NICK Riewoldt has officially joined the Tasmanian push for an AFL licence.

The former St Kilda superstar has been added to the Tasmanian AFL Taskforce and will play a hands-on role in preparing a formal bid for a team from the state to join the AFL within the next 10 years.

Ex-Carlton coach Brendon Bolton, like Riewoldt from Tasmania, has been engaged as an adviser to the group.

Brendon Bolton will advise the taskforce attempting to secure an AFL licence. Pic: AFL Photos

"There is a real groundswell of support for the idea of Tasmania having its own AFL team and I'm very honoured to be joining the Taskforce – we have a lot of work to do and I'm excited about playing my part," Riewoldt said.

The taskforce wants to finalise a business plan for AFL entry within six months but is aware that there is no chance of a team being based in Tasmania in time for the next TV rights, which will begin in 2023.

Tasmanian AFL Taskforce chairman Brett Godfrey said the appointments of Riewoldt and Bolton were crucial additions to the project.

In early June, Godfrey, the founding CEO of Virgin Australia, was appointed head of the taskforce, which is convinced it will be able to prove to the AFL commission that there is a compelling business case for it to be granted a licence to the national competition.