Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has warned Tasmania will be worse off if the state possesses its own AFL team and the Hawks stop playing home games in Launceston.
Kennett has penned an open letter on the Hawks’ website, attacking Labor leader Bill Shorten’s election promise to commit $25 million towards Tasmania having its own team and questioning if a club in the Apple Isle is “feasible”.
The former Liberal Premier of Victoria says Hawthorn will back out of its deal in Tasmania, where they have played games in Launceston since 2001, if the club isn’t wanted.
“Hawthorn has been in Tasmania for the best part of 18 years,” Kennett wrote.
“We have been building our relationship with the Tasmanian community for years.
“Independent research released earlier this year stated Hawthorn’s presence in Tasmania brings in $30 million a year in economic activity and that’s before you consider the promotion of Tasmania we deliver.
“I fear a Tasmanian team, regardless of how it performs will negatively affect the hospitality and tourism industry in Tasmania.
“One thing I am sure of, given our considerable efforts over many years, and my continued promotion of Tasmania, is if Hawthorn is not wanted in Tasmania, just tell us and we will go back to the mainland.
“The best Tasmanians can do is embrace the model released by the AFL last month, and use it as an opportunity to build the case for their own AFL team some day.”
Kennett described Shorten’s offer to back up a Tasmanian team as “crass intervention” and warned those being excited about the promise to “consider the foolishness of his offer”.
He says a Tasmanian club becoming the 19th team in the AFL is not “feasible for scheduling or to attract sufficient players of high enough standard to be competitive.”
He believed the only way a Tasmanian team could enter the AFL is a club relocated, one folded or two merged.
“Don’t get me wrong. I am not against a Tasmanian team, but I want it to be viable.
“I do not want it to start and then collapse for any one of many reasons.”
