Hawks

Hawthorn and the Tasmanian government have now been in a sponsorship relationship for the last four years and during this time the partnership has been beneficial for both parties.

As reported in the Mercury on March the 10th Hawthorn now has 7338 Tasmanian members with the lofty aim of gaining 10,000 before the year is out. 16% of Hawthorn members are Tasmanian and York Park has given the Hawks a real home ground advantage.

Tasmania has in turn benefitted in the way of Tourism Dollars and jobs. A government media release has the Minister for Tourism, Michelle O’Byrne stating:

We now welcome more than one million visitors a year to Tasmania and a good number of these are coming to watch the footy at Aurora Stadium. The Hawthorn partnership supports up to 300 Tasmanian full-time jobs and generates $15 million worth of economic impact each year – terrific for Tasmania and a great endorsement for AFL football.

Ex premier Paul Lennon has also stated in an article in the Mercury that Hawthorn have now reached their saturation point in the state and they have a firm standing in the north.  The only other way for Tasmania to expand its interest into the AFL was for another team to play games in the south of the state at Bellerive Oval.

Mr Lennon said:

I have always argued this is the logical next step along the way to getting our own team and I still think that is some way off, waiting for our own team in Tasmania is one thing but being pig-headed in that and not looking at an opportunity that exists now is stupid in policy terms.

On the back of all this Richmond have considered playing games at Bellerive as Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale has put a proposal to the board to play two games at Bellerive from next year.  Essendon have also raised interest in Tasmania but only as an away team.  Essendon’s CEO Ian Robson knows the impact of the Tasmanian/Hawthorn deal first hand while at being at Hawthorn for five years before joining the Bombers.

All this could be good timing as the Tasmanian Government go into negotiations with Hawthorn on the future of the sponsorship deal.

As much AFL football as possible should be played in the state if we are serious about one day having our own team.  It would not only lift the standard of local competitions but would give us as a position to learn from the clubs that play at the elite level and show the AFL that Tasmanian’s can consume more than four games a year.

AFL TAS

With the 2010 football season under way, I thought I would recap on the happenings at the top-level in Tasmanian footy.

Tasmania AFL bid

Andrew Demetriou talks about the future of the AFL and the outlook past the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney and that future expansion is almost a certainty.

He stated:

You could be talking about Tasmania being entrenched in the competition and another team in Western Australia. I just know that it (the AFL) won’t look like it does today.

This statement was in relation to the AFL circa 2030. Read the article – Further expansion potential ‘limitless’: Demetriou

Hawks in Tasmania

Hawk’s great Robert DiPierdomenico has called on the Hawthorn football club to extend its deal with the Tasmanian government saying it’s a win/win for both the state and club.

He also stated that the AFL is keeping a close eye on how state football was working.  Read the Article – Hawks great wants Tassie deal to continue

The Hawks might have to look out as Essendon’s chief executive officer and managing director and also Tasmanian born Ian Robson has stated that Essendon would welcome an opportunity to play games in Tasmania.  Robson who was with Hawthorn last year and has seen the opportunities in the Tasmanian market.  Read article – Essendon sees state as lucrative football market

The Wizz and Wacko Jacko

A  faction from the Kermandie football club recruited ex-AFL players Mark “Wacko Jacko” Jackson and Warwick Capper in effort to save the club from the wilderness and make sure the clubs 127 year history continues.

Even with the two high-profile signing the club was still not able to draw enough players to training to field two team in the upcoming 2010 season.  Martin Flanagan wrote an article for the Sydney Morning Herald

TSL Board -V- Clubs

The 10 Tasmanian Statewide Clubs were not represented on the AFL Tasmania board, so to get some representation at the top-level, they have empowered ex Tasmanian premier Paul Lennon to represent them at the board level.

This came about by the board wanting to scrap the reserves competition from the state-wide format and have the clubs run that competition themselves.  Having no representation at the top-level meant that decisions were being made without input from the clubs, who were being effected directly.

In conclusion a lot has happened in the months leading up to this years season, probably more so than any other year.  Stepping stone, pathways and clubs need to be preserved in our state.  Players need to develop but it seems if you are not in elite company when you are a 15-17 year old then you might find it hard to find a  way to progress.

Sam Isles (originally from Clarence) was picked up by the new Gold Coast franchise after a having a good year with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. Isles won the Box Hill Best & Fairest award and also finished third in the association best player award.
He was pick number three overall and part of the first five picks that the Gold Coast could take in the rookie draft & joins fellow Tasmanian’s Maverick Weller & Luke Russell who were picked up early in the year as part of the concessions given to the Gold Coast.

Brodie Moles (originally from Glenorchy) was given a life line by the Western Bulldogs who picked him at number 19.
Moles started his AFL career two years ago when picked up by Geelong in the rookie draft but found it near impossible to get a start in the star-studded midfield down at the cattery.

The last Tasmanian selection was Daniel Archer who played season 2009 with Clarence in the State Wide League.
He was picked in the second round at number 36 by St Kilda.

Sam Isles

Jeromy Webberley

On top of Maverick Weller & Luke Russell who have been picked up by the new Gold Coast team, Tasmania have had another four players drafted into the AFL system via last nights AFL draft.

