David Harding
Gippy
Kristy lee
Cain RiveraTasmania's new AFL push
February 9th 2010 16:00
Glenorchy's King George Fifth Oval (KGV Oval) has been given $600,000 to install new lights at the ground, as well as installing a state of the art electric scoreboard with will be replacing the current scoreboard which has been at the ground for decades. Glenorchy Cricket, and Football Club will be looking forward to making good use of the new lighting at the venue.
North Hobart Oval has also been granted some money as well to bring in the lights there so now all the Southern venues in Tasmania will be fitted with lighting. The AFL probably won't take much of a look at these venues, and will not send anymore AFL games to Tasmania to the South, even though the Hawks are going to be playing more games down here in the near future under their new deal here in Tasmania.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has expressed interest in playing Collingwood in Tasmania as a blockbuster for the Tasmanian public,but seems to have been rejected by the AFL, or at least not discussed and agreed upon. AFL Tasmania's Scott West in 2003 tried to secure games at Bellerive involving either Western Bulldogs, Richmond, or Melbourne to Bellerive. Andrew Demetriou visited Tasmania and ruled there would be no AFL games at the venue effectively ruining any chance of Southern Tasmania hosting AFL games.
With venue upgrades happening across Tasmania, and with Tasmania looking to get themselves an AFL side there will be certainly more interest in Southern Tasmanian venues trying to secure a game here and there whether it be an AFL pre-season game of the NAB Cup, or a game in the Regional Challenge, Tasmania's dreams of getting an AFL team are being boosted with the roll out of venue upgrades, which has been delivered by Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett.
There is also a redevelopment of the oval in Lauderdale, which may has hosted night games in the past between Lauderdale and Clarence, both times these games have had more then 1,000 people attend the games. AFL Tasmania would be buoyed by the results of that, and would hope that once the other venues secure lighting that there will be more night TSL games, if not an AFL game in the near future.
Tasmania's TSL is entering into it's second year after the rebirth happened last season, reigning premiers, Clarence will battle Glenorchy in Round One, the Grand Final replay should bring a very good turn out for the first game of the new season, with traditional rivals battling it out.
The 2009 AFL Draft was also a good turnout for Tasmania with 5 players finding new AFL homes in this years draft, Glenorchy's Ryan Harwood was taken by Brisbane, he joins fellow former Glenorchy premiership player Aaron Cornelius at the Lions. Clarence's Daniel Archer was drafted by the Saints, also from Clarence Jeromey Webberley the reigning RACT Player of the Year, and a finalist in the Tassie Medalist was taken by Richmond, Webberley himself was reportedly shocked with his selection.
North Hobart's Marcus Davies was also drafted, rumours were that Collingwood were keen on the young Demon, but the Blues managed to pounce. The final Tasmanian that found his new home in the AFL was Jesse Crichton from the North Launceston Football Club, he was taken by Fremantle. Tasmanian football is growing and growing, and the success of the 2009 TSL season was evident with the 5 young Tasmanians selected in the AFL Draft.
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