At risk of losing the Devil they know, the AFL stands firm to keep Tassie's footy dream alive
No stadium, no team.
That position was reiterated by the AFL on Wednesday, as the Tasmanian parliament considered and debated the potential removal of Tasmanian premier Jeremy Rockliff, whose support for the stadium has been critical to the agreement that would see the Devils become the league's 19th team.
The AFL has a contract with the Tasmanian government, which has to provide this expensive stadium (opponents dubbed it 'the Gil Mahal' after departed AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan) – as the price of admittance to the competition that has long plundered Tassie's players and dollars.
A hard-headed portion of the 18 rival club presidents will sniff Tasmania's political convulsions and hope that this uncertainty surrounding the stadium scuppers the 19th license.
Those presidents know that, should the Devils collapse, that $360 million designated to Tassie over a decade will remain in the AFL coffers, and the drafts of 2027, 2028 and 2029 that are slated for pillaging by the new team will be preserved.
But rendering the Devils an endangered species in utero is certainly not the wish of the AFL hierarchy – now led by CEO Andrew Dillon – who want to see the Devils delivered in 2028, and the stadium that will cradle the infant club completed shortly thereafter.
The Devils were spooked by the political unrest on Wednesday, as a tearful senior executive Kathryn McCann pleaded for the politicians to stick with the stadium deal, which is not a matter of negotiation for the AFL.
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News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
‘Extraordinary': Crows edge Hawks in thriller as clutch hero leads stunning AFL flag push
Adelaide has climbed into first place on the ladder and moved another step closer toward a top-two finish after outlasting a gutsy Hawks outfit in a topsy turvy, Friday night classic at Adelaide Oval. A contest filled with twists, turns and several lead changes, the Crows stormed home with six goals — two to Izak Rankine — in the final quarter as Matthew Nicks' side claimed a 14-point win, 15.11 (101) to 13.9 (87). Rankine's clutch fourth term helped turn the game, with the Crows star racking up seven disposals (four contested) along with his two goals and setting up another to Taylor Walker, who nailed two important late majors himself. 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. Meanwhile Riley Thilthorpe (four goals) and Jordan Dawson (21 touches, 12 tackles, two goals) also starred as the Crows charge towards their first finals campaign since 2017. 'There's a lot to like about what's going on with the Adelaide Football Club,' Hawks legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy post-match. 'There's every reason to think they can go deep into September. They're growing in confidence and belief and that's important. 'Because from where they've come from, they haven't had this belief before. But they've committed to the path, they're seeing the fruits of the labour, it pays handsome dividends. 'You look on each line and think: 'There are players here who can get us where we need to go'.' It came after Hawthorn started the game on fire with a five-goal first quarter, before Adelaide returned serve with a six-goal unanswered second term in wild momentum swings. It was the Hawks turn to fightback with a six-major third term — capped off by a brilliant Jack Ginnivan left-foot finish — to set up an epic finish as the visitors led by eight points at the final change. But Adelaide had the answers in the final stanza, despite a big scare when Jack Gunston kicked consecutive goals from free kicks to briefly get the Hawks the lead back, until Rankine and Walker guided the hosts to victory. It saw the Crows improve to 15-5 to currently sit first on the ladder and continue the club's extraordinary rise, though Collingwood can regain top spot if it can defeat Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday night. But Adelaide has consolidated a top two spot ahead of matches against West Coast (Optus Stadium), Collingwood (Adelaide Oval) and North Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) to finish its home and away campaign. Hawthorn meanwhile fell to 13-7 and is suddenly in jeopardy of missing the top eight ahead of clashes with Collingwood, Melbourne (both MCG) and Brisbane (Gabba) on its run home. The 3-2-1 (via Jack Jovanovski) ... 3. 