AT LAST, TASSIE’S TIME HAS COME

Tasmania will join the AFL competition in 2028 after this week being granted the historic 19th licence. ASHLEY BROWNE

The long-held hopes and dreams of one of Australian Football’s heartland states have been finally realised with confirmation that Tasmania has been granted the AFL’s 19th licence and will join the AFL men’s competition from the 2028 season.

The start date for the new AFLW team is still under consideration.

The AFL Commission swiftly gave Tasmania the go-ahead last Tuesday evening to become the first club to be admitted to the competition since the GWS Giants in 2012, after a meeting of the 18 AFL club presidents earlier in the day offered their overwhelming support.

There was no need for a vote, which is an entitlement the clubs have as part of the AFL’s constitution because, finally, all the necessary elements for Tasmania’s admission were in place. The business case was rock solid.

“There are big days and there are really big days. For our national game of Australian Rules football and for the state of Tasmania this feels really big. Historic. Big for football, big for Tasmanians, big for all AFL supporters,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told a media conference on Wednesday at North Hobart Oval.

“Today we are here to ensure a foundation football state, filled with believers, supporters and gravel rash grit, get the opportunity to unite their state and unite behind a single cause.”

The final piece of the puzzle came together last Saturday when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flew to Hobart to announce that the Federal Government would commit $240 million towards the construction of the new 23,000-seat stadium at Macquarie Point, with a roof, on the fringe of the CBD that will house the team for seven home games a year.

“It’s not the Australian Football League if it leaves off the south island, and that’s what’s occurred for too long,” Albanese said.

The remaining four home games – and perhaps an ‘away’ game against Hawthorn – will be played at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium, which will also be significantly upgraded with a $65 million boost from the federal government to match a prior commitment from the state government.

The Tasmanian announcement is the final feather in the cap for McLachlan, who will leave his role at the end of September.

Unlike his predecessors, he always had an open mind when it came to a Tasmanian AFL team and he gave it his conditional backing after respected former AFL commissioner and Geelong president Colin Carter supported the findings of the high-powered Tasmanian taskforce which met throughout 2019 and outlined the business case for the team.

McLachlan is a renowned dealmaker and this might be the best of them all after he held firm to his demand that, without a new stadium, there would be no team.

Just as the redeveloped Adelaide Oval has helped revitalise the Adelaide CBD and Optus Stadium has given the game a world-class home in Perth, McLachlan was emphatic that Blundstone Arena – North Melbourne’s home away from home since 2012 – would not be fit for purpose and that, instead, Hobart needed a new stadium as part of a wider entertainment precinct that will further enhance the city as an economic and tourism hub, with football playing a major part.

The AFL will chip in $15 million towards the new stadium, but the bulk of the AFL’s $360 million investment in Tasmania will be directed to game development, the establishment of talent academies in Hobart, Launceston and the north coast as well as base funding to establish the initial playing list.

The stadium will be largely funded by the federal and state governments, with the Tasmanian government also contributing an additional $144 million towards the team and $60 million to establish a training and high performance centre in Hobart.

Tasmania has been seeking a team for the past 30 years, but was rebuffed by the AFL on several occasions. Previous submissions were heavy on emotion and entitlement, but light on for figures.

But unlike previous Tasmanian governments, this one refused to take ‘no’ from the AFL. Successive state premiers Peter Gutwein and Jeremy Rockliff had made the establishment of the team a major priority and Gutwein, in particular, drove a hard bargain.

With facts and figures to support him and the backing of 90,000 registered supporters from across the entire state, he shifted the narrative, portraying the AFL as the party that would be caught short without a Tasmanian presence.

It also didn’t hurt when he threatened to bring an immediate end to the Hawthorn and North Melbourne arrangements in Launceston and Hobart if the AFL wasn’t serious about introducing a Tasmanian team.

“We have fought hard to deliver this,” Premier Rockliff said on Wednesday. “I couldn’t be prouder to deliver our own team, that will take the field in our own colours, and sing our own song.”

The announcement was greeted with widespread jubilation throughout the state and was widely welcomed by football supporters around the country, who have long recognised Tasmania as part of the game’s heartland.

The game was first played in Tasmania in the 1860s, less than a decade after its formation, and four Legends in the Australian Football Hall of Fame – Darrel Baldock, Peter Hudson, Royce Hart and Ian Stewart – are from the state. Another, Roy Cazaly, had deep ties to Tasmania.

