, or are we diluting the talent pool too much? Could we end up with another team full of young guns waiting to go home on their next contract?
The AFL itself probably isn’t in the best shape either – no one is denying a new venture is going to cost money, but it probably isn’t the best time to storm into Gillon McLachlan’s office and demand a new team while he is looking at $22 million loss caused by COVID.
Speaking of the bat bug, COVID actually creates a few issues here, especially as the big sponsorship push seems to be based on tourism – is there any benefit to anyone if no one can go to away games?
Whilst I appreciate the sentimentality of supporting heartland AFL, I think the Tasmanian Premier is being a bit naïve at best, and probably political at worst.
Sure, he can hold back sponsorship dollars, but I’m sure Tasmanians won’t be happy if the AFL calls his bluff.
Unless something drastically changes, the eight games a year will be the best the Southern Isle will get.
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
Three for gold coast
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
I’m the same as you, although I’m from NSW.
RT
Roar Rookie
Missing the footy tonight Gabe? I'm watching last year's prelim!
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
And 3 for Gold Coast
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
Anastasia doesn’t want or care about them either.
Gabe F
Roar Rookie
They have 2 professional sporting stadiums at either end of the state that they could use for any ball sport in the world. Why not build a club there? Lots of membership sales would be made from the footy loving public. Not like GWS or Gold Coast who have no one committing to membership.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Nice of you to throw a compliment to Geelong F.C. Richie.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
The AFL will not allow a team to fail so they will not start a team in Tassie that are going to be on a permanent financial drip. They have already pumped millions into the GCS with little result so far. You are assuming a home based team will spark more interest in the juniors but what happens if it does not? Where are the AFL grade players going to come from for at least the first 10 years?
Republican
Guest
Insulting is a word I often use in this debate because it is insulting and degrades the integrity of the indigenous code, to be gifting elite status to historically bereft demographics i.e GWS, GC and now potentially the most insulting of all - NZ, ahead of the likes of Tassie, the NT and the ACT.
Republican
Guest
Couldn't agree more. There seems to be some perfidious politicking that smacks of ulterior motive on the part of the AFL and indeed many who talk Tassie down on this forum. The double standard is breathtaking while the Nations Capital, albeit less historically significant to the indigenous code, also deserves a stand alone entity for all the reasons you have articulated. Manuka Ovals capacity is to be expanded from its current 15K to around 20k I believe to accommodate this growth in footy while even the concocted Giants pull anywhere between 11k & 15k depending on the fixture.
Republican
Guest
......to be sure.
RT
Roar Rookie
And even if it doesn't, it will for your kids or grandkids.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
What a ludicrous comment. If we don’t get an AFL side into Tassie, then footy will continue to go downhill, clubs fold. At what point do we say Tassie is no longer a footy heartland. Then, based on your logic, we can have a Tassie side.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Nah....having an elite comp is driving AFLW. Having an elite cricket side drives women’s cricket. Elite comps and the ability for younguns to watch their hero’s will help drive junior participation.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Article: We need to talk about Tassie https://www.theroar.com.au/2021/02/28/we-need-to-talk-about-tassie/
Adam Mason
Guest
Tasmania was only admitted to Shield cricket in 1977. We now have 3 titles and 4 one day trophies. We have also produced Boon, Ponting and Paine. A Tasmanian AFL team could be just as competitive. The cricket team has the strong and proud backing of the Tasmanian public, in all areas of the state. The fact that Tasmania is a footy heartland should not be used as a reason not to field a team. At junior level soccer and hockey are rapidly gaining popularity. At the local school my children attend, I witnessed something remarkable last year on grand final eve. I saw one solitary boy kicking a sherrin to himself. A swarm of other children were playing a scratch game of hard fought soccer. The AFL needs to move fast if it wants to maintain footy as the most watched game in Tasmania.
Thatsashame
Roar Rookie
Absolutely one of the most ludicrous articles ever written with 0 facts. This is simple. If the AFL is prepared to keep pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into GWS and GC, areas where people don't give a toss, then Tasmania should be an absolute priority. And here is why. Tasmanians love their footy. Give them a team and they will attend and be members. You will never get 12000 to a game in Tassy like you do in Sydney. The grounds will be full, MORE than enough to be almost self sufficient. You talk rubbish when saying there's no growth. What growth is required when the whole state already lives the sport?? Our 2 interstate starters have nothing, no support and will always be bandwagaoners. 'Give is sucdes and we will follow, stop winning games and goodbye'. A team in Tassy will cost the AFL nothing compared to what thyw continually invest in GWS and GC. It's an absolute disgrace they dint already have one and an insult to all the players that have come from that state.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
West Coast is very wet.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Wow, strange. I assume the west coast of Tassie makes up for it. I heard living there is hard, hence not many people do: rain, wind, storms, swell, etc.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The lower east coast of Tasmania, in the summer, looks almost as dry as Adelaide.