'EXTRAORDINARY SEQUENCES' AS SKIPPER, SPARKPLUG STEER 'TREMENDOUS' FIGHTBACK It was Jordan Dawson who spearheaded the initial comeback after quarter-time, but fourth-quarter matchwinning moments from Izak Rankine and Taylor Walker ensured the Crows overturned an eight-point three-quarter-time deficit to win by 14 points and temporarily claim top spot on the ladder. The spectacle well and truly lived up to its Friday night billing, with the visiting Hawks throwing everything they had at the hosts in the first and third quarters, but Adelaide again proved why it's shaping as an almighty premiership threat eight years on from the false dawn of 2017. The Crows entered having won 10 of 11 games at Adelaide Oval this year, but it was the visitors who took centre stage at the outset. Hawthorn kicked five goals before the Crows managed their first major via Darcy Fogarty. But while they'd been undone by the Hawks at stoppage, a calm and rational Matthew Nicks recalibrated his group at quarter-time before his troops issued a stark response. Captain Jordan Dawson was at the forefront of Adelaide's fightback, with key spearhead Riley Thilthorpe also bearing the fruits of its second stanza dominance. 'It's a skipper-led comeback, isn't it? Four possessions, a clearance and a couple of goals already in this second term — more than anyone else on the ground. That was head-to-head with Jai Newcombe … and he was just too good,' AFL legend Jason Dunstall said on the Fox Footy broadcast. Demons icon and former captain Garry Lyon added: 'I loved what he did at the start of the second quarter. Will Day was outstanding (in the first quarter), and (Dawson) just went to the centre square and … stood right beside him as if to say 'OK, we know we've got work to do, let me lead the way here, and I'll take the most dangerous'.' Dunstall added: 'This has been a tremendous surge by the Crows.' Thilthorpe kicked three goals in the quarter, and all in all, it was eight unanswered goals between late in the first quarter and early in the third. Dunstall said at the main change: 'They've had a dominant second term where they were just controlling every single category, (the) ball living in their forward half, (and) defence completely on top on the rare occasions the Hawks did go forward. This is impressive.' In the second quarter alone, the Crows were +9 for inside-50s and +22 for contested possessions. But for a team that has looked as defensively stout as any in the competition bar Collingwood this year, the Crows allowed a second run of five unanswered goals as the visitors took an eight-point lead into the final change. But as you almost would have predicted, the way this game was going, the Crows had yet another resurgence in them, booting the first three majors of the final term. 'I've never seen a night like this, the way this has swung around,' Lyon said in the final quarter as Adelaide got on top by 12 points. Caller Anthony Hudson added: 'These extraordinary sequences are continuing in this game.' A piece of Izak Rankine brilliance from a boundary throw-in ensured the Crows got their noses back in front after a couple of Hawthorn goals. Rankine was doing the business for Adelaide in the final 30 minutes, notching seven disposals, two goals and five score involvements. 'He's had seven touches in the last quarter, five of them result in scores, he's kicked two himself, and he's had about three different opponents … sometimes you've just got to dip your lid, and Izak Rankine is the one.' Dunstall said: 'This is a team that's got some matchwinners. This man here, Izak Rankine, is worth his weight in gold. He can turn a game in the space of 10 minutes.' Rankine finished his night with an equal-game-high nine score involvements to go with his three goals. Two massive Taylor Walker set shot goals provided the Crows the buffer they needed to close out the deal. Walker also posted seven score involvements for the evening. 'They (the Hawks) came out firing and we didn't bring our best contest, but unbelievable effort from the boys to fight back in that second quarter, and then from there on, it was just an arm wrestle,' Dawson told Fox Footy after the final siren. Of Nicks' message at quarter-time, Dawson said: 'I mean, we haven't had too many quarters like that this year. He was really calm, really measured, (just talking about getting) back to our process, to keep trusting each other in our roles — which we've been doing the whole year — but we got away from that, we got a little bit too sucked into the contest. Unbelievable to turn it around, and it just shows the maturity of the group.' 