• Marcus Davies
• Draft Position: Round 3 #43
• Drafted To: Carlton
• Original Club: North Hobart

• Ryan Harwood
• Draft Position: Round 3 #47
• Drafted To: Brisbane Lions
• Original Club: Glenorchy

• Jesse Crichton
• Draft Position: Round 3 #48
• Drafted To: Fremantle
• Original Club: North Launceston

• Jeromey Webberley
• Draft Position: Round 5 #67
• Drafted To: Richmond
• Original Club: Clarence

Below is some video footage of Ryan Harwood & Jesse Crichton in action:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=md_7eeMizkc

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfJa8IpXY8

The World Cup

If Australia’s bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cups is successful, then the AFL may find it’s self with up to an eight week hiatus, as the nations best stadiums will be needed to accommodate the masses of the world.

Launceston’s Aurora stadium has emerged as a venue to play AFL games at if the larger main land stadiums are needed for World Cup duties.

Aurora Stadium manager Robert Groenewegen said yesterday:

We’ve been toying with the idea of being a training base for one of the teams during the World Cup, But we think, given all the major venues in Melbourne that will be tied up, it would actually be better for us to steer clear of that.
Potentially that would mean that we could host a series of (AFL) games throughout that time.
We’ve not yet had any discussions with the AFL, but if they came to us and said, ‘In the advent of this happening, would you be available?’, that’s the other element that we would have to consider.

Football Federation of Australia chief executive Ben Buckley, has met with the AFL to discuss options and one of the options was the AFL could take this opportunity to take games to other cities & towns.

More AFL football in Tasmania would be a great idea, but lets not limit it to just Aurora Stadium. Bellerive with the new lights should be another option. Let’s not stop there, why shouldn’t we try for a World Cup game under lights at either Aurora or Bellerive.

If the Tasmanian bid for a Team in the A-League is fair dinkum, then they and the state government should push for at least one game to be played in the state if Australia is successful. Even if it was Ivory Coast against Slovenia.

Andrew Demitriou may regret the time he refused Tasmania an AFL team, when all our kids are kicking the round ball.

2010 Aurora Stadium AFL Games

Aurora Stadium

It's Time

…. if we were to have another team down the track you would have to say that Tasmania is the logical place for that team to be, we have expressed that view to the Tasmanian Government.

Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett Responded that the prospect was still many years off & in the interim will foster live AFL games within the state.

Jumping in on the news is also Northern Territory football chief executive Tony Frawley, who has put forward a concept of the Northern Territory and Tasmania joining forces for a 19th AFL licence. Bringing the raw talent of the players from the top end with the rich football history of Tasmania.

This leaves all of us Tasmanian’s that want an AFL team with a little hope for the future. Show your support at www.tassiefootyteam.com.au

Marcus Davies

Fremantle’s Stephen Hill holds the record in the agility test of 7.77 seconds and this year Tasmanian Jessie Crichton recorded 8.15 seconds to finish the sixth fastest.

Jesse Crichton

In the new Buckley designed kicking test, Ryan Harwood scored an efficiency of 73%. The best efficiency was Gary Rohan with 77%.

Ryan Harwood

• Fitness Assessment (Height/weight, skin folds, arm length, hand span)
• Psychomotor Tests (Reaction time, decision making, peripheral awareness)
• Sprint, agility, vertical jump testing
• Shuttle Run (the infamous beep test)
• 3km Time-trail
• General skills test
• one-on-one interview with clubs

The camp is a key event in the lead-up to November’s NAB AFL Draft and four young Tasmanian’s are being tested at the camp.

The Tasmanians are; Glenorchy midfielder Ryan Harwood, North Hobart half-back Marcus Davies, Launceston ruckman Joseph Groenewegen and North Launceston midfielder Jesse Crichton.

Ryan Harwood

Mick Callinan Fund

The Mick Callinan Fund was established in August 2005 at the request of Mick Callinan who passed away on 3rd December 2005. Mick was a successful junior football coach and mentors to literally hundreds of young men, shaping them as footballers and many who have gone on to other successful ventures both sporting and in business life.

It was Mick’s intention to carry on what he’d been doing throughout his life by continuing his legacy after he had left us. Thus, the committee was formed and with Mick’s instructions he wished for us to hold an annual charity dinner to provide a vehicle for the fund to raise money to be distributed between Cancer Council of Tasmania for cancer research and financial assistance for junior sports players, sporting clubs and community groups.

This years event will be held in the Tasman room at the Wrest Point Casino and tickets are on sale now by contacting Janine at Wrest Point Service Centre on 03 6221 1706. Tickets cost $110.00 (or $1000.00 per table of 10). This includes a 3 course meal, all your basic beer, wine, & soft drink (until 11.30pm), guest speakers, comedian (Gavin Baskerville) and local band RPM (members of popular local Hobart band Morning Glory).

Guests include Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), Michael O’Loughlin (Sydney Swans) and Ursula Beck (Aust Female Body Building Champion).

A great night for a good cause, so get along.

Please contact Scott Morrisby if you have any question about the dinner or the fund on 0409 342 055.

Download the MCF Dinner 2009 Flyer