Greens play political football over Tassie stadium
The Tasmanian Greens party have chipped in to buy a flight ticket for AFL CEO Andrew Dillon in their latest publicity stunt to draw attention to the state's controversial proposed stadium.
The $1 billion Macquarie Point stadium has been a sticking point for the Greens, who are vehemently opposed to the project despite it being a non-negotiable for the AFL to expand to the state.
Despite bipartisan support from the major parties, the Greens could be crucial given another hung parliament is projected after Premier Jeremy Rockliff was forced to call a snap election for July 19.
It could see the stadium remain in political limbo with the Greens urging Dillon to speak to locals on election day.
'Since the beginning of the stadium saga, the AFL has spent all their time talking to Liberal - and more recently Labor - politicians and ignoring the Tasmanian community. That needs to change. The AFL CEO should front up and listen to Tasmanians,' the Greens' statement read.
'The AFL CEO can come down, head out to some polling booths, and hear for himself what people think about the stadium. He could even head along to the Hawks vs Power game in the afternoon and remind himself of just how good a place York Park is to play football.
'We know Andrew Dillon is a busy guy, but given the huge turmoil the AFL's insistence on a stadium has caused for Tasmania, surely the least he can do is show up?
'While he might not be used to flying Jetstar, we've bought him extra leg room to make the trip a bit more like what he's probably accustomed to.'
Hawthorn will face Port Adelaide at Launceston's University of Tasmania Stadium on Saturday .
The original agreement between the state and the AFL was for the stadium to be finished in time for the 2029 season, with the state set to cop a $4.5 million penalty if it's not half finished by 2027.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged the state to get on with the project and look at the wider benefits of a team.
'We support a stadium, not just because of what it will do for AFL, but for what it will do in Hobart,' the Prime Minister told the Two Good Sports podcast.
The federal government has allocated $240m for the project, while the AFL has tipped in $15m for the stadium.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Eyebrows raised over Hawthorn star Will Day's latest injury
Hawthorn has copped a crushing blow with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of his worrying foot issues. But a closer look at his struggles during Friday night's 14-point loss to Adelaide surely raises some question marks over why he played out the match. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The 24-year-old Day, who missed six games in 2024 with a foot issue, was forced out of another 16 matches this season following surgery on a navicular bone after the round three clash with GWS. He had only returned against the Blues in round 20 but picked up yet another foot injury against the Crows, with the club confirming he has another 'bone stress injury' in his foot. Day was sent for scans in Melbourne on Saturday following the 14-point loss against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval and revealed another navicular issue. 'We know Will has put in a mountain of work to get back to playing, and indeed performing, at the elite level and we are really disappointed for him,' Hawthorn football manager Rob McCartney said in a statement. 'The club's medical and high performance team have taken extra precautions with Will throughout his rehabilitation this year. 'This included very closely managing his workload and consulting external specialists both in Victoria and interstate to help guide his return to play timeline. 'Will is an outstanding person who has showcased an incredible amount of resilience and we know he will engage his rehab with the same attitude. 'As a club, we will obviously support Will throughout every stage of his rehabilitation and wrap our arms around him as he navigates this tough period.' There were various reports that Day had been stomped on during the game. Day was also the subject of some fierce speculation over a possible flaunting of the rules deep in the fourth quarter when play was stopped and he was taken from the ground with apparent cramp. But the fact Day was playing with a broken bone in his foot must paint that speculation in a different light. The youngster was seen struggling to shake off a leg problem at various times during the game, particularly in the final term. He also started the second half on the bench and was shown getting treatment midway through the fourth term. And yet he continued coming back onto the ground. Yes it was a close game and the Hawks are in a finals battle, but surely his long-term future is of paramount importance and any hint of a foot problem should have set off alarm bells. Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall noted Day was on the bench after halftime, while the midfielder appeared to be favouring his right foot before he came on. It all came after Hawthorn kicked the first five goals of the match, before the Crows responded with seven straight and held the Hawks scoreless in the second term to leave the Victorian club under the pump to start that third quarter. 'Interesting Will Day is starting on the bench second half,' Dunstall said. 'I would've thought you'd want him front and centre.' Fellow commentator Garry Lyon then noticed Day returning to the bench. 'You talked about Will Day not starting in the centre bounce which we all find a little unusual,' Lyon said. 