Premier David Bartlett and Sports Minister Michelle O'Byrne headed the Tasmanian push when a contingent from the Apple Isle met with League heavyweights at AFL House on Friday morning.
After emerging from talks League boss Andrew Demetriou congratulated the premier and his team for the thoroughness of their presentation, but said the AFL was sticking to its plans – at least for now.
However Demetriou did offer the Tasmanian Government hope, not only with his generous appraisal of its presentation but also by promising to discuss the state’s submission at the League’s February Commission meeting.
“Our priorities … are the Gold Coast and western Sydney,” Demetriou said from League headquarters on Friday morning.
“But that doesn’t rule out the possibility of Tasmania at some point in the future.
“Now when that might be, who knows? Things change, the world changes and based on the presentation we saw today what I would say is that the Tasmanian Government is more than capable and is ready if in the event that an opportunity arose.
“That’s not to say an opportunity won’t arise because you just never know what may happen.”
Demetriou said the League wasn’t going cold on the idea of an 18th license in western Sydney.
“We’ve been pretty clear and stated our priorities for the 17th and 18th license,” he said.
“That doesn’t at all mean there won’t be serious consideration given to the Tasmanian Government presentation because it’s a first-class presentation.
“Really, from an AFL perspective, it’s fantastic to have three states who want to be involved in our game at a national level.
“It’s almost like a nice headache to have.”
Demetriou said League officials could not have been more impressed following their meeting with the Tasmanian group.
“Today was probably the first time that we got to see some real hard-core analysis, detailed research and Government support and corporate support behind a presentation,” he said.
“[They’ve] ticked all the boxes when it comes to things like stadium revenues, memberships, corporate support -- the sorts of revenues that are required to support a football club in the national competition.”