But football there has been in serious decline for many years. Where there was once three strong leagues throughout Tasmania, there is now just a seven-team state league competition.

Once-powerful clubs across Tasmania have folded or moved back to lesser leagues.

Not even the presence of Hawthorn and North Melbourne, with their eight games a year in the north and south of the state, have kept interest in the game from plateauing.

With participation numbers a major concern, there were genuine fears of football being relegated to minor sport status, especially with the wildly successful Tasmanian JackJumpers (NBL) and Hobart Hurricanes (Big Bash) taking up the mantle as the state’s favourite sporting teams.

The new AFL team will hopefully address all that, but there is much to be done in the meantime.

Attention will turn quickly to filling out the key appointments for the new club. A five-person board will be established almost immediately to put the building blocks in place and in an interview with SEN Sportsday earlier this week, Gutwein did not rule out becoming the new club’s inaugural chairman.

“I’d be prepared to consider it,” he said.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale, born and raised in Tasmania, is sure to be heavily courted, if not as the club’s inaugural chief executive, then in a senior AFL role with oversight for all aspects of the Tasmanian venture, especially the rules around building the playing list.

But the AFL is keen for the team to be immediately competitive, so expect generous list concessions.

And key positions such as coach, general manager of football and list manager are also likely to be filled with industry veterans with multiple premierships on their CVs.

The AFL wants to avoid mistakes made with recent expansion teams, especially Gold Coast, which has yet to play finals in 13 seasons.

The Tasmanian football community will take part in a campaign later this year to select the brand of the new club, including its name, logo, jumper and song, while plans also include Tasmania fielding teams in the VFL and VFLW in the lead-up to the 2028 AFL start date.

@hashbrowne he phrase “key takeaways” has entered the footy vernacular in recent times.

It is a way for pundits to take a closer look at specific areas of a team, assess a game or focus on the performance of an individual player.

But the footy media certainly didn’t coin the term “takeaway”, which has been widely associated with the hospitality industry.

Under the guise of not taking things too seriously, we have tipped our (chef’s) hat to the food and beverage world when assessing the season(al) beginnings of each of the 18 AFL clubs.

Adelaide

MAIN COURSE u Matthew Nicks has built his business from the ground up and in 2023 the kitchen is starting to zing. A midfield that looked devoid of game-breaking ability now has several tasty prospects, while the forward line is roasting like never before with the inclusion of Izak Rankine and rise of Darcy Fogarty. A win over Carlton in round five was the crowning moment and Adelaide now has the expectations of a Michelin star restaurant.

Small Bites

u Jordan Dawson is moving finer than Jamie Oliver’s knife skills, going to a level few thought he could reach.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

SEB MOTTRAM

Brisbane Lions

MAIN COURSE u The Lions finally seemed to have their 2022 spring menu clicking and they’re offering some of their best dishes in 2023 now we have a bigger sample size. With options that are both healthy and exciting, they have become a destination club. Will Ashcroft, Josh Dunkley and Jack Gunston could be the missing pieces to taking the Lions’ spring offering to the next level.

Small Bites

u Having been served in a variety of ways, Chris Fagan has finally found the best way to get the most out of key ingredient Cam Rayner up forward.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LACHLAN GELEIT

Carlton

Main Course

It could be a club operating like a fine dining, savoir-faire venue serving delicacies such as a Peking duck, a braised sous vide lamb shoulder, a duck ragu or some expertly sliced sushi. There’s your more traditional fish and chip type operators, those who can easily dish up a simple cheeseburger (pickles optional) or whip up a stock standard Pad Thai. Or it could be a team more suited to the local kebab shop purveying a large HSP (mixed meat with three sauces of course) or the modest roast chook.

You certainly won’t find these reviews on Broadsheet or in the Good Food column, but nonetheless, here they are.

u The Blues had a strong start to the season, claiming the scalp of reigning premier Geelong, drawing with Richmond and beating GWS and North Melbourne. But while the food looked good, there was a concerning aftertaste that has since soured the meal slightly with losses to Adelaide and St Kilda before rebounding against lowly West Coast. Charlie Curnow has cooked up a storm, culminating in nine goals against the Eagles last weekend.

