sport, local-sport, Peter Gutwein, AFL, Tasmania

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has given his strongest indication yet of his desire to have the state included in the AFL by saying the league needs to look at how much money they are giving to existing clubs. Speaking at his regular press conference in Hobart to address matters relating to the coronavirus pandemic, Gutwein was emphatic in his belief that the AFL should seriously look at how its competition was structured in wake of the situation. "I honestly think for the AFL that this is an opportunity, and by that I mean with the COVID-19 circumstance, for them to start with a blank sheet of paper," Gutwein said. "They have had clubs that they have had to support in other areas of this country for a long period of time that they have had to pour money in to. "Now is an opportunity for the AFL to start to actually start with a blank sheet of paper to determine that they should have a national competition in the future and that Tasmania should have an AFL team at some stage in the future, and for them to consider whether or not some of those outlying clubs that they have poured so much money into are a part of the AFL's future moving forward. "I think that's something the AFL should consider at the moment. "If you're going to call it a national competition, then out of this set up a national competition and use this as an opportunity, as every business in the country is, to review it's expenditures, to review where its achieving its revenues from. "Here is an opportunity for them to consider whether or not they need all of the current teams they've got and whether or not Tasmania could be a part of the national competition moving forward." Gutwein's request came after he was questioned on whether Tasmania was still in the running to act as a proposed hub to help get the AFL season underway. The Premier said the cost incurred by his government would play a major part in whether they would apply or not. "I've received a copy of the AFL hub proposal and I've asked State Growth only yesterday to go back to the AFL to seek further information in terms of how they would see the hub being supported, who would bear the cost," Gutwein said. RELATED - Hawthorn's Tasmania deal put on hold "One of the things, in terms of an AFL team for Tasmania and in terms of our current arrangements with Hawthorn and North Melbourne, (and) the reason government invests in two national sporting teams is because of the social and, more importantly, the economic benefits that we receive. "In terms of the model, the questions I've asked the AFL to answer are who bears the cost of the hub itself, importantly on the basis that we may not be able to have crowds attend and certainly until we drop our border protections, we won't be able to have visitation. "What might be the economic output from having a hub here? I suspect largely that it would be very small, in fact it may even come with a cost, so I want those things to be answered first and foremost before we engage and put forward a firm proposal." While you're with us, did you know that you can now sign up to receive breaking news updates and daily headlines direct to your inbox? Sign up here.

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