Tasmania’s AFL saga ’embarrassing’ for our state: Paine

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Tasmania’s AFL saga ’embarrassing’ for our state: Paine

Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as “self-sabotaging”, admitting he’s embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island’s planned AFL team.

The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion.

It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart.

The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028.

Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O’Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club’s licence at serious risk.

The saga has prompted an emotional response from Devils staff, politicians and public figures this week.

“It is staggering that we do this to ourselves, we are self-sabotaging state,” Paine said on SEN radio.

“I’m as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing.

“I was with (Brisbane Lions coach) Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if it’s gonna happen.

“Even Fages, a proud Tasmanian, you could see in his face and the look in his eye, he was shocked that once again we have gone out of our way to stuff something up that would be great for our state.

“It’s a doomsday scenario, but what if the AFL revokes the licence?”

The former Test wicketkeeper felt Tasmania would continue to be the butt of jokes if it can’t deliver an AFL team.

“Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done,” Paine said.

“When I was playing cricket people would say, ‘Oh you’re heading back to ‘Slowbart’, nothing ever happens’.

“It’s the same as it was 10 years ago, and we keep proving people right.

“It’s embarrassing when you’re involved in national or international sports and businesses and you go to carnivals or Tests and people just continually *****-can us.

“They talk down to us and we continually prove them right.”

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