As Tasmania comes a step nearer to being handed the AFL’s nineteenth license, one captain has been pressured to apologise after slamming the State — which additionally occurs to be his membership’s main sponsor.
Hawthorn skipper James Sicily, whose membership has a relationship with the State relationship again greater than 20 years, instructed a Melbourne radio present on Wednesday that younger gamers wouldn’t wish to stay in Tasmania as a result of there may be “not much happening” there.
“Particularly as a young guy, because there’s not much happening down there, it could be difficult,” he instructed RSN.
“I couldn’t imagine myself living there. It would be hard.
The comments angered locals, who are just days away from a major Federal Government stadium funding announcement sending them closer to having a team of their own.
That includes Tasmanian cricket greats Matthew Wade and former Australian captain Tim Paine, who both hit back at the Hawks defender on social media.
The Tasmanian Government has an agreement worth $13.5 million to play four home-and-away games a season in Launceston across the next three years. That deal was first established in 2001 and was extended again in January.
Sicily back-flipped on his comments after a day of uproar, posting to his social accounts late on Wednesday night that he “wanted to apologise to anyone I have offended or upset about my comments on Tasmania today.”
“The comments I made on RSN were flippant, and do not reflect my views of Tasmania,” he mentioned.
“What I said related to my personal situation, that throughout my career, my attachment to Melbourne would have made it hard to live in Tassie full time.
“That’s not to say there are not many AFL footballers would would enjoy living there.
“I love coming down to Tassie yearly outside of football to enjoy its golf courses and food. I’m proud of our long term relationship with the State and I continue to support Tasmania getting its own team.”
Sicily is a first-time captain of the Hawks this season, having taken over from Ben McEvoy. The Hawks misplaced to Adelaide at Launceston’s University of Tasmania Stadium on Sunday.
It comes as dialogue swirls round a possible Tasmanian staff’s capacity to retain expertise, a problem confronted by each of the league’s northern growth golf equipment.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
