Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Gillon McLachlan confirms entry of Tasmanian teams into AFL and AFLW competitions

Gillon McLachlan confirms entry of Tasmanian teams into AFL and AFLW competitions
May 3, 2023

Visiting Tasmania today, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan has confirmed that a Hobart-based team will enter the AFL and AFLW competitions - although not until 2028.

McLachlan made the announcement alongside Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, acknowledging the years of lobbying and planning that had gone into the quest for a new team.

McLachlan told reporters at North Hobart Oval "I want to pay great credit to the resilience of the state government and passion of football people in this stage that have hung in. The building blocks are now substantial and this team is going to be a great success.”

AFL club Presidents yesterday morning unanimously backed the League's plan for a Tasmanian team, followed by the AFL Commission endorsing the vote later in the day.

With the 19th licence now granted, the AFL and Tasmanian Government will now select a chair and board of directors before working on details for a training and administration base in the coming months. A community campaign will be launched later in the year to select the name, logo, guernsey and song for the new club.

With the AFL men's team is expected to enter join the competition for the 2028 Toyota Premiership season, a state league side could be ready to play by as soon as 2025. Simultaneously, a timeline for the women's entry in the NAB AFLW competition is being assessed.

The five-year entry period is considerably longer than other recent expansion teams.

Gold Coast entered the AFL in 2011 after being officially granted the 17th licence in April 2009 and Greater Western Sydney was granted the 18th licence in 2010, two years before they entered the AFL.

McLachlan said the League has learned invaluable lessons from Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney's entrances into the AFL and is confident other clubs won't be disadvantaged too much by the inclusion of a new team.

He noted "I think we've learnt a lot about list builds and how we do that to ensure more immediate success, rather than longer-term success.

"We've got tools and free agency. We learnt a lot on how you do that with limited impact on the rest of the competition. In the end, in our heavily regulated and equalised game, you need the right people in the right slots making the right decisions.

"We will, reasonably quickly and with the support of the clubs, get a set of rules to put the squad together. It will be good decision-making after that.

"The drafts will be much less compromised than they have been in the past. Free agency will give us leverage to do that. There are more mechanisms now and more liquidity in the player market that we think we can use to have a competitive team from day one, with much less impact on the competition."

McLachlan went on to note that the 'Tassie Devils' is the name he would favour for the new team.

However, he noted that there may be “legalities” relating to that name.

Trademark clash over Tassie Devils team name?
The AFL potential planning to name its new team as the ‘Tassie Devils’ and ‘Tasmania Devils’ – which it has trademarked - could bring it into conflict with USA-based entertainment giant Warner Bros. which holds trademarks relating to its Tasmanian Devil cartoon character (also spelled Tazmanian Devil).

First created in the 1960s, when the Looney Tunes name was trademarked, the character was revived in the 1990s and attained widespread popularity.

With any use of a similar name by the AFL likely to result in legal action by Warner Bros., it would be expected that the League will come to an arrangement with the entertainment company

McLachlan has acknowledged this, but suggested issue they could be navigated.

He noted “devils seems to make sense to me.

“I know there are broad-minded people at Warner Bros. I imagine there will be a big push for that type of look.”

Images: Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan and acting Prime Minister Richard Marles celebrate the new 19th AFL club licence in Tasmania with locals (top) and the trio at North Hobart Oval today (below). Credit: AFL Photos.

Related Articles

2nd May 2023 - AFL Club Presidents unanimously approve 19th team licence for Tasmania

2nd May 2023 - James Ellender moves from ActiveXchange to Head AFL’s Western Sydney Expansion Hub

1st May 2023 - AFL announces Andrew Dillon as successor for Gillon McLachlan as Chief Executive

1st May 2023 - City of Launceston welcomes federal funding for UTAS Stadium

27th April 2023 - Federal Government set to contribute $240 million for AFL stadium in Hobart

29th April 2023 - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces $300 million funding for new Tasmanian stadia

25th April 2023 - AFLNT launches Women and Girls Action Plan

22nd April 2023 - NBL exploring sale of Tasmania JackJumpers

10th April 2023 - Hawthorn AFLW players and fans to benefit from Kennedy Community Centre upgrades

3rd April 2023 - AFL announces Advisory Group and Competition Committee additions to grow women’s game

3rd March 2023 - AFL reveals landmark 10-year merchandise deal with Fanatics

23rd February 2023 - AFL makes $360 million commitment for Tasmanian team funding contingent on new Hobart stadium

20th January 2023 - Cost-benefit analysis says proposed Hobart Stadium would deliver $306 million deficit over 20 years

23rd December 2022 - Tasmania Government presents business case for new Hobart stadium

4th June 2022 - Documents suggest cost of Hobart stadium will be higher than $750 million

28th May 2022 - Tasmanian budget backs AFL Team Taskforce and stadium feasibility study

11th December 2021 - Hobart’s Blundstone Arena to host fifth Ashes Test in cricket first for Tasmania

13th August 2021 - AFL report fails to present ‘clear cut’ option for Tasmanian team

4th July 2016 - New high performance turf surface operational at historic North Hobart Oval


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Aussie Strength

Commercial gym equipment supplier Aussie Strength was wound up at the end of 2022.    .aussie p { padding:20px; }

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Centaman Entrance Control

Turnstile Entry Systems and Access Control Centaman Entrance Controls’ Award Winning Range of Access Control Systems includes tripod & triarm turnstiles, speedgates, full height…

read more

Access / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Anti Wave Global

Anti Wave Global is the original suppliers of top performance swim, aquatic sports, leisure and pool programming equipment. Founded in 1971, Anti Wave Global is proud of its long and tested…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Sport

 
 

Vivaticket

As of the 1st July 2018, Enta Australasia Pty Ltd/Best Union has been rebranded as Vivaticket Pty Ltd.  Vivaticket is the ideal strategic partner for the organisation and management of your…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Sport / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

iDwala Pty Ltd

iDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…

read more

Consultants / Design / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 

GEOFF NINNES FONG AND PARTNERS

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Design / Venues

 
 

AIS Water

AIS Water, the trading name of Australian Innovative Systems, is a multi-award winning, Australian owned leader in the design, production and supply of commercial and residential chlorine generators…

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Technology

 
 

Spill Station Australia

Compliant chemical storage and decanting solutions. Includes spill kits, spill containment pallets, chemical decanting decks and safety shower and eyewash equipment. See our full range of solutions

read more

Aquatics / Safety / Security / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business