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.

Here’s an exert:

Not even if Mars sells candy bars until Tasmania turns into one big pimple. A
dollar spent in Tasmania will draw no growth, the riches will come from western
Sydney.
So this is what you drongos in Sydney, so scared of rain and a day
trip to ANZ Stadium, have done to us. Another evangelical bout of Tassie
worshippers. More months of Tim Lane weeping for his homeland. Shame on you,
Sydneysliders, shame.

Awsome, he didn’t miss many people out.

“Tasmanians need to be re-paid for their loyalty to the AFL because we have been
very passionate football supporters but the AFL is determined to convert people
instead in areas where people are not passionate supporters of football,”

Tommy Hafey believes the AFL has become complacent with the growth of the game in Tasmania and takes the state’s heritage for granted.

If you want to support the bid for a Tasmanian side check this web site out:  www.tassiefootyteam.com.au

To me it seems a shame that local football gets one or two article per competition per week, probably 1/8th of a page and all the Mercury sports resources are chasing a dream that has already been knocked on the head by AFL head honcho Andrew Demetriou.

I would love to have a local team in the best competition but I also believe that local grass roots football needs an injection and not just treated like a second class citizen, or this great AFL Tasmanian side wont have local players to play in it.

The AFL’s near future plans of growing the game nationally by including teams from the Gold Coast (QLD) and Blacktown (NSW) and not from Tasmania could mean Tasmania could go further into the Australian Rules black hole.

A group, is looking into the creation of a Tasmanian Soccer side to play in the national A-League and by getting in early could reap the corporate dollar before any Tasmanian AFL side does.

Soccer popularity in Tasmania continues to rise with 140 soccer clubs, fielding 1100 teams.  The numbers are there and good young players will have a path to follow and then maybe one day play for Australia in a world cup or even better, earn hundred’s of thousand a week playing in one of the many leagues around the world.

Tasmanian and CEO of Football Federation Australia, Ben Buckley, is Quoted as saying: 

“I welcome any interest from Tasmania in regards to the A-League,” he said.
“The door is not closed on anyone.”

Soccer is a big danger to Australian Rules Football in this state, and the league administrations and clubs need some sort of boost or we could be all going to the Soccer to watch the football.

Check the article out, from the Advocate.

19 year old Tasmanian Matthew Wade made his debut for victoria recently. 

This came after Wade made some hard decisions to play cricket instead of pursuing a career in AFL football, and choosing to pursue a cricket career away from his home state were two wicketkeepers seemed to have that position sown up and he believed his opportunities were going to be limited.

Wade did pretty well to get a Guernsey before Adam Crosthwaite but didn’t let the selectors down by scoring: 83 & 5 Not Out and taking 6 catches for the match.

Not a bad start. Pity we could not keep him at home.

                                                                                                        Wade in action for Tassie

Chief Executive Officer Cameron Schwab said:

“Chris has an outstanding coaching pedigree with the acumen and experience to manage this critical area of the club’s operations.

“We have a relatively mature playing list with strong short to medium term prospects, it is necessary to be continually developing our playing list for the future and Chris will play a critical role in that development.

“Chris will also play a central role in Mark Harvey’s coaching team and we will be making full-use of his coaching expertise.”

• Melbourne forward Russell Robertson re-signed on at the Demons for another two seasons after being wooed by the Western Bulldogs.

“Supporters found the expense to travel way to high.”

In reference to a new revamped statewide league

“I would suggest give up on the state wide league, give up
on the Tassie Devils and bring back the mariners (under 18′) to represent our
state and give them a stepping stone to the AFL……. “

“Promote what good football we have in Southern Tasmania.
We need the media to put bums on seats. Premier and Regional League do not get
enough recognition.”