Latest news with #Devils'
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Most voters want AFL stadium deal redo, poll shows
Both major parties are out of step with state voters in their unwavering support to build a $945 million stadium in a deal for an AFL team, a pre-election poll suggests. With a snap election weeks away, Tasmanian voters were surveyed on their attitude to the deal struck with the AFL to build a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point. The Hobart stadium is a condition of the licence for the Devils' inclusion in the competition in 2028. The online poll of 842 voters, conducted by YouGov on behalf of progressive think tank The Australia Institute from July 12 to 16, indicates most Tasmanians believe the stadium deal is unfair. More than two out of three (69 per cent) support Tasmanian parliament renegotiating with the AFL to avoid constructing a new stadium. Support to renegotiate was strongest among independent (81 per cent) and Greens voters (78 per cent). The idea was only mildly less popular with Labor supporters (71 per cent). Liberal voters were the most likely to disagree with the proposition (38 per cent) but a majority (56 per cent) still wanted parliamentarians to return to the negotiating table. More than two in three also believe the AFL is treating Tasmania unfairly in its requirements for granting Tasmania a license to join the national competition. Perhaps surprisingly, more men (72 per cent) than women (65 per cent) agreed with the statement. Over 65s were particularly scathing, with four out of five miffed with the AFL's treatment. Some analysts have described the Tasmanian election as a referendum on the stadium, but both Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winters have been unwilling to budge on their support. The AFL has been staunch in its refusal to renegotiate the deal, declaring the stadium remains a non-negotiable for the Devils' licence. The Australia Institute's strategy director Leanne Minshull described the stadium deal as a "dud" and one of the most one-sided in Australian sport. She said residents of the Apple Isle were rightly appalled by the AFL's treatment, which effectively amounted to putting a "gun to the head of Tasmanians". "Whoever wins the state election on July 19 must stand up to the AFL and stand up for Tasmanians," she said. "This state deserves to have a team in the AFL, but Tassie taxpayers don't want to be on the hook for a billion-dollar indoor stadium they don't want." Final approval of the stadium is expected to come down to a vote of parliament. Both major parties are out of step with state voters in their unwavering support to build a $945 million stadium in a deal for an AFL team, a pre-election poll suggests. With a snap election weeks away, Tasmanian voters were surveyed on their attitude to the deal struck with the AFL to build a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point. The Hobart stadium is a condition of the licence for the Devils' inclusion in the competition in 2028. The online poll of 842 voters, conducted by YouGov on behalf of progressive think tank The Australia Institute from July 12 to 16, indicates most Tasmanians believe the stadium deal is unfair. More than two out of three (69 per cent) support Tasmanian parliament renegotiating with the AFL to avoid constructing a new stadium. Support to renegotiate was strongest among independent (81 per cent) and Greens voters (78 per cent). The idea was only mildly less popular with Labor supporters (71 per cent). Liberal voters were the most likely to disagree with the proposition (38 per cent) but a majority (56 per cent) still wanted parliamentarians to return to the negotiating table. More than two in three also believe the AFL is treating Tasmania unfairly in its requirements for granting Tasmania a license to join the national competition. Perhaps surprisingly, more men (72 per cent) than women (65 per cent) agreed with the statement. Over 65s were particularly scathing, with four out of five miffed with the AFL's treatment. Some analysts have described the Tasmanian election as a referendum on the stadium, but both Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winters have been unwilling to budge on their support. The AFL has been staunch in its refusal to renegotiate the deal, declaring the stadium remains a non-negotiable for the Devils' licence. The Australia Institute's strategy director Leanne Minshull described the stadium deal as a "dud" and one of the most one-sided in Australian sport. She said residents of the Apple Isle were rightly appalled by the AFL's treatment, which effectively amounted to putting a "gun to the head of Tasmanians". "Whoever wins the state election on July 19 must stand up to the AFL and stand up for Tasmanians," she said. "This state deserves to have a team in the AFL, but Tassie taxpayers don't want to be on the hook for a billion-dollar indoor stadium they don't want." Final approval of the stadium is expected to come down to a vote of parliament. Both major parties are out of step with state voters in their unwavering support to build a $945 million stadium in a deal for an AFL team, a pre-election poll suggests. With a snap election weeks away, Tasmanian voters were surveyed on their attitude to the deal struck with the AFL to build a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point. The Hobart stadium is a condition of the licence for the Devils' inclusion in the competition in 2028. The online poll of 842 voters, conducted by YouGov on behalf of progressive think tank The Australia Institute from July 12 to 16, indicates most Tasmanians believe the stadium deal is unfair. More than two out of three (69 per cent) support