Launceston football fans divided over Carter Report findings into new Tasmania AFL side

The long-awaited review into the feasibility of a Tasmanian AFL side was released on Friday, suggesting a new team, a relocated Victorian club or a joint venture between Tasmania and Victorian side as options.

Ahead of Saturday's match between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, The Examiner gauged the views of those in the crowd.

Football fans Zac Piesse and Bradley Dunn shared the sentiment that Tasmania's best pathway to the AFL would be via a relocated team.

"We believe that the first two options are good, to have its own team or potentially bringing its own team as in transferring a team from Victoria or wherever, probably the Gold Coast," Mr Piesse said.

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Mr Dunn believed that St Kilda or North Melbourne would be potential candidates to make the move to Tasmania.

"I think an established football side from Melbourne to come and relocate to Tasmania with an established list and board, change them to full Tasmanian based, Tasmanian jumper and Tasmanian name," he said.

"I think that would be better financially than starting a fresh team, they'd be competitive."

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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has previously ruled out moving the struggling Gold Coast Suns franchise.

Earlier this year, St Kilda president Andrew Bassett indicated that the club would be open to exploring opportunities in Tasmania.

"If there were a secondary market opportunity in Tasmania, we'd be crazy not to take it," he told The Age at the time.

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The Saints played home games at UTAS Stadium (formerly York Park) between 2003 and 2006.

Others, like Hawthorn supporter Emily Davidson, believe that Hawthorn's presence in Tasmania negates the need for a Tasmanian side.

Darren McConnon believed that Tasmania deserved its own side.

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Mr Dunn pointed to the Gold Coast Suns as an example of what can go wrong when creating a new football side.

"Look at the Gold Coast, [they've] been terrible for 12 years, the novelty will wear off in five to 10 years," he said.

"If the [Tasmanian side] are competitive it will drive membership and attendance for the short future."

Premier Peter Gutwein outlined his opposition to a joint venture and expressed his desire to see a new Tasmanian side created.

The Tasmanian Government previously put talks to extend deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne, whose contracts to play four games in the state finish at the end of this season, on hold.

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