Unnamed Tasmanian football club

An unnamed Tasmanian football club will be a professional Australian rules football club, set to compete in the Australian Football League (AFL) from the 2028 season and the AFL Women's (AFLW) from an unspecified date.[2][3] Its securing of the 19th AFL licence was confirmed in May 2023 by a unanimous vote of AFL club presidents, followed by a formal announcement by AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan.[4] The club will likely first compete in the Victorian Football League, starting in either 2025 or 2026.[5]

Tasmanian Football Club
Names
Club details
CompetitionAFL: Senior men
AFLW: Senior women
VFL: Reserves men
ChairmanGrant O'Brien[1]
Ground(s)Bellerive Oval, York Park

The club will be based in Tasmania, with matches to be played across the state. Both York Park in Launceston and Bellerive Oval in Hobart will host games initially, with the southern matches moving to the future Macquarie Point Stadium upon its construction.[4]

History
Main article: History of the Tasmanian AFL bid

The idea of a Tasmanian AFL team had been suggested, and in some cases formally proposed, many times since the 1980s.[6] The successful bid was the result of an organisation known as the Tasmanian AFL Licence Taskforce assembled in 2019, chaired by Brett Godfrey, with backing from the Tasmanian Government.[7]

Grant O'Brien former CEO of Woolworths and chair of Tourism Tasmania was appointed the new club's first chairman on 5 July 2023 by the Tasmanian AFL Licence Taskforce.[8]

On 13 September 2023, a board chaired by O'Brien was announced including Kath McCann, James Henderson (AFL talent manager), Alastair Lynch, Alicia Leis, Roger Curtis, Laura Mc Bain, Graeme Gardner and Kathy Schaefer.[9] Former Richmond great Jack Riewoldt was appointed club culture manager.[9]

References
  1. Ex-Woolies boss lands AFL job from The Mercury 5 July 2023
  2. "Full statement: Tasmania awarded 19th AFL licence". AFL.com.au. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. "Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledges $240 million for Hobart stadium at Macquarie Point". ABC News. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. "AFL presidents approve Tasmania for 19th team licence after decades of campaigning". ABC News. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. "Tasmania granted 19th AFL team licence with 2028 slated for men's start date". The Guardian. 3 May 2023.
  6. "Tasmania's current push for an AFL licence isn't its first, but it may well be the last". ABC News. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  7. "Inside the rise of Tassie: Locals thought Gillon McLachlan wanted to move Roos, but now 19th team a reality". Herald Sun. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. Ex-Woolies boss lands AFL job from The Mercury 5 July 2023
  9. Board to lead Tasmania's AFL club announced, along with culture lead Jack Riewoldt by Chris Rowbottom for ABC News 13 September 2023
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