Small Bites

u The new wingmen in Blake Acres and Ollie Hollands have settled in nicely at the Blues, stabilising their outside game.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): NIC NEGREPONTIS

Geelong

MAIN COURSE

Collingwood

MAIN COURSE u After the Magpies released a new menu to acclaimed success in 2022, many wondered whether they’d be able to back it up again under head chef Craig McRae in his second season. But through the start of the year it appears Collingwood may even have improved its offering, with several new ingredients in Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill, Billy Frampton and Daniel McStay helping this team firm as a genuine premiership threat.

SMALL BITES u Nick Daicos may be one of the cheapest items on the menu, but he has proven value for money like we’ve maybe never seen in the AFL.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LACHLAN GELEIT

Essendon

MAIN COURSE u The Essendon smorgasbord is in much better shape than expected, with new head chef Brad Scott coming in and restoring order and control to an environment that threatened to boil over last season. New kitchen hands Will Setterfield and Sam Weideman have shown glimpses of what their potential could be during further restaurant sittings.

SMALL BITES u Mason Redman is out of contract and he’s one kitchen hand Scott won’t want to lose to free agency at the end of the year. The good news is all signs are pointing to him re-signing and remaining at the Essendon. Al dente indeed.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

LAURENCE ROSEN

Fremantle

MAIN COURSE u The Dockers had an abundance of options in the Cockburn pantry leading into 2023, but seven weeks into the season and some of the produce has shrivelled. There has at times been a disconnect between those slaving away in the kitchen and the ones serving at front of house. Luckily for emerging culinary artist Justin Longmuir, these are issues that can be smoothed out in order to continue producing gastronomic delights.

SMALL BITES u What was being served as high quality tuna, salmon and kingfish caught fresh off the Fremantle Harbour is now purporting as flake, basa fillets or even tinned tuna.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): ANDREW SLEVISON u Some panic in the kitchen in the first three rounds after the Cats slumped to 0-3, the worst start by a reigning premier since North Melbourne in 1976. But they got their house in order during a second-half feast on the hapless Hawks on Easter Monday and they’ve been as smooth as a top-grade food processor since. Jeremy Cameron is sharper than Gordon Ramsay’s tongue.

SMALL BITES u Ollie Henry has been the best of the new faces. Magpie fans say he now appreciates his mum’s cooking more than ever.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

MICHAEL LOVETT

Gold Coast Suns

MAIN COURSE u Gold Coast had expectations of five-star reviews in the pre-season, but initially, the food was a bit slow coming out of the kitchen. But wins over Geelong and then last weekend against Richmond suggest the Suns are close to fixing their plating issues and the food might yet be as good as advertised.

SMALL BITES u The dish Gold Coast is missing is its feature with the news of Touk Miller’s knee injury. Plenty of greens and potatoes, but now a lack of meat.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

SEB MOTTRAM

DISCOVER & CREATE

DISCOVER & CREATE

Sunday 19 March to Saturday 27 May

Sunday 19 March to Saturday 27 May

Go to choicesflooring.com for over

Go to choicesflooring.com for over

100 pages of home inspiration

100 pages of home inspiration

Gws Giants

MAIN COURSE u The Giants are emerging as a mid-tier outlet in 2023. Adam Kingsley is driving the charcoal and orange food truck in a competitive market with all sorts of menu options for the fans to sample. He would be delighted that his offering tasted that little bit better than the red and white food truck next door last Saturday.

SMALL BITES u Thankfully, they have been eating some of their Green(e)s to help unlock the indigestion. The dining experience remains a work in progress.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ANDREW SLEVISON

Hawthorn

MAIN COURSE u It’s less about indigestion in the short-term and more about demonstrable progress for Sam Mitchell’s men in 2023. On that measurable the Hawks are doing OK. The midfield is young, but Will Day, Jai Newcombe, James Worpel and Conor Nash have shown flair and creativity as apprentice chefs. Key forward Fergus Greene has come from the local eatery to MKR but has made the most of his second chance at AFL level.

SMALL BITES u With experienced cooks Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara leaving, it has paved the way for Will Day’s move to the midfield. The youngster has shown he can stand the heat in the kitchen.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ASHLEY BROWNE

Melbourne

MAIN COURSE u After winning five chef’s hats in 2021, the Demons were off the boil in 2022, particularly with what they dished up late in the season. No such issues this year with their classy midfield rising to the top. Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney are offering a top-quality set menu each week and Brodie Grundy, a proven performer from a rival eatery, gave Max Gawn a decent chop-out in the ruck when the skipper was injured. The Demons will be eating their way long into the 2023 feast.