Tasmanian parliament renegotiating with the AFL to avoid constructing a new stadium. Support to renegotiate was strongest among independent (81 per cent) and Greens voters (78 per cent). The idea was only mildly less popular with Labor supporters (71 per cent). Liberal voters were the most likely to disagree with the proposition (38 per cent) but a majority (56 per cent) still wanted parliamentarians to return to the negotiating table. More than two in three also believe the AFL is treating Tasmania unfairly in its requirements for granting Tasmania a license to join the national competition. Perhaps surprisingly, more men (72 per cent) than women (65 per cent) agreed with the statement. Over 65s were particularly scathing, with four out of five miffed with the AFL's treatment. Some analysts have described the Tasmanian election as a referendum on the stadium, but both Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winters have been unwilling to budge on their support. The AFL has been staunch in its refusal to renegotiate the deal, declaring the stadium remains a non-negotiable for the Devils' licence. The Australia Institute's strategy director Leanne Minshull described the stadium deal as a "dud" and one of the most one-sided in Australian sport. She said residents of the Apple Isle were rightly appalled by the AFL's treatment, which effectively amounted to putting a "gun to the head of Tasmanians". "Whoever wins the state election on July 19 must stand up to the AFL and stand up for Tasmanians," she said. "This state deserves to have a team in the AFL, but Tassie taxpayers don't want to be on the hook for a billion-dollar indoor stadium they don't want." Final approval of the stadium is expected to come down to a vote of parliament.
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Most voters want AFL stadium deal redo, poll shows
Both major parties are out of step with state voters in their unwavering support to build a $945 million stadium in a deal for an AFL team, a pre-election poll suggests. With a snap election weeks away, Tasmanian voters were surveyed on their attitude to the deal struck with the AFL to build a roofed stadium at Macquarie Point. The Hobart stadium is a condition of the licence for the Devils' inclusion in the competition in 2028. The online poll of 842 voters, conducted by YouGov on behalf of progressive think tank The Australia Institute from July 12 to 16, indicates most Tasmanians believe the stadium deal is unfair. More than two out of three (69 per cent) support Tasmanian parliament renegotiating with the AFL to avoid constructing a new stadium. Support to renegotiate was strongest among independent (81 per cent) and Greens voters (78 per cent). The idea was only mildly less popular with Labor supporters (71 per cent). Liberal voters were the most likely to disagree with the proposition (38 per cent) but a majority (56 per cent) still wanted parliamentarians to return to the negotiating table. More than two in three also believe the AFL is treating Tasmania unfairly in its requirements for granting Tasmania a license to join the national competition. Perhaps surprisingly, more men (72 per cent) than women (65 per cent) agreed with the statement. Over 65s were particularly scathing, with four out of five miffed with the AFL's treatment. Some analysts have described the Tasmanian election as a referendum on the stadium, but both Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winters have been unwilling to budge on their support. The AFL has been staunch in its refusal to renegotiate the deal, declaring the stadium remains a non-negotiable for the Devils' licence. The Australia Institute's strategy director Leanne Minshull described the stadium deal as a "dud" and one of the most one-sided in Australian sport. She said residents of the Apple Isle were rightly appalled by the AFL's treatment, which effectively amounted to putting a "gun to the head of Tasmanians". "Whoever wins the state election on July 19 must stand up to the AFL and stand up for Tasmanians," she said. "This state deserves to have a team in the AFL, but Tassie taxpayers don't want to be on the hook for a billion-dollar indoor stadium they don't want." Final approval of the stadium is expected to come down to a vote of parliament.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AFL's Tasmania expansion on a knife edge amid state political uncertainty
The proposed stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point has become a sticking point for some in the AFL's expansion into Tasmania. The proposed stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point has become a sticking point for some in the AFL's expansion into Tasmania. Photograph: Cox Architecture The AFL's expansion into Tasmania is on a knife edge as the state's politicians consider a move to oust premier Jeremy Rockliff, which would trigger a shake up and potentially torpedo the Devils' plans to join the league. The Devils on Wednesday said the political uncertainty was cause for 'great concern' and presented 'a serious risk … for the future of Tasmania Football Club'. Advertisement The club, which has already attracted 210,000 members, is due to enter the competition in 2028 under an agreement with the AFL, and move into the newly complete venue on the Hobart waterfront the following year. Related: Ferocious, cheeky or 'nightmare fuel'? Meet Rum'un, Tasmania's new AFL mascot One of the conditions set by the AFL for a new team in Tasmania was a roofed stadium, but the expensive project – set to cost around $1bn – faces opposition from some in Tasmania, who instead have called for the money to be spent elsewhere. The Greens have declared they support a motion of no-confidence in the premier put forward by Labor's opposition leader Dean Winter. Advertisement In Parliament on Wednesday morning, Greens leader Dr Rosalie Woodruff called for the motion to explicitly mention the government's handling of the stadium. But Winter responded by saying he would not support the amendment, and the no-confidence motion was focused on the state of the budget. In a dramatic day in Hobart, Devils' head of corporate affairs Kath McCann was emotional at a press conference as she described there is no 'plan B' to renegotiate the deal with the AFL. 