Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett has accused the Hawthorn Football Club of not being committed to the state having its own AFL team.
The Hawks contract to play four matches a season in Launceston expires at the end of next year.
Mr Bartlett says he plans to get a better result for Tasmania in any new deal and has questioned Hawthorn’s intentions.
“Does the Hawthorn Football Club see Tasmania as a long term bet?” he said.
“Does the Hawthorn Football Club have a long term plan to partially or fully relocate to Tasmania to become a Tasmanian team?
“I think our goal still should remain to have a Tasmanian AFL side and I don’t think Hawthorn are committed to that.”
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has described the comments as extraordinary and insulting.
“I find this very disappointing and I don’t consider it just part of normal negotiation, unless he is now trying to buy North Melbourne.”
“If he is trying to say to us ‘right thank you Hawthorn, you have done your job now it is time to go’. If he is saying that, that’s fine but let him say so.”
North Melbourne has been in negotiations to play matches in Hobart.
