St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt has called for the AFL to introduce a 19th team in the competition, and said the league's neglect of the Apple Isle in recent years has been "insulting."
Riewoldt is just one of many AFL greats born in Tasmania, and in his column for ESPN.com.au, the 34-year-old said he didn't understand the AFL's reasons for steering clear of his home state.
”The way the state has been neglected by head office causes me immense frustration,” Riewoldt wrote.
“In fact, I’ve become more and more disillusioned about the island state’s treatment at the hands of the governing body.
“To say that the north-south divide is a greater roadblock than what the league faced in setting up the Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney is as illogical as it is insulting.”
The forward admitted the north-south divide in Tasmania is an issue, but says that shouldn't be enough for the AFL to take Tasmania off the list.
“Yes, the north-south divide in Tassie is a genuine issue,” he said.
“But to use that as an excuse as to why the AFL has continually denied Tasmania its own team? That doesn’t sit well with me.
“Compare that to how the AFL established its 17th and 18th franchises not so long ago. The league made a commitment to grow the game in western Sydney and Queensland and the concessions and financial backing the Giants and Suns were given shows the league would not let them fail.”
Riewoldt also argued against the claim the AFL won't move to Tasmania because football is already the number one sport in the state.
The 702-goal forward said the league needed to capitalise on it's popularity down there, although suggested there is already signs of a decline in talent.
“There are already signs that the game is weakening down south; there are myriad issues affecting the state’s premier local league, and just last year there was no Tasmanian drafted for the first since 1986,” he said.
“That’s appalling, and a legitimate concern for anyone passionate about football in Tassie, especially considering the amazing contribution the state has made to our brilliant sport.”
For the record, Riewoldt said he would base the team in Hobart, but have them play four to five games out of Launceston.
