AFL fans will know whether Tasmania becomes the 19th team in the competition by the end of this month, Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph believes.
Just a week after reports the Tassie bid had stalled over exactly who would fund a new stadium, Ralph said there’s confidence that a “new vision” for the stadium would broker the 19th license for 2027 and beyond.
Under new estimates, the venue would cost less than $500 million – rather than the initial $750m – and could once again change attitudes towards the potential new club.
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“There will be a vote by the end of the month,” Ralph said on Fox Footy.
“The Tasmanian Government they can secure funding for a stadium believe that’s less than $500m.
“The feasibility study that’s underway with the current taskforce and government won’t be completed by the end of April, but they believe if you have a $500m bill, it would be dollar for dollar.
“Federal government, State government, there’d be some private partnership investment, with a hotel, convention centre, parking of course which would attract some visitors.
“My understanding is the other work streams are basically done, basically ticked off. None of them are game changers. The stadium is the massive issue.
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“So the plan will go to the AFL committee, let’s call it mid-month. It will go back to the presidents to go back their own boards, and then presidents like Jeff Kennett will come to a consensus view.
“We will have a decision either way.”
The new stadium would be based upon the Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville, which was built for $295m two years ago.
For that venue, $140m came from State funding while a further $100m was provided from the Federal government.
Ralph said Tasmania’s stadium would also include a Perspex roof, like Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium, that would not be retractable.
“We are at the most official, the most important month in the history of the AFL in Tasmania,” Ralph said.
Fox Footy’s Nick Riewoldt, who is a Tasmanian AFL taskforce member, said now was the time for the AFL to choose a side on the 19th licence.
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“Now its incumbent on the AFL to, if they strongly believe Tasmania deserve a 19th license, to lobby that in front of the presidents,” he said.
“We know it’s mixed, some (club presidents) put their flags in the ground before the report had even been tabled.”
The Colin Carter report, on Tasmania’s bid for an AFL team, found the feasibility “stacks up”.
“Gillon McLachlan has said to them, funding will be conditional as long as you are turning sod on the new stadium by the time the team runs out for its first game, that’s acceptable,” Ralph added.
“Before finals, we’ll know (if they get a license).”
Melbourne and Brisbane have been quizzed on the futures of two their respective out-of-contract stars as rumors swirl.
Plus the latest on a suitor’s Jordan De Goey bid as well as Dan Hannebery’s future.
Get the latest player movement news and updates in AFL Trade Whispers!
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DEES, LIONS CONFIRM HONEST CHATS WITH OFF-CONTRACT STARS
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has admitted he’s had “honest chats” with out-out-contract star Luke Jackson about his future, saying the youngster faces a massive call ahead.
Jackson has put off contract talks until the end of the season and been heavily linked with a move to Fremantle as he weighs up returning to his home state of Western Australia.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360, Goodwin implored the 20-year old to not be distracted by his future plans and keep his focus on helping the Demons’ bid for back-to-back premierships.
“I’ve had some great chats with Luke and some were honest chats about we just want him to perform for the Melbourne footy club, however long that may be,” Goodwin told Fox Footy.
“That’s what our focus has been, whether that’s 10 weeks, whether that’s the next 10 years, and he’s been really open … he’s fully committed to Melbourne.”
Jackson rucking against Freo (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
“Our responsibility as a club is to be mature in our approach towards that end, and get the best out of the Luke for however long he’s at our footy club… those conversations have been held with Luke and he’s embraced it.
“He needs time to make his decision… we’ve said to Luke all along, ‘you take as much time as you need’.
“He’s got the chance to go home at some stage throughout his career and he’s got a footy club that he loves at the moment, so it’s a big decision for him to make.”
Brisbane faces a similar situation with key forward Dan McStay, who’s been heavily linked to Collingwood on a five-year, $3 million deal.
And like Goodwin, Lions coach Chris Fagan just wanted to see McStay put his best foot forward while wearing the Brisbane jumper.
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“I’d have a couple of chats with Daniel during the season. These are challenging times for players when they’ve got to make decisions about their futures,” Fagan told AFL 360.
“I just wanted to make sure Daniel felt supported and also to encourage him to play the best football he can for the rest of the year.
“Whatever decision he makes he makes, hopefully he decides to stay with the Lions, but if he doesn’t he’s given us great service and we’re grateful for what he’s contributed to the club.”
Asked if players and clubs should announce moves ahead of time, like in the NRL, Fagan said: “That probably seems the mature way to do it, I just don’t know whether we’re ready for that and whether all clubs will be comfortable.
“Some players might feel like if they say they’re going, that would endanger their chances perhaps for selection for the rest of the year or the club might turn in a different direction.
“I don’t know whether we’ve arrived at that level of maturity with football yet, I’d like to think so.”
