By Charles Waterhouse - The Mercury
POWERFUL Southern Tasmanian councils yesterday backed a campaign for AFL games at Bellerive.
In a show of strength, Kingborough, Clarence and Brighton supported the Hobart City Council call for games to be shared between Hobart and Launceston.
The Tasmanian Cricket Association, based at Bellerive, also backed AFL games for Hobart.
It puts the councils on a collision course with the State Government which has said there will be no AFL games in the South.
It is the first time the councils have banded together on the issue since the Government decided on all games at York Park in Launceston.
Premier Paul Lennon has strongly backed AFL games being played in the North and has signed a five-year $15 million deal with Hawthorn to play four games a season at York Park.
The new AFL push comes as the councils also ramp up their battle to get more road funding in the South, claiming the North and North-West are being favoured by the Federal Government to bolster its Bass and Braddon electorates.
Brighton Mayor Tony Foster said he would like to see the Southern Tasmanian Councils Authority, which all southern municipal councils are members of, get behind AFL matches being held at Bellerive.
"It may be appropriate for Hobart (council) to list this as an agenda item for the next meeting of the authority," Mr Foster said.
Kingborough Mayor Graham Bury said his council had not discussed the issue but his view was it seemed fair to share AFL matches, and Hobart was Tasmania's capital.
He said he understood state cricket matches were played in the North. (South Australia is playing Tasmania in Launceston on Sunday).
Clarence Mayor Jock Campbell said he was surprised by Hobart Council's decision to support Bellerive but said he would not be surprised if all southern councils did not support it being a ground used for AFL games.
"We certainly would welcome all their support," he said.
In mid-October Clarence council made getting AFL games played at Bellerive Oval part of its new strategic plan, its marketing strategy, and to raise it with the State Government through a partnership agreement.
Tasmanian Cricket Association chief executive David Johnston said: "We are continually trying to attract more sporting events to the oval and any assistance in these endeavours would be greatly appreciated".
He said in 2003 a $20.6 million development of Bellerive Oval was completed with the upgrading primarily for the oval to continue to host Test and one-day cricket, but also to help attract other major sporting events.
AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said he understood what Hobart council was attempting to achieve.
"However I think the state of Tasmania would be far better placed uniting, and the reality is we have the Government of our state which has determined our AFL football venue as Aurora Stadium and that our national and international cricket venue is Bellerive Oval.
"I think the whole state needs to embrace that concept before we start watering it down.
"AFL Tasmania's attitude is while so many years ago we fought for games at either end of the island, we have to accept the umpire's decision.
"Let's make it work."
Mr Wade said he believed AFL matches played at Aurora Stadium were good for the whole state, including Hobart.
He believed evidence showed Hobart had substantially benefited from visitors as a consequence of AFL matches in Launceston.
The Tasmanian Government decided in 2001 to have AFL matches played in Launceston.
Last Modified on 29/11/2006 10:40