To our many valued and invested stakeholders across Tasmania,
You may have recently seen commentary from Tasmania Football Club CEO, Brendon Gale, highlighting a point that deserves greater attention: the AFL’s historic $360 million investment into Tasmania. This support, unprecedented in its scale, has too often been overlooked in public discussion surrounding the Tasmania Devils and the Macquarie Point Stadium.
The reality is clear. This is a generational investment in our game, and it is already creating meaningful, tangible benefits across the state.
A Groundbreaking Moment for Tasmanian Football
Tasmania is set to be the envy of the nation when it comes to the future of football, we are poised to have the best of everything at our fingertips creating a thriving industry and open a world of opportunity for young Tasmanians. The AFL’s investment into Tasmania places our local game at the forefront nationally, per participant and per capita. It is more than a one-time boost - this is a long-term strategy designed to build a sustainable and thriving football community across all three regions of our state.
This is not just about launching a new team. It is about transforming our grassroots, our pathways, and our communities from the ground up.
Real Investment. Real Impact.
Of the $360 million committed, $126 million is dedicated to grassroots development and talent pathways up until the first decade of Tasmania’s life in the AFL competition.
This is a true game changer for footy in our island. Since the announcement in 2023, this investment has begun flowing directly with immediate results for local clubs, programs, and communities.
Key Developments:
- Regional Talent Academies have launched in Launceston, Penguin, and Hobart for ages 13–15, supported by an annual investment of over $500,000. A Senior State Academy is also now in place, preparing Tasmanian talent for the VFL and VFLW.
- A Dedicated Full Time Girls Coach was appointed in 2023 to enhance the female talent pathway within the Tasmanian Coates League program.
- The Tasmanian Community Facilities Fund has been established, providing $500,000 annually and a dedicated staff role to help upgrade local venues in partnership with clubs, councils, and schools. Some examples of projects completed through support from our funding, include:
• Windsor Park resurface and lighting
• Huonville lighting
• Kingston Beach changerooms
• Cadbury changerooms
• Hillwood resurface - The ‘Kicking Goals’ Initiative has been launched with the target of goalposts in every Tasmanian Public School – we will see 50 Tasmanian public schools receive goal posts in 2025.
- AFL Tasmania’s Participation Staff have tripled, allowing for more school and club programs with an emphasis on growing baseline participation and junior football. So far in 2025, AFL Tasmania has delivered school-based clinics at 76 schools, engaging over 14,000 students. This follows a record-breaking year in 2024, where staff visited 129 schools and ran clinics with more than 22,000 children across Tasmania.
- In addition to school programs, staff play a key role in supporting club-delivered Auskick, with significant growth in the workforce allowing for greater hands-on support for local volunteers. AFL Tasmania staff have assisted with more than 300 club visits, helping parents and club volunteers deliver quality Auskick and Superkick sessions.
- Umpiring Investment of over $400,000 annually is in place to support our associations and to drive recruitment, coaching, and administration, including new regional roles in the north and north-west.
- Leadership and Club Support has been boosted through an uplift in staffing to ease volunteer load with the recruitment of a Statewide Community Football Manager and Regional Community Football Managers in all three regions, as well as enhanced integrity and match review support.
- There’s been more great growth in the North West, with a new Junior Competition Manager coming on board. It’s the latest step in what’s been a big few years of expansion in the region. Back in 2018, there was just one staff member up there—now we’ve got a team of eight. That extra support means we’re better placed than ever to help make footy a great experience for everyone involved—volunteers, coaches, umpires, and players alike.
The team’s working across all sorts of areas, including:
• Running school programs and competitions
• Supporting Auskick and Superkick
• Helping club volunteers with platforms and procedures
• Recruiting and managing umpires
• Helping junior clubs grow and thrive
• Managing junior and senior competitions (supporting all competitions in the region)
• Talent pathways (junior through to senior)
What’s Happening on the Ground?
- Statewide participation is up 27% in 2024. We expect to continue the momentum and have more growth on top of this in 2025.
- Auskick registrations have surged by 38%, with a remarkable 104% increase in Southern Tasmania. The program grew 25% across the north of the state, and the northwest saw Auskick and Superkick record a combined growth of 40%. This explosion of Auskick participation is not slowing down – we are currently tracking at 25% up year on year and expect considerable growth by the end of 2025.
- Tasmania is now a national leader in AFL’s newest program, Superkick, with the northwest alone accounting for 4% of all participants nationally in 2024. Superkick is also up by over 100% on year on year and we expect the growth to only continue.
- A new kids’ program focused on transitioning more girls and boys into junior footy competition, Little Rum'uns, inspired by the Devils mascot, will launch soon and is set to excite children across the state.
- Junior footy participation grew by 8.5% in 2024, with even greater expansion expected in 2025. New junior clubs East Ulverstone and Somerset have launched and been a terrific success – we have also seen significant team number growth in the STJFL.
- Competition Support Delivered: We’ve taken significant steps to professionalise competition management, simplify processes, reduce the burden on volunteers, and support affiliated associations across the state.
Equally important but not always visible is the collaborative work we’ve done to build strong alignment and working partnerships between AFL Tasmania, our associations, and local clubs. We understand the vital role associations and clubs play in our football community, and we’re committed to helping all grow, succeed, and thrive.
A Vision for the Future: "For footy to be the heartbeat of all Tasmanian communities."
Underpinned by our “28 by 28” Strategic Plan, we are focusing on four core pillars:
- Footy in Every Tasmanian Home – Growing participation and community connection.
- Thriving Competitions and Programs – Supporting the clubs, umpiring associations, and leagues that form the backbone of our communities.
- Best Practice, First Choice Pathways – Creating elite development opportunities for young Tasmanians across all regions.
- Venues and Facilities for Sustainable Growth – Planning today to meet the demand of tomorrow.
This strategy is deeply rooted in Tasmania’s three regions and is designed to innovate, expand, and future-proof the game we love—right in the heart of the communities that matter most.
The AFL’s commitment to Tasmania is not just significant; it is transformational. It is already delivering results, and we are only just getting started.
While all of this is both amazing and transformational—and will only continue to improve over time—the simple truth remains: the $360 million investment cannot be fully realised without both a stadium and a team. These are essential pillars for unlocking the funding and securing lasting benefits for football in Tasmania.
Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey.
Together, we are building something special for Tasmanian football.
Regards,
Damian Gill
Head of AFL Tasmania