SMALL BITES u After a rumble at fancy French restaurant Entrecote last year, it’s all hunky John Dory this year and the Demons have their house in order in 2023.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): MICHAEL LOVETT

North Melbourne

MAIN COURSE u A new head chef landed at Arden St this year with an incredible resume and Alastair Clarkson is attempting to turn a fast-food chain into a Michelin star restaurant. It’s been an up and down start, with a competitive team early on copping a few big losses recently. However, the ingredients are all there to bake something incredible, they just need time to mature and grow.

Small Bites

u Griffin Logue has settled in nicely at North Melbourne and provided some stability in defence after the Roos looked undersized down back in recent sittings.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): NIC NEGREPONTIS

Port Adelaide

Main Course

u They served up some prison food wearing their famous “prison bar” jumper in the round three home Showdown, but the Power rebounded well with four straight wins and are in the race for the finals. There is generational change taking place and Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Aliir Aliir are making this their team. Credit for the club for ignoring the noise around experienced head chef Ken Hinkley, who is coaching well in the last year of his contract.

Small Bites

u Jason Horne-Francis smelt like a bit of mouldy blue cheese after his abrupt departure from North Melbourne after one season, but has played some sublime football for the Power.

ASHLEY BROWNE

Richmond

MAIN COURSE u Chef Damien Hardwick has been tinkering with his utensils given some of his key appliances have been unavailable. While Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper were added as centrepieces, the rest of the degustation menu hasn’t quite come together as planned. The service has wobbled, the personnel has wavered, it’s been hot in the kitchen and tempers have flared. Wonder how long this Michelin star hot spot will retain its loyal customers?

SMALL BITES u The soufflé has not yet risen. The base has split. The yeast hasn’t set. But with some adjustments, the dish can still be edible.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

ANDREW SLEVISON

St Kilda

MAIN COURSE u From an ingredients point of view, Ross Lyon didn’t have much to cook with on the eve of the season with many stars sidelined with serious injuries. But like the genius chef Lyon is, he got to work and conjured up a game-plan that rivals the impeccable structure and sturdiness of a croquembouche.

Callum Wilkie is the sticky caramel that makes it so mouth-watering and holds it all together.

SMALL BITES u The likes of Jack Higgins, Dan Butler and Jade Gresham are the hors d’oeuvres that are keeping the guests satisfied until the main course arrives in the form of Max King.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5):

HUGH FITZPATRICK

Sydney

MAIN COURSE u A dish that had so much potential before the season started has somewhat slightly soured for last year’s grand finalists. Although battling injuries, John Longmire has struggled to produce a meal that mixes it with Michelin star clubs, evident with their massive defeats to Melbourne and Geelong. However, Longmire does have a lack of quality ingredients at his disposal, so in time expect the big bird to fatten and the meal to again be palatable.

Small Bites

u Sydney’s smaller players have been brilliant this year. Tom Papley, Errol Gulden, Chad Warner and James Rowbottom have been terrific and can keep their spot in the kitchen. They just need more hands to help.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): HUGH FITZPATRICK

West Coast Eagles

MAIN COURSE u West Coast needs to improve fire safety at its restaurant. For the second year running, the Eagles couldn’t make it more than a few games into the season before their kitchen completely burnt down, with all their best ingredients heading straight to the injury list. While other teams have been cooking up five-star dishes, West Coast will be rationing whatever is left in the pantry.

Small Bites

u Reuben Ginbey has been incredibly consistent for the Eagles in his first year. He’s not overly flashy but serves as some important bread for the midfield sandwich West Coast is making.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): JACK MAKEHAM

Western Bulldogs

MAIN COURSE u The Bulldogs tried to do something different in the kitchen this year, stocking up their pantry with talls for both their attack and defence. That didn’t quite work, so Luke Beveridge made the decision to go back to the tried-and-true recipe of seasons past. It’s hard to tell what dish the Dogs are going to serve up each week, but these chefs are certainly capable of putting together something masterful.

Small Bites

u Marcus Bontempelli and Tim English are two chefs cooking up some of the best work of their careers. Everybody knows what to expect, yet they can’t help but admire what these two serve up week after week.

CHEF’S HATS (1-5): JACK MAKEHAM

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