2. HAWKS' BLOW IN FINALS RACE AS SCRIPT BRUTALLY FLIPPED AMID 21-YEAR FIRST It was a Hawthorn blitz early in proceedings at Adelaide Oval, and it was all about its work at clearance. The Hawks were comprehensive at the source, winning the first-quarter count 15-5 to give themselves quality scoring chances. Evergreen forward Jack Gunston booted two of the first three goals for the Hawks, who hit hard off counterpunch, characteristically looking to go through the corridor as they piled on five unanswered majors before Adelaide's first to lead by 26 points at the first change. 'They were on fire. Perfect what-to-do on the road is get off hard, win the clearances, win the contested ball, tackle hard and put Adelaide on the back foot,' Adelaide Crows icon Mark Ricciuto assessed on Fox Footy. Dunstall added the Hawks' clearance ascendancy was a rarity this season: 'Fifteen to five for clearances … that's an advantage they've rarely enjoyed this season. And then that translates to a territory advantage … the defence stood up; they conceded 1.1 from 11 inside-50s.' The Hawks finished the opening term +20 for points from clearance. Six of their clearances came via Will Day, with that being the best effort in a quarter by a Hawthorn player this season. But in the second term, the script was completely flipped on its head as the home side got to work. The Crows went on an unanswered run of eight goals to strike fear into the hearts of the Hawks, lifting their intensity to a critical level. It was the first time the Hawks had been held scoreless in a second quarter since Round 22, 2004. 'It was an extraordinary first quarter from the Hawks — they fired their best shot — and the Crows just said 'I see that and I'll raise you',' Dunstall said at half-time. Hawthorn allowed Adelaide 23 more contested possessions in the second quarter alone. The Hawks still had nine more clearances at half-time, but they'd been overtaken for territory, with the Crows generating four more entries. 'Hawthorn can't allow 22 (contested possessions) against (in the third), because then it's not going to matter what they do in front or behind the ball, it's not going to be enough,' Buckley said. 'We'll see — Dawson and Day, we'll see Newcombe and Berry; we'll see these matchups through the middle of the field … those contests are going to be instructive.' Conor Nash broke Adelaide's run of eight-straight goals at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, before the Hawks incredibly went on another rampant run of majors — booting five in a row for the second time on Friday night. Lyon said the response from Mitchell's charges was 'fantastic' after giving up the first goal of the term to trail by as many as 22 points, generating their scores off the back of 10 intercept marks in the quarter. 'Let's just put this in perspective. They gave up 20+ contested possessions in the second quarter, so to go in and gather yourself, give up the first goal of the third quarter, and then bang five in a row — fantastic response,' Lyon said. But inaccuracy was problematic in the final stanza, with the Hawks managing a measly 2.4 to Adelaide's 6.2 as they surrendered their eight-point three-quarter-time lead. The loss means the Hawks could finish the round as low as seventh on the ladder, with daunting matchups with Collingwood and Brisbane among its last three games of the home-and-away season. And in a year where it appears 15 wins might be necessary to guarantee a place in September, Hawthorn will simply have to win one of those Pies and Lions games to get to that number and give themselves a chance. 1. SAM'S FORWARD GAMBLE FALLS FLAT Sam Mitchell's bold selection call to play four tall forwards justifiably prompted plenty of media attention in the lead-up. They hadn't done it all year, so why now? Mabior Chol was the man recalled on Friday night after missing with a groin complaint, lining up alongside Jack Gunston, Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis. Speaking pre-game, the senior coach told Fox Footy his reasoning: 'A bit of availability, we play three a lot of the time on the field — and you'll only see three on the field at once — it (also) fixes a bit of second-ruck issues for us. It'll be good to get 'Mabs' back, he's been important for us all year.' Chol bagged an early goal — an impressive set shot — to settle nerves, but from that point on, there was basically nothing to note from himself and the likes of Dear and Lewis. Typically, Gunston was the one consistently presenting a threat, kicking two in the first half and finishing the night with four majors and seven score involvements. Halfway through the third quarter, Mitchell made his move — an admission of sorts — tactically removing Dear from the contest after the young high-marker went scoreless with no marks and just three disposals in 67 per cent game time. 