I struggle to understand the negativity by supposed Football fans to any Australian bid for entry to the HAL.
Since when is more teams bad?
If people are willingly to stump up their own cash and have a go at establishing a team ,why wouldn't you support it
From my point of view,the number one criterion for expansion is funding.If it can work financially ,then fine.If the the proposed owners have a good track record of running a football team,then great,if the government is behind it fantastic,if the community is behind it terrific.
I get the feeling some people are losing sight of what a National competition is about for Football.
Everyone is included ,no matter how small.That's the template for promotion and relegation.
The idea that clubs have to have certain population sizes,geographic merits,demographics and 'pulling power', is rubbish.That's a recipe for making the most money,which is good for number crunchers.But not necessarily in tune with other football issues.

The whole of Australia is up for grabs.If someone wants to stump up the cash and can present a good business case ,then let them in.Stopping one team coming in because others prefer other regions makes zero sense.If the business case stacks up let them in.
Canberra,Wollongong,NQ,South Syd,2nd Brisbane,3rd Melbourne team,whatever.
At the moment none of those alternatives have a bid.So kudos to Tasmania United.
We should be rewarding the enterprise of any bid that has the wherewithal to beat other bids to the punch.It shows something the others don't have and is probably an indication of ability to succeed.

But they could also go the Queensland/Brisbane Roar route starting off as Tasmania then changing there name to Hobart if there ever was a Launceston team to come in.

I live in the North of Tas and would support them whether they were called Tasmania or Hobart ( I really like the name Hobart Town FC, has that really county/English feel to it) and I know heaps of people that drive down from Launceston to watch the Hurricanes and theyre call Hobart. I'd buy a membership and get down to every game I could(work every few weekends). As Decentric said there is no North/South divide in cricket and I don't really think there would be in Football either, Most of it is just a shit fight over who gets AFL games in my opinion.

My opinion is they need to play all theyre games in Hobart at North Hobart Oval(maybe play some FFA cup games up north). If they're going to build a new stadium than don't build it all the way out near the airport, maybe look at moving Hobart Tigers(local AFL club) to North Hobart and building something over the TCA ground at the Queens Domain(google earth if your not sure where it is). Plenty of parking there, close to the CBD aswell. The stadium would only need a capacity of 10,000-15,000 max in my opinion.
Would have to be carefull knocking down anything at North Hobart as not sure if any of its heritage listed or not.

This is something I came up with awhile ago. The TasTigers are of fthe state Coat of Arms but in my opinion need he be not so clipartish(could find any decent ones) Just added the HAL logo and sponsors today(TASSAL seeing as they've been in the news abit)


print screen

I really struggle to see the FFA & tv going for it as one of the next 2 teams. As a 13th or 14th team or replacement for WP is a slim chance. 


It could come down to being in the right place at the right time

Wait so according to Cockerill the bid is applying to enter for next season???? How exciting.

O'Rouke said it is most likely that the 17/18 season will still have 10 teams, with expansion coming the season after

I think 10 to 12K are juniors and youth. I think only about 2K are seniors.

N Hobart has Australian rules (star league) in winter and 1st Grade cricket in summer. It could become a football specialist ground though. If it became football specific it could host Matildas and Socceroo games, plus youth tournaments.

Fair point about BBL crowds, Kaufusi.

Pretty certain they dont play cricket there do they? North Hobart CC play out of TCA I think.

It seems to me that some from the biggest two urban centres, Melbourne and Sydney, despise regions having teams, such as Gosford having CM.

I'm perplexed?

Some seem to think the HAL must have either/or, not in addition to.  From what I know of various football scenarios in various regions, I think there is a plausible case for HAL teams in Canberra ( it seems like Slavich may now have cold feet), Geelong, Wollongong and FNQ, as well as Tasmania.

I've met a few big city boys who have relocated from Melb and Sydney to Tassie in order to play  1st Class cricket. Apart from no family network, they often love the relocation and stay. In smaller places there is little need to queue and get caught in traffic jams. The pace of life is slower and more relaxed. 

Good  to see another Tassie boy on here, Big Poppa.

N Hobart cricket club used to play 1st grade at N Hobart. 

You could be right though.

I am biased when it comes to a team in Tassie - wanted one there for ages - but ultimately, we should be expanding to an area where it is viable.

If a bid has the financial backing, a plan to engage the community and build a fan base, or even. better yet, can already show that commitment from the area, can have the opportunity to be the premier sport in that area due to lack of other competition, it should be given the chance to enter the A-league.

Wait, did I just describe the Tassie bid?

Today even the editorial of The Mercury  is calling for an A League team  in Tassie.

