Joint venture, relocated club 'more sustainable' than standalone Tasmanian AFL team, McLachlan says

A report investigating the viability of an AFL team in Tasmania has found a relocated team or a joint venture between Tasmania and Victoria would be the strongest outcome. Key points: A viability report into a standalone Tasmanian AFL team has found a case can be made for a 19th team However, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says a relocated team or a joint venture would be more sustainable Tasmania's Premier says he will not support a joint-venture proposal The report, by former AFL commissioner and Geelong president Colin Carter, was delivered to the AFL commission earlier this month, and to Tasmania's government on Thursday afternoon. Mr Gutwein said Tasmania deserved both AFL and AFLW representation, and the state's strong history with the code should demonstrate it could support a team. Mr Gutwein said he would not finalise or roll over the state's agreements with the North Melbourne and Hawthorn clubs until the AFL made a clear call on a Tasmanian team "once and for all". It said the "absence of a local team" was behind the declining popularity of the code in the state and said AFL could cede being Tasmania's favourite sporting code by 2030.