Tasmania Devils

[Booney]

[

The concern I would have if I was a Port fan is that while they've got some top quality aged 22-25 (JHF, Rozee, Bergman, Butters), it's hard to see many of their 21 and under players becoming real stars. Not a massive problem if they have a solid group of supporting actors, so to speak, but can they replace the players likely to retire in the next few years?

It's quite possible their 'premiership window' is drawing to a close after pursuing a 'win now' strategy for so long, so with no good picks this year, you'd probably want some solid talent coming in ready for 2027 or 2028 - bit harder if Tassie get the leg up that the Suns and Giants got.

Amazing how we expect 20-22 year olds to be finished products or at least not expect them to develop after they turn 21. JHF is 21 and far from a finished product. Burgoyne, Evans, Berry and Moraes ( debutants this year ) are all under 22, who knows where they are in 2 years time at the ripe old age of 24.

Talent isn't as much of an issue as changing the game plan when not having the list to play that style is.

[dedja]

There’s a dedicated Port thread, no?

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=44407

[dedja]

There are too many Kardinia Park rorts to list

efa

Warning - Tangent post

Stage 1 (2003–2005): Costing $28 million, this stage was funded by the Victorian Government ($13.5 million), the Geelong Football Club ($4.5 million), and the AFL ($2 million). 

Stage 2 (2007–2010): With a budget of $25 million, funding came from the federal government ($14 million) and the Victorian Government ($6 million). 

Stage 3 (2011–2013): This $33 million redevelopment included the addition of four floodlight towers, with $11.7 million allocated specifically for lighting. 

Stage 4 (2015–2017): Costing $91 million, funding was provided by the Victorian Government ($75 million), the City of Greater Geelong ($6 million), the Geelong Football Club ($6 million), and the AFL ($4 million). 

Stage 5 (2021–2024): The final stage amounted to $142 million, fully funded by the Victorian Government.

Oink, oink.

[wenchbarwer]

"Lifestyle"

[Brodlach]

There are too many Kardinia Park rorts to list

efa

Warning - Tangent post

Stage 1 (2003–2005): Costing $28 million, this stage was funded by the Victorian Government ($13.5 million), the Geelong Football Club ($4.5 million), and the AFL ($2 million). 

Stage 2 (2007–2010): With a budget of $25 million, funding came from the federal government ($14 million) and the Victorian Government ($6 million). 

Stage 3 (2011–2013): This $33 million redevelopment included the addition of four floodlight towers, with $11.7 million allocated specifically for lighting. 

Stage 4 (2015–2017): Costing $91 million, funding was provided by the Victorian Government ($75 million), the City of Greater Geelong ($6 million), the Geelong Football Club ($6 million), and the AFL ($4 million). 

Stage 5 (2021–2024): The final stage amounted to $142 million, fully funded by the Victorian Government.

Oink, oink.

Im sure somewhere there’s a Geelong thread

[dedja]

You were appropriately warned …

[tigerpie]

Dillan will balls this up.
Clubs draft planning will be compromised at the last minute.

[Booney]

New costings estimate the Macquarie Point Stadium will cost $945m to build.

Original costings had the build at $775m.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/ ... /105339114

[wenchbarwer]

New costings estimate the Macquarie Point Stadium will cost $945m to build.

Original costings had the build at $775m.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-27/ ... /105339114

As someone that's worked in both construction and projects, I really struggle to understand the scale of the escalation, at this point in time.

Then I realised this is a government project...

[MW]

Would be down to 50/50 that this team actually gets in the league in the end. Can't see a state govt commit to $1bn (with federal help no doubt) to a sports stadium. Would need a shift by the AFL to accept no roof.

[PatowalongaPirate]

The roof requirement needs to be walked back; this would save cash and also allow Test Cricket to be played there.

Test Cricket cannot be played under a roof.

[whufc]

Would be down to 50/50 that this team actually gets in the league in the end. Can't see a state govt commit to $1bn (with federal help no doubt) to a sports stadium. Would need a shift by the AFL to accept no roof.

I can't see the AFL rejecting the team. Whilst they will throw the blame on the Tassie government the AFL don't come out looking great in this either.

Then throw in the fact every year they don't have a 20th team they are losing money through the TV rights that an extra game would cause. So they need to get to 20 teams as soon as possible and the first step is getting a competitive 19th team.

Most likely outcome will be a tassie team to enter playing at both Hobart and Launceston with the AFL agreeing to some form of extension on a time frame for a new stadium.

[mighty_tiger_79]

AFL need too pump more coin into it if it's to happen

[daysofourlives]

Would be down to 50/50 that this team actually gets in the league in the end. Can't see a state govt commit to $1bn (with federal help no doubt) to a sports stadium. Would need a shift by the AFL to accept no roof.

I can't see the AFL rejecting the team. Whilst they will throw the blame on the Tassie government the AFL don't come out looking great in this either.

Then throw in the fact every year they don't have a 20th team they are losing money through the TV rights that an extra game would cause. So they need to get to 20 teams as soon as possible and the first step is getting a competitive 19th team.

Most likely outcome will be a tassie team to enter playing at both Hobart and Launceston with the AFL agreeing to some form of extension on a time frame for a new stadium.

Ive said from the start the AFL have no intention of having a team from Tassie, they know the conditions they have set will not be met. A 19th team creates massive issues and no benefits, a 20th team is a pipe dream imo.
At the end of the day a Tassie team will only strip money from their bottom line. It doesnt create any extra games it in fact takes away games that are big money spinners, at least one per week. Even if you look at from not so big matches, like instead of say Essendon playing Bulldogs a 2nd time they now play Tassie, 50k at marvel vs 18k if theyre lucky. It will hit the executives KPI's badly and their bonuses. Its a massive risk to go to 19 without a clear plan for 20. Their bonuses could be hit for 10 years, no one is signing up for that.
The AFL will not budge on the roof
Could this be why the AFL is holding off on making key appointments and or sackings. Waiting for Benny Gale to become available in 6 weeks time

[Brodlach]

Story out that the TAS Labor have filed a non confidence vote in the incumbent TAS Liberals and if they win the vote the stadium will be vetoed and the team may not happen

[mighty_tiger_79]

Story out that the TAS Labor have filed a non confidence vote in the incumbent TAS Liberals and if they win the vote the stadium will be vetoed and the team may not happen

It's over.

[LaughingKookaburra]

If Tasmania Devils get the arse I’d suspect so will Andrew Dillon. Tom Harley is now riding shotgun.

[whufc]

If Tasmania Devils get the arse I’d suspect so will Andrew Dillon. Tom Harley is now riding shotgun.

Yep if it happens the AFL wont come out smelling like roses despite what they might think.

People already have the opinion that the AFL is a business that runs footy on the side by blokes sitting in ivory towers. This would do a lot of brand damage.

[Brodlach]

Tasmania cannot afford $1.3 Billion on a stadium that holds 26,000 people. The return on investment is terrible, especially when they already have AFL approved stadiums down there.

It’s financially a terrible decision.

Would we here in SA want to build a 26,000 seat stadium at $1.3 Billion? No way and we are a bigger state. Complaints we are spending that on hospitals.

[mighty_tiger_79]

They made promises to founding members.... ripped off