The AFL has today announced AFL Chief Financial Officer and Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld and AFL General Manager Sam Graham will officially lead the AFL’s work with the Tasmanian Government and the Tasmanian AFL Licence Taskforce in further assessing a position for a Tasmanian licence.

As previously communicated, the AFL and the Tasmanian Government have agreed that a position for a Tasmanian licence will be put to AFL Club Presidents next year in line with the finalisation of the funding model for the AFL industry. The revised funding model contemplates both Club Funding and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the 2023 and 2024 seasons and will be finalised during the 2022 AFL season.

All parties continue to undertake the steps recommended by the Carter Review, including investigating potential models, locking down Government funding for a potential team for Tasmania and stadia investment and the AFL would work through those with the Tasmanian Government ahead of putting a final position to club presidents for a decision.

“We are at a very important juncture in the continued assessment of modelling for a potential team in Tasmania and the announcement today reflects the importance it has within AFL head office,” AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said.

“Travis and Sam will lead our work, Travis having recently played a crucial leadership role in ensuring the last two AFL and AFLW seasons were successfully navigated throughout the Covid pandemic and Sam, previously holding key leadership roles across Game Development and our growth in NSW, will solely focus on this project, ensuring we have a preferred position to take to the AFL Club Presidents next year.”

Both Travis and Sam will be assisted by Jude Donnelly and the AFL Government Relations team, as well as Head of AFL Tasmania Damian Gill and his team on the ground, who continue to work with all stakeholders on ensuring a strong future for football in Tasmania at all levels.