Former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou says it's time for Tasmania to sever lingering ties with both Hawthorn and North Melbourne when their current contracts expire.
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The two clubs committed to deals under Demetriou's watch at a time that included knocking back a Tasmanian bid in favour of overseeing future expansion with Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants.
The league chief executive, from 2004 until 2014, was known to be privately fuming after the Hawks re-signed with the state government for five more years in 2016.
The government forked out $21 million from the last Hawthorn deal, and its state operated TT-Line picked up the bill for North Melbourne after City of Hobart council withdrew its backing.
"You can only be complimentary of the governments in the time that I was there because they've always supported it," Demetriou said.
"It started with [Premier] Jim Bacon, but it's very hard to keep spending taxpayers' money every year.
"If the Hodgman Government can see a plan, a vision, one that the people buy into, then I do think ditching their support for Hawthorn and North Melbourne instead for a Tasmanian team playing down there will be critical."
The AFL has backed a Tasmanian taskforce to report by the end of the year about the prospects of a 19th team.
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With no influence on the AFL, Demetriou is only an interested sideline observer.
"With the quality of people on the taskforce, I think they're going about it the right way," Demetriou said.
Demetriou was in charge when a state government bid was last declined in 2008.
Speculation that Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon back in 2008 was snubbed for 15 minutes in overlooking the meeting was something Demetriou could not recall.
"I just don't think it was the right time when it was all said and done," he said.
"What we do know is they've got another 10 years of experience of Hawthorn and North Melbourne there.
"The sort of issues around Hobart and Launceston just aren't really there any more.
"You have good crowds and support and great Tasmanian membership numbers with great local support.
"Another 10 years on, it's all the better for it and much different environment and it's got a lot more promise."
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