A group of AFL club presidents have expressed their doubts about Tasmania's AFL license bid at a meeting with the AFL Commission on Tuesday night, according to a report by the Herald Sun's Jon Ralph.
According to the report, the meeting was scheduled to discuss a list of agenda items including 11 'work streams' that will build Tasmania's AFL bid.
However, a group of presidents reportedly made up of Gold Coast's Tony Cochrane, Sydney's Andrew Pridham, Collingwood's Jeff Browne and Hawthorn's Jeff Kennett showed their concern about the viability of a 19th AFL license.
The doubts largely revolved around the lack of a new stadium deal and questions about how Hobart could afford to build a billion-dollar stadium.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Sydney president Pridham said that the need for a stadium was crucial before he approved the license.
"It was a good discussion," he said.
"The ball is in the AFL's court to come back with the best proposal (but) the stadium must be part of it.
"I'm open but sceptical re: the 19th license. I want to see the deal first."
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said last week that a new stadium was a requirement for a new AFL license. With the Tasmanian government revealing plans in March for a new $750 million waterfront stadium in Hobart.
Ahead of a vote in August from all 18 club presidents for the new license, the AFL will now have to provide an updated proposal to change the view of the small group.
The Herald Sun reports that, according to an AFL spokesperson, the league will continue to advance the 11 'work streams' with the Tasmanian workforce and government in its bid for a new team.
The report also says the league discussed an array of further talking points in the meeting with presidents, including a likely increase to the current $6.5 million soft cap.
Other areas of discussion reportedly included TV rights deals, the floating fixture, season structure, crowd figures and concussion funding for players.
