Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan isn't opposed to a future move to Tasmania to coach a team in his home state.
With the Federal Government poised to announce it will put $240 million towards funding for a new stadium, the AFL expanding to a 19-team competition appears imminent.
“I saw all reports (about the likelihood of a Tasmanian AFL team) and it brought a smile to my face,” Fagan told reporters on Thursday.
“It's been long overdue, I think. It's going to take a bit of work, and you probably won't see a team until the stadium is built.
“It'll take a while to build it (the new waterfront stadium), so probably it'll be 2028 before you see a Tasmanian team, but that'll give a really good amount of time to set it up in the right way.
“I'm very happy for the people down there and I'm very happy for all the young footballers down there to have an AFL team hopefully on their doorstep."
Fagan is still set on coaching the Lions, and whilst he claimed he wouldn't be the inaugural coach of a Tasmanian team, the Apple Isle native said he'd love to help out if he can.
“If I'm not coaching the Lions by that point in time, and I could, I'd love to help Tassie out in some way, not necessarily to be the coach, it might be doing something else there," Fagan said.
“You never say never, but I'm totally committed to the Lions and that's where I see my future until they decide I haven't got one.”
Brisbane currently sit sixth on the ladder with a 4-2 win loss record and will play Fremantle on Saturday at 1:45pm (AEST) at the Gabba.
