The Tasmanian Government and representatives from all levels of Tasmanian football today united in an alliance to strengthen the future of football in Tasmania.
The Premier Will Hodgman and Treasurer Peter Gutwein met with a broad representation from regional community leagues, the Tasmanian State League and the Tasmanian Football Council.
The group unanimously agreed to advance two key priorities for Tasmanian football; improving grassroots football state-wide and forging a pathway to a Tasmanian AFL team.
The Tasmanian football community is determined to define its own future and present a united Tasmanian plan for football to the AFL.
The group will now collaborate on a preferred model to strengthen the base of grassroots football which is our foundation across every region of Tasmania.
It will also work together on a preferred pathway to our ultimate goal of having an AFL team of our own.
As a state we are loyal supporters of footy, and we are all of the view that it is time the future of football in Tasmania was decided by Tasmanians.
That support should not start and end with our elite, or talent pathways. It must include all football pathways; boys and girls who just want a kick with their mates on a Saturday; to our regions where footy is the backbone of the community; to our ultimate goal of seeing a Tasmanian team in the national competition.
The group will reconvene in coming weeks, as part of ongoing work to unite and strengthen Tasmania’s football future.