'It'd be fair to say that the level of uncertainty would be significantly heightened, and in fact, some of those scenarios don't beg thinking about for the club here today,' McCann said, via the ABC. Advertisement 'The optics nationally and internationally are really negative for Tasmania, what this looks like is uncertainly, a risk to invest and a state that isn't unified.' The Devils had earlier taken the unusual step of offering a public statement amidst the political uncertainty. 'We ask that our political leaders understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state for all Tasmanians, a future which we know Tasmania Football Club can play a significant part,' it said. On Tuesday in Melbourne, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the competition had already been planning for the weekly bye for one team that would come with entry of the Devils as 19th team, and anticipated the stadium's enabling legislation would be discussed in the lower house later this month and the upper house early in July. 'The Tasmanian government and [Devils CEO] Brendon Gale and the Tassie Devils have done a power of work and we're really confident in 2028,' he said.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Well, we're out of a job': Tassie boss on what happens if stadium proposal falls over
Loading Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale has publicly declared a list of potential candidates for the club's inaugural senior coaching position. Six coaches are on the Devils' hit-list, with Gale confirming former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was 'a man of great interest,' after Buckley himself declared that he was a chance to be the first coach of Tasmania, if he was wanted. Speaking at a breakfast in Southbank on Friday, Gale also admitted the club had gone to the market for a football boss too soon, and will revisit the appointment later this season around the time many clubs wrap up their campaigns for 2025. Gale said the names on the shortlist to be the first coach of his club include: Buckley, Geelong dual premiership coach Chris Scott, former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson and outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan, who is also a proud Tasmanian, wasn't mentioned publicly but Gale later confirmed to this masthead that he was a person of 'significant interest', whether that be as senior coach or in an overseeing role. 'I've got great respect for Nathan, as a competitor and what he's done in coaching, he's been a very successful coach at a very complex club to manage at times,' Gale quipped as he smiled in the direction of former Magpies president Eddie McGuire. 'I think he's a continuous learner and I think people tend to get better at things in life, through success and through failure. So, he's a man of great interest. 'Chris Scott's coaching record is formidable. There's a bloke over in Sydney who goes alright, who's betwixt and between at the moment. Talking about tough environments, Ken Hinkley, it's pretty tough over there. Adam Simpson, history would suggest it's really hard to win premierships from Perth; he made two grand finals.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The six coaches on Tasmania Devils' radar to lead the AFL's 19th team
Loading Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale has publicly declared a list of potential candidates for the club's inaugural senior coaching position. Six coaches are on the Devils' hit-list, with Gale confirming former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was 'a man of great interest,' after Buckley himself declared that he was a chance to be the first coach of Tasmania, if he was wanted. Speaking at a breakfast in Southbank on Friday, Gale also admitted the club had gone to the market for a football boss too soon, and will revisit the appointment later this season around the time many clubs wrap up their campaigns for 2025. Gale said the names on the shortlist to be the first coach of his club include: Buckley, Geelong dual premiership coach Chris Scott, former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson and outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan, who is also a proud Tasmanian, wasn't mentioned publicly but Gale later confirmed to this masthead that he was a person of 'significant interest', whether that be as senior coach or in an overseeing role. 'I've got great respect for Nathan, as a competitor and what he's done in coaching, he's been a very successful coach at a very complex club to manage at times,' Gale quipped as he smiled in the direction of former Magpies president Eddie McGuire. 'I think he's a continuous learner and I think people tend to get better at things in life, through success and through failure. So, he's a man of great interest. 'Chris Scott's coaching record is formidable. There's a bloke over in Sydney who goes alright, who's betwixt and between at the moment. Talking about tough environments, Ken Hinkley, it's pretty tough over there. Adam Simpson, history would suggest it's really hard to win premierships from Perth; he made two grand finals.
