News

From The Mercury
Reported by Brett Stubbs

THE AFL will underwrite a revived Tasmanian statewide league and may increase funding for the Devils to keep them in the VFL, says AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

He met AFL Tasmania chairman Dominic Baker and general manager Scott Wade yesterday and left them with massive grins.

Neither party would reveal the funds required but it was believed the AFL's grant to Tasmania would increase from $1.38 million to $2.2 million to cover both the new statewide league and the Devils -- a 59 per cent increase.

Demetriou said he was a supporter of a properly run statewide league, with the proposed model being underpinned by the three regional competitions and only including seniors.

"If that was something that made sense, we wouldn't hesitate in underwriting something like that to help it get off the ground," he said.

"We are a strong believer in football in Tasmania. It has got a rich history in our game, it has provided great talent to the VFL/AFL and anything we can do to further that we will look at."

But it was believed the proposed statewide competition would not be brought in until 2009.

AFL Tasmania's decision for the Devils to join the SANFL next season because of financial reasons was almost assured but Demetriou said he was not of the same opinion.

"Our preference is for the Tassie Devils to be a strong football club playing in the VFL," he said.

"That is our preference but ultimately it will be a decision for AFL Tasmania.

"I understand there are financial issues that make staying in the VFL harder and we have been made aware of that but I hope we can help. I will take that back to Melbourne and have a good think about it."

But the good news for AFL Tasmania is that either way the future of the Devils is now assured, something that was not guaranteed if they continued on as-is in the VFL.

Baker said Demetriou and the AFL's opinions were not easily ignored.

"We take a lot of notice of that direction and certainly that is Andrew's opinion and the opinion of the commission," Baker said.

"Andrew also understands there are financial issues attached to where the Devils end up playing football to ensure we build a long-term, sustainable model for that program and he will go away today with that knowledge."

The AFL commission must ratify any Tasmanian grant increase and it will be on the next meeting's agenda, on August 17.

Baker hoped to soon make a formal announcement on the Devils and local football.

"Today was step one in us briefing our stakeholders," he said. "Our major stakeholder, the AFL, is our first briefing and we think that has gone very, very well and we will go through a process now of ensuring that all stakeholders get the same opportunity."