Triple Premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt has opened up on the emotions, 24 hours after Tasmania’s entry in the AFL was announced.
Riewoldt was on hand at North Hobart Oval yesterday as one of the dignitaries as the outgoing CEO Gillon McLachlan, Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff and Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles formally announced Tasmania had been awarded the 19th licence in the AFL competition.
Riewoldt, who played all his junior football at Clarence and the Tassie Mariners, was still full of emotion the following night.
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Speaking on AFL 360 Plus alongside fellow Tasmanian, Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe, Riewoldt labelled yesterday’ announcement “the biggest day in Tasmanian Football” and described what the introduction of a side will do to the next generations.
“What it does is it gives the generation that are going to come through from season 2028, those boys and girls a dream to aspire too,“ Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
“To be a part of that first Tasmanian team in the AFL and AFLW, but for those next generations to know that they can go and play in their own backyard.
Riewoldt paid tribute to many football people in the state of Tasmania who were present at the licence announcement yesterday who have played pivotal roles in Tasmanian football history and important roles in arriving at yesterday’s emotional announcement.
“I look at Robert Shaw who has been pivotal in the Believe campaign and history of Tasmanian Football.” Riewoldt said.
“Scott Wade (Jeremy Howe’s uncle) was the GM at AFL Tasmania for many a year and nagged away at the AFL’s heels. I saw him yesterday and that was the bit that tipped me over, seeing the pride in their faces to know that Tasmania will have its own team.
“We will be on the national stage and Tasmanians will get to wear the Tasmanian jumper and represent the great state.“
Riewoldt described the emotions of what yesterday’s announcement meant to the football public in Tasmania.
“Tasmania is a relatively small place. Only half a million people live in Tasmania but the footballing fraternity is still very small,“ he explained.
“There are people that have done a lot of hard work and invested in people like myself … put their time and effort into giving us the chance to play AFL football. This is to repay them.“
As he was asked yesterday if he would put his hand up for a role in the new franchise once his playing days were over, Riewoldt reaffirmed his desire to help and take on “any role” if he was asked to be involved in the state’s new team.
Riewoldt also implored former Tasmanian players to get involved in the new franchise as a means to give back to the state and to those who allowed them to achieve their footballing dreams.
“I was asked yesterday what role I would love to do if I went back to Tassie and I put my hand up for any role,” he said.
“Because it’s a time for Tasmanians who have gone out and plied their trade on the big stage gives them a chance to step back into their home state, step back into their family and repay the faith and repay the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that have been poured into us for us to go out and live our dream.“
