Tasmanian Team of the Century winger Rodney Eade has lauded the "transformational" official arrival of the Tasmanian Devils.
Eade, a four-time Hawthorn premiership player originally from Glenorchy in Hobart, said the impact of the AFL's 19th club would be felt well beyond the Macquarie Point Stadium precinct ticked off in Parliament.
"This is great for the youth, the girls and boys in Tassie. It makes them aspirational," Eade told Zero Hanger. "It will have a positive impact on communities throughout the state.
"Country clubs are the hubs of towns. Kids can now aim to play for their local team and then aspire to go further from there to play at the highest level in their own state.
"A lot of community clubs have been struggling and closing down. This will be transformative, for the better."
The former Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast coach said his home state had been a "bit slow" in growth.
"This will give it impetus, like Mona (Hobart's Museum of Old and New Art)," Eade said.
The Devils are in line to join the AFL in 2028, with the appointment of a senior coach and further football department roles to come as early as next year.
Tasmania will field teams in the VFL and VFLW in 2026.
All very amusing…..
Demanding that Tassie build a very expensive stadium is for one reason and one reason only – given that there are at least two stadiums that are suitable for AFL games (given that North Melb and Hawthorn already play games in Tassie)…….
That reason is that the weather in Tasmania gives the home side a good home-ground advantage and the afl (vfl) cannot condone any non-vic-team to have any advantage…..
Can you imagine collingwood playing a surface/conditions whereby it was at a disadvantage?
… it would be like having the grand final at a neutral venue – or even worse having the GF at the home ground of the team that actually earned it……
The fact that “someone” will have a “KPI” trigger on this doesn’t even need to be mentioned….. that’s not a reason for the stadium, that’s just the modus operandi from vfl house.
What is very amusing is that you seem to think that either of the existing stadiums could sustain an AFL team. The Devils will sink or swim based on the number of spectators they get. Neither Bellerive nor York Park can satisfy the numbers.
It is laughable that you could even think about comparing the situation whereby Hawthorn and North Melbourne actually receive a guaranteed amount for playing from the Government to one where the team relies on gate takings. Do you really think North Melbourne would travel all the way to Tasmania to play against West Coast with only 6000 spectators otherwise?
You either have no understanding of the game or are one of those No trolls who consistently come up with ridiculous comments not supported by facts.