Latest news with #Devils'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AFL's Tasmania expansion on a knife edge amid state political uncertainty
The proposed stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point has become a sticking point for some in the AFL's expansion into Tasmania. The proposed stadium at Hobart's Macquarie Point has become a sticking point for some in the AFL's expansion into Tasmania. Photograph: Cox Architecture The AFL's expansion into Tasmania is on a knife edge as the state's politicians consider a move to oust premier Jeremy Rockliff, which would trigger a shake up and potentially torpedo the Devils' plans to join the league. The Devils on Wednesday said the political uncertainty was cause for 'great concern' and presented 'a serious risk … for the future of Tasmania Football Club'. Advertisement The club, which has already attracted 210,000 members, is due to enter the competition in 2028 under an agreement with the AFL, and move into the newly complete venue on the Hobart waterfront the following year. Related: Ferocious, cheeky or 'nightmare fuel'? Meet Rum'un, Tasmania's new AFL mascot One of the conditions set by the AFL for a new team in Tasmania was a roofed stadium, but the expensive project – set to cost around $1bn – faces opposition from some in Tasmania, who instead have called for the money to be spent elsewhere. The Greens have declared they support a motion of no-confidence in the premier put forward by Labor's opposition leader Dean Winter. Advertisement In Parliament on Wednesday morning, Greens leader Dr Rosalie Woodruff called for the motion to explicitly mention the government's handling of the stadium. But Winter responded by saying he would not support the amendment, and the no-confidence motion was focused on the state of the budget. In a dramatic day in Hobart, Devils' head of corporate affairs Kath McCann was emotional at a press conference as she described there is no 'plan B' to renegotiate the deal with the AFL. 'It'd be fair to say that the level of uncertainty would be significantly heightened, and in fact, some of those scenarios don't beg thinking about for the club here today,' McCann said, via the ABC. Advertisement 'The optics nationally and internationally are really negative for Tasmania, what this looks like is uncertainly, a risk to invest and a state that isn't unified.' The Devils had earlier taken the unusual step of offering a public statement amidst the political uncertainty. '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,' it said. On Tuesday in Melbourne, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the competition had already been planning for the weekly bye for one team that would come with entry of the Devils as 19th team, and anticipated the stadium's enabling legislation would be discussed in the lower house later this month and the upper house early in July. 'The Tasmanian government and [Devils CEO] Brendon Gale and the Tassie Devils have done a power of work and we're really confident in 2028,' he said.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Well, we're out of a job': Tassie boss on what happens if stadium proposal falls over
Loading Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale has publicly declared a list of potential candidates for the club's inaugural senior coaching position. Six coaches are on the Devils' hit-list, with Gale confirming former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was 'a man of great interest,' after Buckley himself declared that he was a chance to be the first coach of Tasmania, if he was wanted. Speaking at a breakfast in Southbank on Friday, Gale also admitted the club had gone to the market for a football boss too soon, and will revisit the appointment later this season around the time many clubs wrap up their campaigns for 2025. Gale said the names on the shortlist to be the first coach of his club include: Buckley, Geelong dual premiership coach Chris Scott, former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson and outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan, who is also a proud Tasmanian, wasn't mentioned publicly but Gale later confirmed to this masthead that he was a person of 'significant interest', whether that be as senior coach or in an overseeing role. 'I've got great respect for Nathan, as a competitor and what he's done in coaching, he's been a very successful coach at a very complex club to manage at times,' Gale quipped as he smiled in the direction of former Magpies president Eddie McGuire. 'I think he's a continuous learner and I think people tend to get better at things in life, through success and through failure. So, he's a man of great interest. 'Chris Scott's coaching record is formidable. There's a bloke over in Sydney who goes alright, who's betwixt and between at the moment. Talking about tough environments, Ken Hinkley, it's pretty tough over there. Adam Simpson, history would suggest it's really hard to win premierships from Perth; he made two grand finals.
