Gold Coast president Tony Cochrane holds major concerns with the possibility of a 19th team entering the AFL.
According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, as many as 14 club presidents hold concerns over the AFL’s plans to grant a 19th licence to Tasmania.
Cochrane believes too many of the current 18 AFL clubs are struggling financially for a 19th team to enter the competition.
The Suns chair also thinks more money needs to be invested into community football across every state in Australia.
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“As I keep saying I am awaiting, as every other president is, the final report that the AFL are going to put to us in August that they say answers every concern we’ve got plus some,” Cochrane told Sportsday SA.
“I sincerely hope that’s the case.
“I’ve got nothing against Tasmania, I think they probably deserve a team, my biggest issue is I’m not up for a 19th franchise.
“I’m really super nervous about a 19th franchise because right at the moment if we all want to have an honesty moment, we’ve got a number of clubs that are struggling finically – including my own. I’m not saying it’s somebody else’s problem, I’m part of that problem. We’ve got a lot of demands on us.
“In my personal opinion – and I know many in the AFL industry agree – we need to put a lot more money into community football in every state because that’s the future of our game.
“I just don’t think a 19th franchise is right at the moment.
“It’s nothing against Tasmania – it could be in Toowoomba, it could be in Tennant Creek or Timbuktu – my concern is about a 19th franchise.
“Like a lot of other presidents, I’m very concerned about a 19th franchise.”
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan ruled out relocating an existing club to the Apple Isle, but indicated Tassie will need to build a new stadium if they want to be granted the league’s 19th licence.