AFL legend Jack Riewoldt has vowed to visit every community in Tasmania in his work to develop an “identity” for the state’s own team over the coming five years.
He was assigned the role of building “The Fabric” as part of the announcement of the club’s inaugural board today, developing ways to market the club to be inclusive of all Tasmanians.
The role was described as building a culture that was similar to the New Zealand All Blacks — a team that captures the identity of an entire country.
Tasmanian-born Riewoldt said he would speak with community leaders, councils and football clubs as part of his work.
“I’ll be hitting the ground running, looking forward to visiting all of Tasmania, finding out the stories that make us, and turning it into ‘The Fabric’. Each and every person, whether here on this island,” he said.
“There is something about doing it the Tasmanian way. We can’t be branded off a whim.
“We need to make sure we hear every story, whether that be football or whether that be from people’s backyards, that makes us who we are.”
Riewoldt announced his retirement from AFL club Richmond this year, which he said came at the perfect time.
“I would not be in this position if I hadn’t had people invest in me at an early age, right from AFL Tasmania to Clarence Football Club, the Devils and Mariners programs,” he said.
“I sat back after 347 games for Richmond in the AFL and thought: how do I give back? And this is the opportunity, and it’s come at an amazing time for me at the end of my playing career.”
During the board announcement, chair Grant O’Brien confirmed that foundation memberships would be available before next year’s AFL season, when the team’s name and colours are confirmed.
The preferred location for a high-performance facility will not be announced until next year.
The board will establish a subcommittee for the Macquarie Point stadium proposal.
Mr O’Brien said this remained one the main challenges.
“When we sailed up to obstacles we were able to find a way around it, and people believed. I don’t think it’s going to be much different than the stadium,” he said.
“There’s work to be done, there are minds to be changed, there is an imperative for us to deliver the stadium.”
The club is proposed to enter the AFL in 2028. Home games in the first season will be at Bellerive Oval in Hobart and York Park in Launceston, with the Macquarie Point stadium scheduled to be complete in 2029.
The inaugural board of the prospective Tasmanian AFL club has been announced, comprising of business, finance, governance, community and football experts.
It features local and expat Tasmanians, including Brisbane Lions premiership player Alastair Lynch, high-powered talent manager James Henderson and Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre chairman Graeme Gardner.
Tasmanian AFL club chair & directors:
- Chair Grant O’Brien — Tourism Tasmania chairman and AFL taskforce member
Directors
- Kath McCann — Beacon Foundation chief operating officer
- James Henderson — Talent manager and AFL taskforce member
- Alastair Lynch — Former AFL player and media presenter
- Alicia Leis — Accountancy firm partner and UTAS audit and risk committee chairwoman
- Roger Curtis — Law firm managing director
- Laura McBain — Former Bellamy’s Australia managing director
- Graeme Gardner — Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre chairman
- Kathy Schaefer — Former Central Coast Council general manager
It was announced in May that Tasmania had been granted the 19th licence for a team in the national competition.
The board will oversee the formation of the club, development of an official business case, and eventually the appointment of the team’s first chief executive officer.
Board brings together varied expertise
The board is split evenly along gender lines, with four men and four women representatives, while each was either born, lives or has previously lived in Tasmania.
The appointment of James Henderson, who manages North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson and Brisbane’s Tasmanian coach Chris Fagan, will only fuel speculation that one of the pair could be appointed as the club’s inaugural coach.
Kathy Schaefer, who helped oversee Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf development in 2017 and 2018, is likely to play a particularly key role as the board’s infrastructure and local governance lead, with the contentious Macquarie Point stadium still to face a rigorous parliamentary approval process.
The club’s licence has been granted on the condition a 23,000-seat roofed stadium is constructed at Macquarie Point, with the state government to incur financial penalties from the AFL for every year it is not completed after 2029.
The expertise of Alicia Leis, who is a partner at WLF Accounting and Advisory, and who specialises in risk management and governance, will likely be heavily leaned upon as the club hunts for a site to build a $70 million training and administration facility to house the men’s, women’s, VFL and junior academy teams.
Last month, the Hobart City Council ruled out two sites within its local government area, but the mayors of Brighton, Kingborough, Glenorchy and Clarence have all expressed interest in hosting the facility.
The club has also established a women’s football advisory panel to be headed up by former Lauderdale football club president and Tasmanian AFL task force member Julie Kay, in anticipation of the entry of the state’s AFLW team, likely to come in 2026 or 2027.
An emphasis has also been placed on developing a link with the state’s Aboriginal community through the appointment of local footballing great Graeme Gardner.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) chairman works as an Aboriginal advisor for Tasmanian government business Tas Networks.
The board was selected by a nominations committee that included former Richmond president Peggy O’Neal, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, club chair Grant O’Brien and former Olympian Liz Jack, who is also a former CEO of the Macquarie Point Development Corporation.
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