Richmond veteran Jack Riewoldt believes his house state Tasmania can provide one thing completely different to entice gamers and coaches to hitch the AFL’s newest membership.
The island state was on Wednesday awarded the league’s nineteenth licence and is predicted to have a crew within the males’s competitors in 2028.
Hawthorn captain James Sicily apologised final month after saying there was “not much” taking place in Tasmania and he could not think about residing there.
Hobart-born Riewoldt, who was on the licence announcement at North Hobart Oval, mentioned Tasmania may very well be in comparison with a location like Geelong.
“There is certainly the type of person who will be attracted to coming down here,” he mentioned.
“I look at arguably one of the best players in the competition at the moment, Jeremy Cameron, who lives on a farm not far out of Geelong.
“There is loads of farmland not removed from the CBD right here (Hobart).”
Riewoldt, 34, said he would jump at the chance to be involved with the Tasmanian club.
“That’s the factor Tasmanians will do. They’re littered throughout the AFL, in many various roles, and AFLW,” he mentioned.
“They’ll be placing their palms as much as give again to the state that has given them a lot. The formation might be an thrilling course of.”
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said plans for a training base would develop in coming months and a community campaign to choose the club’s name would be launched later this year.
He said Tasmania would likely enter the VFL in about 2025 as a precursor to its AFL start, while a date for an AFLW outfit was being worked on.
He brushed off concerns Tasmania would not be an attractive destination for young players.
“There’s been official issues traditionally however this can be a completely different metropolis, a distinct state,” he mentioned.
“What gamers need to have the ability to do is be good footballers.
“The training and administration facility is going to be first-class and they’ll be playing in what I think will be an incredible, pumping venue in the middle of a great city.”
Tasmania’s bid received throughout the road after the federal authorities chipped in $240 million for a contentious $715 million new waterfront stadium in Hobart.
The stadium was the ultimate piece required by the AFL earlier than approving the licence, which was unanimously backed by the 18 present membership presidents on Tuesday.
The state authorities is contributing $375 million to the stadium, in addition to $12 million per yr over 12 years in direction of a crew, plus $60 million for a high-performance centre.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
