Australian Test captain Tim Paine has thrown his support behind the state government's ultimatum on a Tasmanian AFL team.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A letter from Premier Peter Gutwein to the AFL has outlined that deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne will cease should Tasmania not be presented with a timeline for its own team.
"What I've asked for from the AFL is either a timeline for our own licence, or they explain very clearly that they're not going to give us one," he said.
This comes after a year without response to a 267-page Tasmanian AFL taskforce report on the viability of a team by 2025.
"He's [Gutwein] been really vocal and clear on what we want as Tasmanians and he's pushed for that really well," Paine said.
"We've [Tasmania] tried a number of things to work with them [AFL] and, from the outside, it doesn't look like we've got any further down the track."
This is certainly not the first time Paine has lent his support to the state's AFL push.
The gloveman donned a traditional 'map' jersey in 2019 during the United We Stand campaign, which received more than 60,000 pledges of support. Considered an AFL-level talent as a junior, Paine knew the saga for a team has been a long one.
"As long as I can remember we've been talking about it and nothing seems to happen," Paine said.
With the state continuing to leak quality talent, Paine said the promise of a team would give hope to many a young footballer eager to stay in Tasmania.
"Whether it's a Test cricketer, AFL footballer or an NBL basketballer - kids want heroes," he said.
"If we can have guys they can see in the skin rather than on telly, I think it makes a huge impact.
"I got to see Ricky Ponting and David Boon and through my uncle [Robert Shaw] I went to AFL clubs and rubbed shoulders with people - for us to have that in Tasmania is going to be really important. If people can see or touch it - it can become a reality."
Gutwein said he spoke to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan over the phone, and would receive a reply in one week.