basically i think over the past year hawthorn have been edging themselves over to tassie

1. there guernsey says tasmania in big letters

2. they use launceston as there home ground now

3. They anounced there new logo on the spirit of tasmania

doesn't it seem inevitable they are going to be the tassie hawks soon

I don't know if it's been mentioned here or elsewhere, but did anyone else notice that the Hawks logo is the same shape as the map of Tasmania (geographically speaking)? That was the first thing that came to mind when I saw their new emblem. I very much doubt we'll see Hawthorn formally relocated in the next decade, but I don't think it's an impossibility that it will occur at some stage.

Anyone noticed Melbourne specific rebranding efforts to make the MELBOURNE in MELBOURNEfc much much more prominent?

I've just got back from Tasmania, and it seems so unfair that they don't have an AFL team as there's so much support down there. Every town has there own footy club and the grand final was huge.

The problem seems to be that the population is too small, but surely Hobart could sustain a team. To be honest I'd rather see the AFL sure up the territory it already has rather than push into Queensland.

In 20 years time I'd love to see both a Launceston and Hobart team in the AFL.

I've just got back from Tasmania, and it seems so unfair that they don't have an AFL team as there's so much support down there. Every town has there own footy club and the grand final was huge.

The problem seems to be that the population is too small, but surely Hobart could sustain a team. To be honest I'd rather see the AFL sure up the territory it already has rather than push into Queensland.

In 20 years time I'd love to see both a Launceston and Hobart team in the AFL.

geese, not launceston and hobart, thats a big call.....one or the other "the tasmania hawks"

If Tasmania has good rehab facilities the Hawks will be there in a flash!

I don't think we'll ever see two teams in the AFL from Tassie. The population is too small, but is growing. Andrew D has made it clear he doesn't think Tasmania can sustain one team, let alone two.

I don't understand the state Goverments logic in sponsoring the Hawks and basing all games in Launceston. The population, although spread out, is still mainly based in the south. Until Hobart is recognised as the hub of these activities, and facilities built that are up to standard, I don't think Tasmania has a chance of having it's own team. If you build it, they will come!

People don't want to be told who to support either, I can assure you that they aren't jumping onboard the Hawks just because they play a couple of games down here. There are a lot of [censored] off people with the government over the sponsorship deal.

Being a demons supporter, I'd sooner fork out the cash to go to Melbourne and watch the Demons play, than watch them play at Aurora Stadium. Best view of Launceston is in the rearview mirror. It bites.

I don't understand the state Goverments logic in sponsoring the Hawks and basing all games in Launceston.

Think Bass and Braddon - two marginals in both Federal and State politics.

Howard threw $5 Million at York Park some years ago to enable redevelopment to go ahead - they won Bass that election.

Think Bass and Braddon - two marginals in both Federal and State politics.

Howard threw $5 Million at York Park some years ago to enable redevelopment to go ahead - they won Bass that election.

Another problem is that residents of Bellerive keep putting up roadblocks when it comes to development of the ground. That's why there's no lights there.

I agree though, it's a farce that they're not doing the developments where the actual population is.

Exactly I don't know why they're not investing in the area that has the larger poulation, and could sooner sustain a club. Hobart has over 200,000 people whereas Lauceston has about 89,000. Geelong only has a population of 160,000, but they do have supporters all around Victoria.

Another problem is that residents of Bellerive keep putting up roadblocks when it comes to development of the ground. That's why there's no lights there.

I agree though, it's a farce that they're not doing the developments where the actual population is.

Couldn't they get Gunns sponsorship? They know how to get an unpopular project through. Perhaps the Hawks could even change their name to the Tassie Gunns.

It would be a good fit, i heard there is a large Columbian population in Tasmania

It would be a good fit, i heard there is a large Columbian population in Tasmania

Very sharp first post

thanks diablo

thanks diablo

You know he was referring to Velvet's post?

lol

Exactly I don't know why they're not investing in the area that has the larger poulation, and could sooner sustain a club. Hobart has over 200,000 people whereas Lauceston has about 89,000. Geelong only has a population of 160,000, but they do have supporters all around Victoria.

Its not based on town populations but also potential supporter/ viewing audience. With all due respect to Nasher, I dont think that based on the population of Tassie (if all barracked for the Hawks) it would be enough to financially justify a team.

Couldn't they get Gunns sponsorship? They know how to get an unpopular project through. Perhaps the Hawks could even change their name to the Tassie Gunns.

Topical Maurie, topical indeed.

Word has it that a coffee supplier may take a sponsorship with the Dawks, Map coffee au natural.

There is no denying the Victorian market is over-saturated.

To an unbias observer wihtout the passion for the VFL heritage, it would make sense to see Hawks move south, Kangaroos to the gold coast and possibly another team eventually in Sydney.

There is a lot more money out there for any Victorian club ready to break traditional ties.

Think Bass and Braddon - two marginals in both Federal and State politics.

Howard threw $5 Million at York Park some years ago to enable redevelopment to go ahead - they won Bass that election.

Yep, and $30m or so into the big redevelopment of Whitten oval, Which had a huge electoral effect in Melbourne Western Suburbs marginal seats.

Guys, I think we need to all move to marginal electorates.

Getting back to Tasmania, you've gotta remember that Geelong managed to get a very strong deal with Kardinia Park where they don't actually need a big crowd to turn a reasonable game income. The figure I saw a couple of years back (when it was still Colonial Stadium instead of Telstra Dome) was that a game at the Dome need to pass about 40,000 to be worth as much to Geelong as 25,000 at Kardinia Park. So smaller venues and crowds can still be viable.

On the other hand, not yet. If some crazy freaky government actually started investing in regional development instead of just tacking on extra 'suburb-in-a-box' areas to Sydney and Melbourne, then we might see a viable Tassie team.