THE AFL Commission has left Hobart with the promise of a taskforce to work towards a Tasmanian team and academy, but with no clear timeframe for either goal to be achieved.
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The commission and state government have agreed to form a jointly-funded working party to examine the pathway for the state to have a one-team model, and for an academy to strengthen the link between junior and elite football.
The working party will also look at strengthening local football, including women’s football, and the future governance of the sport across the state.
Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said it was not clear what the Tasmanian football team would look like, or when it would eventuate.
Mr Fitzpatrick was hesitant to back up AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s comments that the state ‘‘deserved its own team’’.
‘‘Every community in Australia deserves its own AFL team, it’s just about making sure it’s economic and making sure it fits,’’ he said.
‘‘The working party has to look at those issues.’’
Premier Will Hodgman said a Tasmanian academy and team were high priorities for his government.
‘‘[But] it’s probably a 10-15 year proposition before we get a Tasmanian team,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
‘‘I would expect that the work we’re now undertaking contemplates a future beyond the deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne,’’ he said.
Opposition Leader Bryan Green said the outcome of the commission meeting fell well short of expectations.
‘‘It is disappointing that the AFL could not be convinced of the need to establish an academy in Tasmania,’’ Mr Green said.
‘‘Will Hodgman needs to lift his game if Tasmania is to be considered a serious contender to have its own team in the AFL.’’
The membership of the working party is yet to be determined.
