AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan at the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season launch in March 2023. Picture: AFL Photos

TASMANIA is one step closer to having an AFL team after the presidents of the 18 existing clubs unanimously backed the state's push for the League's 19th licence.

The AFL Commission endorsed the vote on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a brief statement from the AFL quoting its outgoing chief executive Gillon McLachlan.

"See you in Tassie tomorrow," McLachlan said.

The AFL will hold a media conference at 2pm AEST in Hobart, where McLachlan is expected to speak. 

>> WATCH THE MEDIA CONFERENCE LIVE FROM 2PM AEST ON AFL.com.au AND THE AFL LIVE OFFICIAL APP

In the wake of Saturday's announcement of Federal Government funding for a new waterfront stadium in Hobart, existing club presidents met on Tuesday and unanimously ticked off Tasmania's entry into the league.

Tasmania will be the first expansion team since Greater Western Sydney was awarded a licence in 2010 and entered the AFL in 2012.

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With the new Hobart stadium to be the expansion club's home, attention would next turn to the logistics around the team entering the League, along with its proposed name and colours.

FUNDING BOOST Tassie's AFL dream a big step closer

AFL chief executive-elect Andrew Dillon had said on Monday all the "building blocks" were in place for a Tasmanian expansion club.

"It's a really exciting time and there's some key decisions probably to be had in the next potentially day or coming days and coming weeks about Tasmania," Dillon said.

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"But all the building blocks are in place and we're really looking forward. It's exciting."

The AFL has committed $360 million over a decade towards a team, including $90 million in game development and $33 million for player talent academies.

Tasmania has long pushed for entry into the national competition.

It has produced four AFL Hall of Fame legends, Darrel Baldock, Peter Hudson, Ian Stewart and Royce Hart, as well as more recent stars including Matthew Richardson and Jack Riewoldt.

Darrel Baldock runs out for the Saints in 1966. Picture: St Kilda Archives

The state government, which spearheaded the bid, will contribute $12 million per year over 12 years towards a team, plus $60 million for a high-performance centre

It will chip in $375 million for the new $715 million 23,000-seat roofed stadium at Macquarie Point, which opponents have labelled a waste of money amid a housing and health crisis.

The Federal Government is contributing $240 million and the AFL $15 million.