Why former senior coach doesn’t think the Tasmania AFL franchise will be financially viable

Inaugural West Coast coach Ron Alexander doesn’t think that the introduction of the Tasmanian AFL side is a smart financial move.

Alexander, who has experience leading a side in their entry to the AFL, thinks that the issue with Tassie is the cost that its operations will put on both the Tasmanian Government and the league as a whole.

The 73-year-old also served as the Director-General of the WA Department of Sport and Recreation from 1999 to 2017 and was pivotal in the creation of Optus Stadium and looked over major sporting events across the state.

With extensive knowledge in the field, Alexander’s view is that the Tassie team and set-to-be-built $375 million Macquarie Point Stadium aren’t financially viable and simply won’t work unless it is continuously funded by other clubs and/or the Government.  

“There’s a massive difference, the stadium in Perth is viable and the stadium and team in Tasmania is not viable,” Alexander told This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.

“Over the years I’ve had the job of whether the Commonwealth Games is worth having and these sorts of things.

“The Tasmanian Government has to pay $12 million a year to the new team and after the 12th year the AFL will take over, paying $13 million a year, they’re a subsidised team (unlike West Coast).

“I remember when I was on the Fremantle board, we had to borrow $175,000 from the WA Football Commission to start up the side, the Dockers.

“Gold Coast and GWS were each given $200 million over six years from the AFL, so they were being supported.

“But there’s also 10 teams in Melbourne and a number of those are being supported as well.”

Speaking on this week’s episode, Alexander also reminisced on his 307-game playing career with East Perth and East Fremantle in the WAFL as well as Fitzroy in the VFL.

The former Fitzroy captain also went over his coaching days with the Eagles and East Fremantle in the WAFL.

Listen to Alexander's episode below.