He who hesitates is lost.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The he – in this case – is the AFL or, in particular, Gill McLachlan. Before that, it was Andrew Demetriou.
The loss? Well, that would be Tasmanian footy – forever.
Tasmania has plummeted from the unequivocal fourth major state of Australian rules – behind Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia – to basically dead last, all in just a generation.
No wonder this is the case.
The AFL has been too busy pumping millions into the game elsewhere, that is specifically New South Wales and Queensland.
It all makes perfect commercial sense when the two biggest markets in Australia are relatively untapped.
But Tasmania has never been part of the AFL plans for expansion – ever.
We all know that, sadly.
As it stands, barring the Big Bash Twenty20 franchise Hobart Hurricanes, there is no sporting club in Tasmania playing in a national league.
The interest from Netball Australia for a Tasmanian team remains encouraging.
The Constellation Cup test match between Australia and New Zealand this October could be a precursor of things to come. Maybe not next season, but soon enough in the future.
The Australian Ice Hockey League and the Australian Baseball League is a bit of a stretch, although the former have considered the island state in its future. As for the NBL, it has come and gone.
But should the A-League widen its horizons, Tasmania should be on its radar.
Talk that the competition would increase from 10 clubs to 12 or even 14, could one day open the door for a new Tasmanian side.
Football Federation Australia, however, should seriously consider a set-up of two divisions: the A-League and the A-Championship.
Promotion and relegation: two up and two down. The A-Championship minor premier and its grand-final winner advance – should they not be the same – and the A-League wooden spooner and a playoff between second and third bottom to decide who else is relegated.
For its first year, the A-League’s current 10 clubs are joined by 10 new franchisees in the A-Championship.
Imagine the middle-to-small sport markets proudly boasting of their own team on the national stage?
Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast (again, but without Clive Palmer’s involvement, please), Wollongong, Canberra, Geelong, Morwell (yes, Morwell Falcons is a big deal in Victorian soccer), Hobart...and, even, Launceston for the North.
Should the FFA decide on two 12-club divisions, extra sides for Brisbane (Strikers) and Adelaide (City), plus add Auckland and Christchurch.
Pie in the sky stuff? Most certainly. But what would the AFL’s next move be?
Either way, Tasmania would be the better for it.