'It's an interesting one, (subbing) Calsher Dear. Lewis is the one that can't really get to the contests at the moment,' Lyon said of the move. Mitchell's choice to name James Worpel the sub initially looked a perplexing one on paper, but you got the sense it was to rebalance the side if the plan to field four talls didn't bear fruits. Lewis kicked his first of the night with a snap at the 23-minute mark of the third, capping his night with seven disposals and four marks. Lewis, Dear and Chol combined for two goals. Again, it was the small who went to work for Hawthorn, with Nick Watson and Jack Ginnivan combining for 12 score involvements, and Dylan Moore adding five of his own and a goal.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'I know that my mother always wanted me to visit Australia': HRH Prince Leka II of Albania exclusively opens up about royal duties
My interview with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Leka II of Albania has been over a year in the works. It all began about 18 months ago, when the proclamation of Tasmanian-born Mary Donaldson as Queen of Denmark revived interest in her fairytale meet-cute with Prince Frederik in that Sydney pub all those years ago. Few journalists bothered to mention that decades earlier, another Aussie girl met a Crown Prince in Sydney. Their love story did not end in a proclamation ceremony or fireworks, but decades of exile and upheaval that saw them perpetually moving around the world. The couple had one son, who today serves as the head of the House of Zogu after finally being allowed to return to Albania. On the evening of our Zoom call, I half expect to hear word from the royal household that the call is off and the Crown Prince would need to reschedule or cancel altogether. But five minutes before the scheduled start of our interview, I receive a notification confirming the Crown Prince has already logged on and is in the virtual waiting room. 'I hope that the hour is not inconvenient for you,' he said. The sandy-haired Crown Prince, 43, is speaking from his bright and well-appointed home office inside the royal residence in Tirana. Our interview coincides with high season for tourism in Albania, which is currently one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in Europe. This year alone, thousands of Aussies will visit Albania as part of their European getaways for the first time, most likely unaware of the Crown Prince's family link to Australia. 'Five years ago before the pandemic, we had three million tourists and I think the Ministry of Culture foresees 11 million tourists this year,' Leka II said. 'Albania is a country which is in a transition. 'We're a country which has beautiful beaches - we share the Ionian sea with Greece - and we have the ancient history of all the empires, from the Romans, the Persians, and the Ottomans, to our own dynasties in history.' The history of the monarchy in Albania is a relatively short but tragic tale of a country caught in the crossroads of ideology - first fascism, then communism. Albania was officially proclaimed a monarchy in 1928, at which time Leka II's grandfather acceded to the throne as Zog I, King of the Albanians. In 1939, Zog I and his wife Queen Geraldine were forced into exile with their newborn son Leka I (Leka II's father) after Italy invaded the country and Benito Mussolini barred the King from returning to Albania. After the war, a communist regime was installed and Albania was largely sealed off to the outside world, leaving the royal family effectively stateless. Decades of harsh communist rule under dictator Enver Hoxha followed before the country transitioned to a democracy in 1991. In 2003, the Albanian Parliament passed a law recognising the royal family and granting them a special status, which enabled the family to come home without restoring them in an official capacity. 'It's the first step in giving certain amounts of recognition and allowing us to play a role within a society while being part of the diplomatic life of the society as well,' Leka II said. Today, the southern European country of about 2.7 million people is enjoying a major economic upswing and is eyeing accession into the EU in the coming years. The country now enjoys relative political stability and a building boom is currently transforming the face of Tirana. Of all the non-reigning monarchies in Europe, the Crown Prince has arguably carved out the most compelling role for a hereditary royal living in a modern republic. He enjoys limited recognition within Albania's present political structure and works as an informal roving ambassador for the country abroad. Just weeks ago, Leka II was made an honorary ambassador to the State of Louisiana by Republican Governor Jeff Landry. In 2016, the Albanian government