I think a HAL Tassie team would pick up plenty of AFL supporters who are frustrated at not getting their sport of choice in the national AFL comp.

A Tassie team would probably benefit from a local Aussie coach who knows the Oz football scenario  well. 

Arthur Papas?

John Anastasiadis?

Chris Taylor?

Mark Rudan?

Aurelio Vidmar?

Steve Darby?

They could probably do with an experienced HAL assistant  coach like Dario Vidosic,  JPM, Luca Trani, or even Vidmar and one of the other  mooted head coach suggestions in a joint head coaching role.

Papas was in the running for CCM, right? Seems to be building a reputation.

Also reckon that 'keeper from the FFA Cup, Niko Giantsopoulos, would be a good signing. That, or get Cisak back to Tassie.

I just want more teams.I seriously doubt there will be so many legitimate bids that FFA will have to pick the one that adds most to the balance sheet.
Tasmania remains a long shot until FFA say it's no problem to have a team there.If Lowy says no ,then it's dead and buried.
I am prepared to play the Wellnix card to support any regional team such as Tasmania United.:)
WP vs Tas.
The North Island v South Island derby.
The bottom of the world derby.
The outcast derby.
The overseas derby.
The windy derby.

Even the AFL thinks Tassie A-league team would be successful. This is from this piece on the problems facing AFL and their disconnect from communities - http://theconversation.com/back-to-the-future-has-the-afl-lost-its-community-62100



People probably won't read the whole article as it relates to AFL, but it shows a great way for football to attack it - through the community, They're arguing AFL is disengaging from their traditional communities and losing connection and other people can step in and connect to that community and walk away with the prizze.

The inbred derby? 

A double header will have a different meaning in Tassie...

Great insight mate.

I feel the Tassie community would be all over this. From what guys like yourself and Decentric are posting on here the media seems to be on board. 

Has there been much TV coverage of this? Is it true there are more kids registered to play football there than Adelaide? I read that somewhere here yesterday, I couldn't believe it!

Don't know how I missed this post, but like the mock ups.

Maroon shorts with green socks for the home? Green shorts and white socks for the away?

It seems to be picking up momentum, I think it would be good and I can see myself on the boat already.
I'm not holding my breath with the FFA though, just have to wait and see.

If the FFA were smart/cared, they could offer Socceroos games if they built an appropriate stadium, a la NIB, formerly Perth Oval.

I'm still hanging to send the Saudis there in winter!

Get a pitch up Cradle Mountain - really freeze out the opposition.

I can't quote on my phone, but following on from Decentric's line of thought, one name I think should be in the mix in terms of coaches is Ante Milicic. Coached at NPL level, assistant at national youth level, assistant at Heart, assistant at Wanderers and assistant with the Socceroos currently. Maybe Heart would have been a lesson in what not to do, but his last two roles have been under arguably Australia's Top 2 best coaches, and in Heart and Wanderers he has been involved with two clubs from their inception (something which could be valuable for a potential Tasmanian club) Seems to be spoken of highly by Ange, and I've watched some of sessions with the Socceroos, seems good. Not saying he is the best option, but I think with that sort of experience he should be in the mix at least.

It would have to be a two headed contest.

A coach I'd love to see get an A-league gig is Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City). What he's achieved with such a limited budget and semi-professional players is very impressive in my opinion, he'd be an ideal choice for a start-up club whom would likely be sourcing much of their squad from the NPL.

He was nailed on to be Brisbane's coach until our management left and the deal fell through. Aloisi was brought in instead (which turned out well in the end).

I was doing a bit of research the other day and found the ideal template for a temporary stand for Brisbane Strikers and Perry Park but it would also apply in North Hobart.

Perth Glory's on Eastern Stand was basically temporary and scaffolding which housed just under 7,000 spectators.
Having a stand like this with a few makeovers around North Hobart would see seating capacity at 10000 min with 15-18k overall. Pretty much ideal for the short term if needed.

Absolutely

Afternoon games for WP & Tas would be good for TV.Most mainland games should be at night.
With both NZ and Tas known for their nature,clean air and water ,any derby would be....Pure Rivalry..
One thing that should be emphasised with any new team,is the importance of a marquee.NQF may have ended up witheir rear ends hanging out the bottom of their pants.But when Fowler was there,he was a draw card everywhere and on TV.This is one reason I believe WP have got it so wrong.They have never had any big names playing for them.Always a bottom of the barrel squad ,with little attraction for fans,except when Neymar Burns was there .

Let them in , all the good points are lining up they can work on the ground with help from local gov

Tas would be good for day time games for sure.