The AFL commission has officially awarded the state of Tasmania the league’s 19th team licence, following “decades of advocacy.” Image source: Jenks24, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The AFL commission has officially awarded the state of Tasmania the league’s 19th team licence, following “decades of advocacy.”
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and major AFL stakeholders arrived in Hobart on Wednesday to announce the historic decision.
“Yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the AFL Commission, where all commissioners were present, the AFL Commission resolved to award a licence based on conditions to a Tasmanian club, a decision that will finally make our national competition truly national,” McLachlan announced at North Hobart Oval.
“Today is the result of nearly 150 years of football passion by Tasmania and their proud and passionate football community … and frankly decades of advocacy.”
The new team is expected to join the league in 2028, with plans for the AFLW team to start in the following year.
“Our time has finally come,” Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said of the decision.
The introduction of the Tasmanian team hinges on the construction of a 23,000-seat stadium planned for Hobart’s Macquarie Point.
The $715 million stadium project—which has secured the last of its funding from the federal government—is a controversial decision among locals, many of whom have concerns for the adverse impact construction will have on the city’s arts and cultural centre.
The premier confirmed a deal for the long-awaited licence was signed on Wednesday.
Despite the mixed opinions on the stadium project, the introduction of a Tasmanian team has been broadly welcomed by the state.
“You cannot leave Tasmania off the map and call yourself an Australian Football League,” Rockliff said.
“Today, at midday, we changed all that. We change the course of history not only for the AFL, but for Tasmania itself.”
The team’s name, colours and mascot are still to be decided, but the “Tasmanian Devils” is looking to be an early frontrunner.