SAINTS WANT MORE BY GOEY CLARITY
St Kilda’s board has requested its football department for more information on Jordan De Goey before it ticks off making a formal push for the free agent Magpies star, reports TheAge.
The Saints have been linked to De Goey, who was discussed at the club’s board meeting on Thursday night as it weighs up an aggressive pursuit of the 26-year old.
It’s believed the board wants to be satisfied he’s the “right fit” for the club both on and off the field including its leadership and values and whether he could help the club win a premiership.
De Goey’s future at Collingwood is in doubt after the Pies pulled their most recent contract offer to him following his Bali exploits — a two-year deal with a trigger for another two years, totaling $3.2 million.
De Goey returned from a quad injury on the weekend (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS
Geelong is also interested in the midfielder/forward, while St Kilda coach Brett Ratten confirmed in June his club would want to look at “all the evidence” around De Goey’s off-field indiscretions before ruling out a play for the out-of-contract Collingwood star.
“We’d have to do our homework and have a look at exactly what has happened and taking all the evidence as you do when you bring in any player, especially opponents from another club,” Ratten said.
“You’re looking at the on-field performance, and you’re looking at what you’re trying to build as a football club and culture and that as well. So we take in both sides of the equation, and then we make decisions around there and all those free agents will be singled out and sort of maybe targeting one or two, if it’s possible.
“We do assess everything they do on and off the field.”
HANNEBERY ‘PRETTY KEEN’ TO PLAY ON
Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reports Dan Hannebery is “pretty keen” to play on in 2023, but believes the out-of-contract Saint may have to settle for a rookie list spot.
Hannebery enjoyed a strong return to the field against Hawthorn — an inclusion that raised the eyebrows of some pundits — racking up 27 disposals and booting one goal in the St Kilda’s 12-point win in his first game since Round 23 last year.
However the injury-plagued 31-year old, who’s coming towards the end of a four-season deal worth around $800,000 per season — a contract renegotiated to a reduced figure this year — has struggled to stay on the park in recent years, playing just 16 senior games in four campaigns due to several setbacks.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s on the couch, Ralph provided the latest on Hannebery’s future.
“Officially out of contract, pretty keen to go again — probably needs to make the next three weeks a winner.
“He funded his own trip over to ‘Healing Hans’ the German soft tissue expert… he’s taken multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars pay cut.
“I think one possibility is if he gets through the year, you go onto the rookie list or you spend a summer trying to train yourself up — and if you can get through it, it gives you another year as a summer rookie.”
GWS need to follow Collingwood’s lead and commit to a salary cap dump in a bid to rejuvenate a list that’s missing “an A-grader”, according to journalist Jon Ralph.
The Giants are languishing in 16th position with just five wins for 2022 – with coach Leon Cameron an early casualty.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s On The Couch, Ralph said the GWS salary cap reset was “officially on”, with a host of players set to be put up for trade.
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“I think rather than an exodus of players wanting to flee this club, I think it’s a really calculated decision by this club (that) we need to fix this salary cap issue once and for all,” he said.
“If you are going to do it, over three or four years, do it now with really tough decisions.
“Josh Kelly’s contract hits $1.2m at some stage – it’s back-ended, Nick Haynes next year is on over $800,000 – back-ended. That’s a decision the club’s made, but you can fix it right now.
“The inside mids will depart; Jacob Hopper, Tanner Bruhn, Bobby Hill as a small forward, I think to Collingwood.
“The Giants would love to keep Tim Taranto who can play as a medium forward, but he wants to play as an inside mid but they will not push him out.
“I think if someone wanted to pay Haynes’ salary, I think he’d be available.”
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Ralph said rumors of a Lachie Whitfield exit were incorrect, and said Tom Green would remain at the club too.
“Lachie Whitfield will not be part of a trade … he’s had an ankle that’s been so bad since Round 8 he’s needed surgery but he’s battled on,” he said.
“Tom Green, happy, contracted, part of those 14 players (called out by caretaker coach Mark McVeigh) and that brings the speculation that he won’t be there.
Collingwood missed the flag. Two years later, the salary cap exodus. I think it’s taken one more year but they are going to do something about it and it’s going to cause a ripple effect.
“Over a million bucks of cap space over next year and potentially years to come as well.”
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Ralph said the exits of Hopper, Bruhn, Hill and Taranto would still leave the Giants with the likes of Stephen Coniglio, Kelly, Green and Whitfield.
And it would free up some space to target an “A-grader” like Collingwood’s Brodie Grundy.
“They’ve got three ruckmen who are probably worth $1 million (combined) – none of them are A-graders,” Ralph said.
“Would you make strong decisions to bring in Brodie Grundy, pay him his $1 million and you’ve got A-graders, difference makers.
“You might create space for the key position forward. It’s not they’ve got too many stars, it’s they are an unbalanced list which is why they want to bring in a key position forward and maybe a ruckman.”
