Failed: AFL report says of Hawthorn's Tasmanian push

[azabob]

An AFL-backed report into the game's future in Tasmania has questioned Hawthorn's commitment to developing the code down south and concluded that the club has failed to capture ''the hearts and minds'' of the heartland state.
Professor Jonathan West, an international Tasmanian-based economist and academic, has urged the AFL to present football's ''sleeping giant'' state with a firm strategy which could see the Hawks commit to up to six home games across Launceston and Hobart beyond 2016.

West told The Saturday Age his recommendations would include privileged access to home-grown talent for a club prepared to put roots in the struggling state via a Sydney/Brisbane style development academy.
With new AFL boss Gillon McLachlan contemplating the political and football pitfalls of his preferred one-team model playing home games in both the north and south, West said his almost completed research has strongly backed that model despite current negotiations with North to sign a new two-year deal with Hobart's Blundstone Arena.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-new...#ixzz33uaUL44Z








http://www.watoday.com.au/afl/afl-ne...606-zs08k.html

[bornadog]

All the Hawks have done is take the money and give nothing back to the football community.

[Remi Moses]

It's just a cash grab, we all know it .
Just like our game in Cairns

[bulldogtragic]

Do it. Even though our name seems to have dropped off.

If they allowed say 5 year rights to the Tassie zone, or similar, then last year The Kolo boys (pick 5 and 40 odd) would've gone to that club for next to nothing.

Six games isn't a big deal if the AFL allow essentially reciprocal rights to at least 6 games of games in Melbourne so members get at least 11 games in Vic and 6 in Tassie, as much as possible interstate teams.

Their numbers of 80 to $100 million over 5 years is a lot of resources. I can't think of another way to generate those numbers of money going into our club whilst keeping our name, culture, heritage, identity, home ground at WO, colours, jumpers and song.

[Ghost Dog]

It's a disgrace. The AFL has pink day, indigeneous round and many other worthy causes. That's fine and great. But 50% of adults in Tasmania, half the population do not have functional literacy. You have large towns that have become welfare belts. It's getting out of control.
The AFL has moral obligation not to leave Tasmania behind. Tasmanian football has contributed some great talent over the years. Rocket Eade, the Riewoldts and many others. Who will have to guts to stand up for regional Australia?