The complex list build has been overseen by AFL trio Sam Graham,Brad Scott and Ned Guy,and also involves granting the Tasmanian team priority picks that the team would be forced to trade for players,and long-term access to Tasmanian-born or based players via a state football academy.
Rather than provide long-term salary-cap relief,the AFL is proposing to provide signing-on bonuses in a bid to attract mature talent from other clubs,including potentially players from Tasmania who are at other clubs.
The AFL’s view is that signing bonuses would attract players in the short term but would not provide the long-term cost to the competition caused by long-term salary-cap relief.
As the AFL approaches the August deadline to deliver its Tasmanian strategy to the clubs,league chief Gillon McLachlan has this week accelerated the work of the list-build committee in order to sound out the hand-picked club list bosses.
The unveiling of the list-build and player-retention plan helps Tasmania’s bid for a 19th AFL licence move a step closer to reality.
In a series of developments recently it has emerged that:
- Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliffe has lobbied some club presidents in writing,saying that a 19th team would create additional annual revenue for the AFL estimated at $18 million.
- The AFL will push the Tasmanian government to increase its opening gambit of a 10-year financial commitment to at least 15 years at a cost of an annual estimated $12 million-$13 million,up from the government’s initial bid of an annual $10 million.
- Macquarie Point on Hobart’s waterfront is the league’s preferred venue for the new stadium with a capacity of 25,000. Negotiations have begun with the private and public sector with AFL bosses of the belief that even with a retractable roof,the stadium could be built for significantly less than previous estimates of $750 million.
- The list-build group is looking at a venue in the Hobart precinct that could house the Tasmanian team’s younger players in similar fashion to the Breakfast Point development that housed young Giants players in their early years.
- Although the new team would be given priority high draft picks – many of which it would be forced to trade – McLachlan remains determined to protect the No.1 draft pick for that year’s wooden spooner.
- Fixture planning around a 19-team competition remains unclear with the timing of weekly byes seen to disadvantage certain clubs. All are keen to avoid byes in the early rounds of the season.
- A Tasmanian AFLW team would be introduced either immediately after the men’s debut season or the year before.