Nathan MottonDemetriou refuses to accept new license in Tasmania
April 16th 2008 09:05
League boss Andrew Demetriou refused to back the implementation of a team in Tasmania after meeting the apple isles premier, Paul Lennon at league headquarters late this afternoon.
Demetriou reiterated the AFL's determination to move into the two fastest growing corridors in Australia, the Gold Coast and western Sydney, and made it clear to Lennon that this was his priority.
"We believe that the Gold Coast and western Sydney provide us with great opportunity to grow our game to give us a national footprint and that's what we're focussing on," Demetriou said.
"We had a constructive dialogue (with Lennon). He asked whether they (Tasmanian government) could put forward a submission on behalf of the Tasmanian people for the AFL to consider as part of its expansion plan.
"Football is moving forward in Tasmania. Does that translate into a new license... no... I don't think so," Demetriou said.
Demetriou said the league looked at Tasmania as a potential candidate along with western Sydney and the Gold Coast over the past 18 months
But clearly concerned with the pull of other codes in New South Wales and Queensland, he said "our market share will diminish unless we put two clubs into those areas (western Sydney and Gold Coast).
However Premier Lennon was still confident of his states chances of hosting a new side.
"The time has come for Tasmania to put its case to the AFL for full time inclusion into the competition," he said.
"The 150th year of AFL football is an appropriate time for Tasmania to be taken seriously."
Demetriou reiterated the AFL's determination to move into the two fastest growing corridors in Australia, the Gold Coast and western Sydney, and made it clear to Lennon that this was his priority.
"We believe that the Gold Coast and western Sydney provide us with great opportunity to grow our game to give us a national footprint and that's what we're focussing on," Demetriou said.
"We had a constructive dialogue (with Lennon). He asked whether they (Tasmanian government) could put forward a submission on behalf of the Tasmanian people for the AFL to consider as part of its expansion plan.
Demetriou said the league looked at Tasmania as a potential candidate along with western Sydney and the Gold Coast over the past 18 months
But clearly concerned with the pull of other codes in New South Wales and Queensland, he said "our market share will diminish unless we put two clubs into those areas (western Sydney and Gold Coast).
However Premier Lennon was still confident of his states chances of hosting a new side.
"The time has come for Tasmania to put its case to the AFL for full time inclusion into the competition," he said.
"The 150th year of AFL football is an appropriate time for Tasmania to be taken seriously."
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