even gave permission for the royal family to use the former Royal Palace – now the president's official residence - for Leka II's wedding to actress Elia Zaharia. The guest list featured a Madame Tussaud's-worthy selection of reigning and non-reigning royals from across Europe, including Queen Sofia of Spain and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. The royal couple divorced last year but continue to co-parent their daughter Princess Geraldine – the presumed heir to the Albanian throne. In recent years, some of the other royal properties have been returned to the family, including the impressive Royal Villa of Durrës in Albania's second largest city. The former summer residence sits atop a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea but has fallen into ruin after decades of neglect and earthquakes in the area. Restoring the crumbling residences is an 'incredible challenge' for Leka II. So much so that he recently opted to sell the Royal Villa to a businessman who can properly fund the restoration. 'The new owner is a very, very successful businessman, and he's taking up the incredible challenge to rehabilitate, to rebuild the villa, which unfortunately due to the earthquakes and due to mismanagement and being destroyed, really needs that TLC,' he said. While Leka II credits his father Leka I for instilling in him a drive to serve the country, he was equally influenced by his 'very loving' mother Princess Susan. Leka II says he is 'very proud' of his Australian heritage and credits his late mother's Aussie roots for instilling in him both 'openness' and an uncanny ability to 'read the room'. Born Susan Barbara Cullen-Ward in Sydney, Leka II's mother came from a good eastern suburbs family before meeting the exiled Crown Prince of Albania at a dinner party in the mid-1970s. The couple wed in a small civil ceremony in Biarritz in 1975 and lived in exile in Spain, Zimbabwe and finally South Africa, where they welcomed Leka II in 1982. 'My mother was a fourth-generation Australian,' he said. 'I believe - and I'm not certain about this so maybe some verification could be made - that she was a descendent of Banjo Paterson.' Leka II says he hopes to visit Australia soon and reconnect with cousins and relatives from the Cullen and Ward families. 'My cousins are all pushing for me to come and visit hopefully next year,' he said. 'I know that my mother always wanted me to visit Australia.' Leka II was largely raised in exile in South Africa with his parents in what one 1980s feature by The Australian Women's Weekly gently described as 'reduced circumstances'. Growing up, nobody at school knew Leka II's true identity and he only got a sense of his royal lineage when interacting with the Albanian diaspora on holidays to Europe. I ask the Crown Prince whether his relatively normal upbringing was a blessing in some ways. After all, Prince Harry's memoir Spare was a pretty damning account about the pitfalls of growing up as a royal Prince in the media's glare. 'I had a very normal youth as a child, but at the same time, meeting the diaspora I felt the pressures of position,' he said. 'When we finally came back to Albania in 2002, I was really pushed into the deep end.' Sadly, Susan died in 2004 at age 63 from cancer, just two years after the royal family finally returned to Albania. His father Leka I died in 2012 and both are buried in the Mausoleum of the Albanian Royal Family. As Crown Prince, Leka II can be commended for restoring the royal family to prominence in the country through tireless work promoting Albania abroad. It is plausible that this goodwill could lead to a more official role for the family in the future. But Leka II says he is making great effort to ensure his daughter Geraldine, 4, does not grow up fretting over the future of the House of Zogu. 'She's fluent both in English and Albanian and she's a chatterbox in all senses,' he said. 'But it's important that she is given the best education and time will define her role, you can't force someone to become a monarch.'
ABC News
13 hours ago
- ABC News
AFL Round 21, Adelaide vs Hawthorn live updates, blog, scores and stats
Adelaide Oval is the venue for a Friday night blockbuster, with the Crows looking to hold their top two spot and Hawthorn attempting to grab a vital win on the road as the finals race tightens. Adelaide goes into the game off the back of demolitions of Gold Coast and cross-town rivals Port Adelaide, while Hawthorn is seeking its seventh win in eight games, but knowing that they have to beat at least one of their top-eight rivals on the run home or they could miss out on September. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