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
The six coaches on Tasmania Devils' radar to lead the AFL's 19th team
Loading Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale has publicly declared a list of potential candidates for the club's inaugural senior coaching position. Six coaches are on the Devils' hit-list, with Gale confirming former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was 'a man of great interest,' after Buckley himself declared that he was a chance to be the first coach of Tasmania, if he was wanted. Speaking at a breakfast in Southbank on Friday, Gale also admitted the club had gone to the market for a football boss too soon, and will revisit the appointment later this season around the time many clubs wrap up their campaigns for 2025. Gale said the names on the shortlist to be the first coach of his club include: Buckley, Geelong dual premiership coach Chris Scott, former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson and outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan, who is also a proud Tasmanian, wasn't mentioned publicly but Gale later confirmed to this masthead that he was a person of 'significant interest', whether that be as senior coach or in an overseeing role. 'I've got great respect for Nathan, as a competitor and what he's done in coaching, he's been a very successful coach at a very complex club to manage at times,' Gale quipped as he smiled in the direction of former Magpies president Eddie McGuire. 'I think he's a continuous learner and I think people tend to get better at things in life, through success and through failure. So, he's a man of great interest. 'Chris Scott's coaching record is formidable. There's a bloke over in Sydney who goes alright, who's betwixt and between at the moment. Talking about tough environments, Ken Hinkley, it's pretty tough over there. Adam Simpson, history would suggest it's really hard to win premierships from Perth; he made two grand finals.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
The six coaches on Tasmania Devils' radar to lead the AFL's 19th team
Loading Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale has publicly declared a list of potential candidates for the club's inaugural senior coaching position. Six coaches are on the Devils' hit-list, with Gale confirming former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was 'a man of great interest,' after Buckley himself declared that he was a chance to be the first coach of Tasmania, if he was wanted. Speaking at a breakfast in Southbank on Friday, Gale also admitted the club had gone to the market for a football boss too soon, and will revisit the appointment later this season around the time many clubs wrap up their campaigns for 2025. Gale said the names on the shortlist to be the first coach of his club include: Buckley, Geelong dual premiership coach Chris Scott, former Sydney premiership coach John Longmire, former West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson and outgoing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley. Reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan, who is also a proud Tasmanian, wasn't mentioned publicly but Gale later confirmed to this masthead that he was a person of 'significant interest', whether that be as senior coach or in an overseeing role. 'I've got great respect for Nathan, as a competitor and what he's done in coaching, he's been a very successful coach at a very complex club to manage at times,' Gale quipped as he smiled in the direction of former Magpies president Eddie McGuire. 'I think he's a continuous learner and I think people tend to get better at things in life, through success and through failure. So, he's a man of great interest. 'Chris Scott's coaching record is formidable. There's a bloke over in Sydney who goes alright, who's betwixt and between at the moment. Talking about tough environments, Ken Hinkley, it's pretty tough over there. Adam Simpson, history would suggest it's really hard to win premierships from Perth; he made two grand finals.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sex-assault trial of five NHL players takes dramatic turn as jury gets tossed
A 27-year-old Canadian woman wrapped up a marathon nine days of explosive testimony this week in a high-profile sex-assault trial involving five professional hockey players — as a jury was sent packing for a second time in yet another dramatic twist in the proceedings. The accuser, whose name is protected by a court-ordered publication ban, told a court that a naked Cal Foote — who played for the New Jersey Devils last year — performed 'the splits' over her face, an apparent 'party trick,' while others filmed in a hotel room. 'They were all laughing and thought it was hilarious,' the woman told the court. 'It wasn't funny to me. They were having a good time at my expense.' In a note to the judge, a juror accused two of the defense attorneys of making fun of the jurors' appearance. 'Every day when we enter the courtroom they observe us, whisper to each other and turn to each other and laugh as if they are discussing our appearance. This is unprofessional and unacceptable,' the note read. The trial will now continue before a judge alone. It's the second time the trial almost went off the rails. A mistrial was declared last month after the judge ruled a lunch break interaction between one of the jurors and defense attorneys, which was seen by some jurors as an attempt to influence their opinions, made it impossible for the jury to remain impartial. A new jury was chosen, but those nine women and five men are now off the case too. The wild drunken group sex followed a gala in London, Ontario, celebrating Canada's gold medal in the World Junior Hockey Championship, in which the five men — all future NHL players — competed. The Devils' Cal Foote and Michael McLeod, the Calgary Flames' Dillon Dubé, the Ottawa Senators' Alex Formenton and the Philadelphia Flyers' Carter Hart have all pleaded not guilty and have said whatever happened that night was consensual. They are all on leave from the NHL. But the woman claims she only went back to the hotel with McLeod, and that the other players were invited without her knowledge or consent. The players each face one count of sexual assault, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison in Canada. McLeod is facing an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault and faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
