As the clock ticks towards midnight for Tasmania's push to finally have a place at the AFL table, the state's political leaders have come together in a show of force.
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Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Labor leader Rebecca White and Greens leader Cassy O'Connor have sent a strong message to league bosses as the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce launches its Believe Tasmanian campaign, encouraging people to pledge their support ahead of AFL club presidents voting on the state's bid in August.
"The Tasmanian Liberal government has long been a Believer in our own AFL side and we are proud to stand with the AFL Taskforce, opposition parties, and the community in joining this last push to deliver it,' Mr Rockliff said.
"Tasmania is an AFL heartland state and our goal to have our own AFL and AFLW teams has never been closer.
"The evidence from the taskforce and the independent review conducted by Colin Carter could not be clearer- the decision not only stacks up financially, but will complete the AFL by making it a truly national competition and ensure AFL participation continues to grow and flourish.
"With history now hanging in the balance, all footy fans can play a role. I urge everyone who supports a Tasmanian team to become a Believer and add your voice to this last push ahead of the decision being made by club presidents in the coming months."
Ms White said the time was now for the state considering its rich history with the sport and would allow the AFL to become a truly national competition.
"The success of the JackJumpers [in the NBL] proves that Tasmanians will get behind a team in a national competition. The AFL team bid stacks up financially and there is bipartisan agreement for any deal struck between the AFL and the Tasmanian government,'' she said.
Ms O'Connor said her party was keen to see "genuine home-grown talent representing the state in the national league".
"The Greens are determined that, if the state's licence bid is successful, Tasmania's men's and women's teams will have the same start date in 2027,'' she said.
"This island has given so much to the game. The Greens are glad to be on this unity ticket because this island deserves its own AFL and AFLW teams."
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Taskforce chairman Brett Godfrey described the tripartisan support as "remarkable", and showed that the idea of division in the state was "a myth".
"There are two things about this which are very valuable, one being that it shows we have a unified approach,'' the former Virgin Australia chief said.
"The second thing is that for us as the taskforce we have always believed that this has to be affordable for Tasmania and accountability to this process.
"Having these three parties on side with what we are proposing to discuss with the AFL and having their backing with that gives us great confidence to negotiate,'' he said.
Mr Godfrey described the new campaign as the "transition to becoming a football club".
"We said in our business case that by 2028 on current projections basketball would pass football and that was before the JackJumpers, so we genuinely believe that things are not great in the state for football right now, and we know that is because of the aspiration, so this the last chance to get our voice heard,'' he said.
Information on the campaign is available at https://believetasmanian.com.au/