'He's just emerged from up the race.' Anthony Hudson added: 'That will make Hawthorn fans nervous.' Day finally entered the second half at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter and battled to play out the game, despite clearly having trouble with the foot. 'He's coming off Will Day,' Dunstall said in the fourth quarter. 'He just copped a couple of knocks there, he's spent and needs a spell. 'They'll need another effort from him late.' Pick six in the 2020 draft, Day ultimately spent 71 per cent of the game on the ground, finishing with 19 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances. But he appeared in more discomfort the longer the game went and didn't return after going off the ground with just over three minutes remaining. When he went off, with the commentators all focusing on cramp, Lyon said: 'It's not Will Day's fault. 'It's the umpire who should've identified 'no, you've got a cramp, get out of the road and get on with it'.' Considering what we know now, perhaps there was more to it than simply cramp, and the situation raised eyebrows on social media. After the news of the injury broke, journalist Ronny Lerner tweeted: 'Wow. That's extremely concerning to have two bouts of that in such quick succession. Reminds me of James Hird. Almost ended his career. Hawks have to take an extremely conservative approach with such an important player.' One X user replied to Lerner: 'Foot injury management will be professional in the AFL one day.' Another fan wrote: 'According to the morons commentating on the game it was only a cramp.' Kane Cornes slammed Day's 'cramping' situation on on Saturday morning. 'What are we doing stopping the game for cramp?' he said. 'Football is about the hardest, toughest football team wins and we are giving a team an advantage because one of their players is under prepared and can't get through.' X user Michael Emmerson noted that, tweeting: 'Kane Cornes, love your work, but will you be apologising along with the Seven commentary team regarding Day's cramp when actually it was a serious injury?'
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Webb takes positives despite Saints defeat
Fremantle AFLW coach Lisa Webb says her team must learn to adapt to conditions faster after they were held to just one goal in their pre-season loss to St Kilda. In their final pre-season hit out, both sides battled through squally conditions with the Saints' holding on for a 2.10 (22) to 1.9 (15) win at Victor George Kailis Oval on Saturday. While both sides missed their scoring chances, Webb said the Saints were cleaner when it mattered, as her side failed to control the tempo early. 'It was a tough, contested game, which we expected St Kilda are really strong in that area,' Webb said. 'They got on top early, especially in the uncontested marks, and we didn't get around to snap that quickly enough. 'They certainly played the conditions better than us, they were cleaner around the footy and their contested inside mids were really strong, which is something we have to work on. 'At times they were able to swing the momentum with their stoppage work and that's something we want to learn from.' PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Mim Strom of the Dockers contests the ball during the AFLW Practice Match between Fremantle Dockers and St Kilda Saints at Victor George Kailis Oval on August 02, 2025 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos / via Getty Images Despite the defeat, Webb said there were still plenty of positives to take out of the game, especially in the performance of their backline and draftee Indi Strom. 'Our backline is always strong, they're really well led down there, and Indi did really well out there playing on [Jesse] Wardlaw for a while and held up her end of the bargain,' she said. 'There's so much talent there with our new players, and we just need to keep building, not the result we wanted today but it's a good learning curve and something to focus on ahead of round one.' Attention will now turn toward the season proper with Fremantle opening the season with a trip to Adelaide to face Port on August 17.
Herald Sun
9 hours ago
- Herald Sun
AFL 2025: Jack Ginnivan pulls finger at Adelaide fans, video, fine, after Hawthorn's loss to Adelaide, latest news
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Hawthorn young gun Jack Ginnivan is the latest AFL player set to be sanctioned for giving the bird to Adelaide supporters. Ginnivan was caught on camera pulling his finger to Crows fans while walking off Adelaide Oval after the Hawks' 14-point loss on Friday night. The 22-year old, who's set to cop a $1000 fine for the incident, took to Instagram to respond to a video of the act with the comment: 'Best coin spent.' FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Ginnivan would join the likes of Geelong's Bailey Smith and West Coast's Harley Reid in getting fined for the middle-finger salute in 2025. 'There was definitely a one-fingered salute from Jack Ginnivan,' Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy. 'I think we call that the Bailey Smith ... the going rate is $1000, we saw Bailey Smith double-finger salute and also Harley Reid earlier in the year. 'That's what (Ginnivan) does, that's Hok-ball for you.' Ginnivan was among Hawthorn's best players on Friday night, finishing with 20 disposals and two goals. The youngster's post-game bird weren't his only cheeky antics on the night, with Ginnivan turning to the crowd after kicking an epic goal on his left foot late in the third quarter and pointing to his ear.
