Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire believes there’s some doubt over whether a Tasmanian team is a fait accompli, suggesting some clubs remain hesitant about approving a 19th licence due to the potential cost the game might bear.
And McGuire has also defended Hawthorn skipper James Sicily, who was “just telling the truth” when he opened up on how AFL players would feel about moving to Hobart.
Multiple reports in recent days have indicated Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Saturday – ahead of the May 9 budget – will confirm the federal government will pledge $240 million towards building a new $715 million multi-purpose stadium in Hobart, which would clear the last hurdle for Tasmania’s entry into the AFL.
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The stadium was originally projected to cost $750 million, but the state government last year revised that figure down to $715 million after a business case revision.
The Tasmanian state government has already indicated it will cover half of the cost ($375 million) for the Macquarie Point stadium, with the AFL also contributing an amount ($15 million) and the state government to borrow against land sale or lease for commercial uses to generate $85 million.
Mr Albanese will be in Hobart on Saturday, where he’s reportedly set to announce his government will cover a $240 million shortfall for the venue. That, subsequently, will pave the way for Tasmania being granted a 19th AFL licence.
The 18 club presidents will vote on whether a Tasmanian team should be introduced. It would take a two-thirds majority (13 of 18 clubs) to vetoe a Tasmanin team and overturn the AFL Commission decision, although AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has consistently stressed he wants broad alignment across clubs.
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The Age reported several clubs would seek clarity on which parties would be responsible for any cost variations on the new stadium
Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, McGuire said all reports indicated it would be “good news” for Tassie, but added: “A bit like buying a boat, your happiest day is when you buy it and the next best day is when you sell it. Is it a situation where it all looks good but all that glitters is not gold?”
McGuire said the figure breakdown for him “doesn’t add up”.
“Here are the figures … That gets you to $715 million – you can‘t build a shed for $715 million to play football on. And if you’re ever thinking about putting a roof on it, unless it is thatched, it’s got to be $1.5 billion before you think about it,” he said.
“Now, the clubs are screaming tonight saying there is no plan, they‘ve seen no money and there has been no communication.
“There is a fear at the moment … amongst clubs that have spoken to me tonight that Gill (McLachlan) will go down and say ‘yes, we‘re going to have this’ and it will be a fait accompli. Then it will come back to the clubs to knock out Tasmania, which will be seen like shooting Bambi. The money is on the table, they’ve pulled together an amazing $715 million and you’re still going to say ‘no, you greedy AFL clubs, self-interest all over you’.
“The clubs are saying there‘s a big jump between $715 million and $750 million to get to bargain basement. It’s a huge jump, the next step, and there’s much more to go.”
A Tasmanian-based team initially had tri-partisan backing, but The Greens last week withdrew their support for the bid because it’s contingent on a new stadium.
But McGuire said he understood why a new stadium was integral to a new Tassie team.
“The thing that‘s coming out tonight of interest to me is if they get all this money and announce Tasmania and then say: ‘Well, we haven’t got the money and The Greens don’t like it, the opposition, Richard Flanagan is having a crack … why don’t we just refurb Launceston and Hobart and put the team in and away we go?’” McGuire said.
“You’ve got to have the stadium. If you want it to look like it does now … can you think of a game that‘s actually been a memorable game down in Tassie?
“We‘re going to want to retain players. If you’re down there and you’re the No. 1 talent in Australia and kicking the ball and the wind is blowing it back over your head, if you’re going to have Friday Night football … this team has to look like the West Coast Eagles in their pomp running out against Essendon on Optus Stadium. It can’t look like New Norfolk versus Penguin.”
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The Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants entered the AFL as expansion clubs in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
McGuire said the AFL had to learn from past mistakes and that a new Tasmania team must receive significant investment.
“The AFL have never been able to nail the establishment costs of any team – and that was even with unlimited resources for Gold Coast and GWS. They still went in light and we‘re still suffering from it,” he said.
“Whoever comes in as CEO, they have Tassie, Gold Coast, they’ve still got GWS, still got North … so there‘s a few people worried about whether or not this ends up becoming a relocation of a team down in Tassie.
“My point has always been I‘m for Tassie. I love Tassie, I love the idea. But don’t sell us a pup
“It‘s like when you find 20 cents on the footpath and you run to the milk bar and you want to get a Golden Gaytime and find out it is 35 cents.
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“I‘ve always voted (during his Magpies president stint) ‘yes’ on these things on behalf of the Collingwood board because we like to grow the game. We love Tasmania and we’d love it to go. You see the JackJumpers down there playing – that team is probably worth $30 million now. It could be sold for even $40 million.
“The one way to go broke is to underinvest in the establishment of these things. You can‘t do that.”
Sicily on Wednesday was asked on RSN Breakfast about the state’s ability to lure players to live and play footy there.
“I think so, particularly as a young guy, because there’s not much happening down there, it could be difficult,” Sicily told RSN.
“I couldn’t imagine myself living there. It would be hard.”
The comments saw the Hawks skipper come in for criticism, given his club earns millions each year from the state via a sponsorship deal, and has played several games each season in Launceston for many years.
Sicily later apologised for his “flippant” comments, saying they “related to my personal situation”.
After seeing the backlash to Sicily’s comments, McGuire said: “James Sicily, you can say he‘s the captain, but he is just telling the truth for a change.
“Tim Lane and Jack Riewoldt and all these guys, who have a great love for Tasmania, can sell it as much as they like. But they all live in Melbourne.
“I don‘t know if there’s any kids at the moment lying awake hoping that they’re going to play in Tasmania on a refurbished Launceston Oval. That’s not having a go at Tasmanian football, but the biggest thing I said two years ago is that they had to start, at that stage, putting $20 million into building a pathway.
“They‘ve good to get the right people in there and get the pathways because they need to have a genuine Tasmanian presence in that team to make it work.”
