Tasmania’s AFL team is in jeopardy as the state’s Premier faces an almighty struggle to retain his position.
State Opposition Leader Dean Winter has put forward a no-confidence motion in Jeremy Rockliff, who made a deal with the league for Tasmania to be granted an AFL licence on the condition the state fully fund a controversial new $945 million stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart, over concerning figures from the recently released state budget showing Tasmanian debt could reach $10.8 billion in the next four years.
The motion is set to succeed, with the Greens and three independents supporting the move.
Should it happen, Mr Rockliff has forecast he will call an early election, Tasmania’s second in a little over 12 months, rather than resign as Premier, as convention dictates should occur in the event of a successful no confidence motion.
“That’s the last thing Tasmania needs,” Mr Rockliff wrote in a Facebook post of the prospect of another election.
“That’s the last thing Tasmanians want.
“Investment and business confidence would go off a cliff.
“Because the budget hasn’t been passed, nurses, doctors, firefighters and police would risk not being paid.
“But that’s what a no-confidence vote would do: force Tasmania back to the polls.
“That’s not leadership. That’s an obsessive desire for power at any cost. Tasmania deserves better.”
The Tasmania Devils foundation jumper is revealed. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
As for the stadium, which has support both from Labor and Mr Rockliff’s Liberal parties, an election would at the very least delay its construction, which would already jeopardise the state’s agreement with the AFL for the Tasmania Devils to enter the league in 2028.
Amusingly, on Wednesday morning while moving the no confidence motion, Mr Winter reiterated ‘that there is no question whatsoever about the support for our AFL teams and a stadium’, which led to laughs from government benches and shouts of ‘weak’!
“What does it mean for the stadium? Well, it just creates more uncertainty, and that’s the last thing that the stadium needs,” Tasmanian journalist Brent Costelloe told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“We know it’s hanging by a threat at the moment. As it stands, it’s meant to be debated in the parliament in the coming weeks, in the lower house and the upper house.
“If we go to another election, that just creates more delays around the stadium, creates more uncertainty, the Premier might not be there – he’s been the number one supporter of this stadium.
“It could be a new leader; that new leader might need to seek confidence and supply from other parliamentarians.
“It’s one big, giant mess.”
Costelloe said despite the ‘negative noise’ around the stadium, he still believes the support a Tasmanian AFL licence has will win out in the end – though the stadium will need to be built for it to happen.
“I think people think if this stadium falls over, that we’ll still be able to have a team in the competition. It’s just not going to happen,” he said.
“We’re back to the drawing board, back to a whole new licence agreement … it’s in real danger of falling over.”
In response to fears over the team’s future, the Devils released a club statement on Wednesday morning urging politicians to ‘understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state’.
“Like the rest of the community, we are unsure what will happen today and what the impacts of any actions taken might be. What we do know is that uncertainty presents a serious risk for jobs, investment, and growth, and for the future of Tasmania Football Club,” the statement reads.
“Tasmania Football Club remains steadfast on building a club for all Tasmanians. We are also steadfast on staying out of politics. We ask that our political leaders understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state for all Tasmanians, a future which we know Tasmania Football Club can play a significant part.”
‘Filthy’ umpires consider legal action against former greats’ criticism
The AFL umpires embroiled in the league’s controversial mishandling of their response to Collingwood forward Lachie Schultz’s concussion in a match against Fremantle are weighing up legal action against Channel Seven pundits who criticised them.
During the Round 9 match, Schultz was concussed in a collision, with umpires not stopping play as he came from the field while supported by Magpies trainers.
Initially, the AFL claimed the umpires hadn’t realised Schultz had been knocked out, but after Seven released umpire mic audio revealing they hand on that week’s The Agenda Setters, the four umpires involved – Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power and Martin Rodger – were heavily criticised by former greats Kane Cornes, Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas on the show.
However, the AFL would quickly release another statement absolving the umpires of any wrongdoing, saying internal miscommunication had been to blame.
According to Nine’s Tom Morris, though, the umpires remain ‘filthy’ with Cornes, Hodge and Thomas’ criticism, and are weighing up their legal options.
“They are filthy. Not at the AFL, but at three of the most high profile experts in the game,” Morris told 9News Melbourne.
“I can tell you that umpires Simon Meredith, Craig Fleer, Justin Power and Martin Rodger are considering taking legal action against Luke Hodge, Dale Thomas and Kane Cornes.”
“The umpires involved in the Fremantle vs Collingwood game have been advised as to their legal rights in relation to some of the commentary that followed the Lachlan Schultz concussion issue,” AFL umpires boss Rob Kerr said in a statement to Nine.
“Being falsely accused of lying and misleading the AFL goes beyond simply questioning the management of the actual incident.
“Public commentary that casts aspersions on an individual’s integrity and professional competence, particularly when that is core to the role they perform, harms their personal and professional standing and it is reasonable to consider how that can be rectified.”
Ugle-Hagan sets sights on AFL return as one club looms as likely destination
Western Bulldogs forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has given the strongest indication yet he is looking to return to AFL football, via a social media training montage.
Ugle-Hagan hasn’t appeared at any level this season for the Bulldogs, having been granted indefinite leave from the club to deal with personal issues following a tumultuous summer and end to 2024.
Along with the training montage, posted to his TikTok account, Ugle-Hagan responded to a comment pleading for his return to the AFL by writing ‘coming x’.
According to Nine’s Tom Morris, Ugle-Hagan is keen to return to the AFL for 2026 – at the Sydney Swans.
The former No.1 draft pick has a year to run on a lucrative contract with the Bulldogs, but seems certain to be elsewhere next season.
