AFL boss Gillon McLachlan will face questions about Tasmania’s bid for the 19th licence and the ongoing funding of games in Hobart and Launceston in 2023 when he lands in Hobart on Friday to attend a corporate conference.
McLachlan is attending the SOHN Hearts and Minds Investment Leaders conference that brings together corporate heavyweights to present on a range of issues while raising money for Australian medical research.
However, the local sporting community and political leaders view his presence as an opportunity to ascertain the progress of their bid for a 19th licence, which is on hold until Federal government funding is secured for a waterfront stadium at Macquarie Point.
An artists’ impression of how the new stadium could look in Hobart.
The AFL has told the state liberal government led by premier Jeremy Rockliff that a successful licence bid is contingent on a stadium being built.
There has been opposition to the proposal from the ALP and the Greens who have both argued that investment in a stadium is a poor use of government money with the government already having committed $12 million per annum to the team for 12 years and $60 million to establish a high-performance centre.
Rockliff’s government is expected to present a business case to the Federal ALP Government asking for $250 million federal funding towards the stadium with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying he is open to the idea if the business case can convince Labor the infrastructure project is warranted.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.Credit:Getty Images
McLachlan, who presented at the SOHN conference in 2018, is expected to reiterate the desire for the AFL community to bring a Tasmanian team into the competition and also their desire for Hawthorn and North Melbourne to continue playing games in the state until the new team is launched.
McLachlan is increasingly confident he can deliver support from AFL clubs to support the bid with Geelong, Richmond, Adelaide, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs among the clubs that have already declared their support for the 19th licence.
Hawthorn are also set to support the bid after their election for a new president in December.
