The young star of an emotive* new television advertisement pushing for a Tasmanian team in the AFL said she can’t wait to play for the state in the AFLW.
Lily Champ, 10, said she was excited to be chosen to be part of the final campaign, The Last Push To Play On, ahead of the decision in August on whether Tasmania will become the AFL’s 19th club.
“The ad was a lot of fun,” Lily said.
“It would mean a lot to me and the other generations like me, because it means you don’t have to move to Melbourne to play your dream sports.
“I’d love to share playing with all my friends and my grandparents and parents and show them I can do a lot.”
Lily, who plays for North Launceston and supports Richmond in the AFL, said she loved tackling the most and her favourite player was Richmond’s Dustin Martin.
The Last Push To Play On ad shows Lily running with a football across the state’s many iconic* places, supported by past and present Tasmanian football greats and members of the community.
Richmond star forward Jack Riewoldt is one of the featured players.
“It is a very small part, but I’m very, very proud of it as well,” Riewoldt said. “Go down, spend a week, have some fun and see what it is like to live in Tasmania and any team that wears the map … will wear it with pride.”
A Believe Tasmanian website has also been set up as the campaign seeks thousands of signatories* to register their support as future members, in a final message to the AFL executive, commission and the other club presidents that now is the time.
But AFL Taskforce Tasmania chair Brett Godfrey said it was much more than just about the end of the campaign.
“We see the degradation* that has happened, we see the lack of aspiration* of football in the state, we see the steering committee work that was announced in 2018 hasn’t been delivered by the AFL, we’ve seen all those things,” Mr Godfrey said. “We’ve seen basketball on the rise so it is truism* — people have to believe it for all these reasons that it is only getting harder and this is the opportunity to seize.”
Mr Godfrey said the ad would not only tug at the heartstrings of Tasmanians but all Australians.
“Everyone can see part of their own growing up in that video, that they camped at this place, or played cricket or footy on that ground or bought a coffee in that street – and that’s across Australia,” Mr Godfrey said.
“What we showed was a reflection of our country in one state and everyone who sees that will be able to see something out of their childhood and we all know how important those memories are.”
But he said it was important followers locally and interstate “add their name and change the game” on the BelieveTasmanian.com.au website, which also features podcasts with prominent* Tasmanian football identities, such as North Melbourne coach David Noble, Richmond CEO Brendon Gale and legendary media commentator Tim Lane.
“This is about putting your name down, a pledge to support, but this is to be totally kept informed from here on in on the growth and implementation* of your new footy club,” Mr Godfrey said. “This is like a future members’ portal*.”
Legendary Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson declared “it’s just wrong” the Aussie rules heartland doesn’t have a team yet.
“We’ve got a heartland* in Tasmania that’s not featuring in our national game … It’s just wrong, and we’ve got to do something about it,” said Clarkson.
“If you’re keen about seeing a Tassie team, get your name on the books.”
Sport Minister Nic Street said Tasmanians had thrown their support behind the Jack Jumpers basketball team, which proved what a Tasmanian team in a national competition could do.
“They want exactly the same thing for other winter sports, particularly AFL football,” he said.
GLOSSARY
- emotive: causing strong or intense feelings
- iconic: very famous or popular, representing a particular time or thing
- signatories: people who have signed a document or petition with others
- degradation: process or something being made worse or less than it was
- prominent: important, distinguished, leading
- implementation: putting a plan into action or starting to use something
- portal: gateway, door, entrance
- heartland: central place where activity or belief is common
EXTRA READING
Microchipped footies to keep AFL on the ball
Could Daisy Pearce be AFL’s first female coach
Footy’s best and fairest sealed with ‘a shoey’
QUICK QUIZ
- What is the Tasmanian AFL campaign called?
- Who is Lily Champ’s favourite player and from which club?
- Which club does Lily play for?
- What is the Believe Tasmanian website currently seeking?
- Which team in what sport has successfully established itself in Tasmania?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. AFL in Tasmania
It seems only fair that Tasmania should have a team in the AFL and they are working hard on getting the support and backing for this change to happen.
Design a guernsey and logo for a Tasmanian team and give the Tassie team a name that they could use if their dream becomes a reality.
Sketch your guernsey and present your name to the class.
Time: allow 25 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Visual Arts; Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Why do you think it has taken so long for a Tasmanian team to enter the AFL?
What could be preventing this move?
What would this extra team add to the current AFL structure?
Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
Imagine this story becomes part of an animated series made up of three cartoons. The three cartoons tell the complete story and this article is only Part 1. Think about what the rest of the story could be and draw the next two cartoons that tell the story.
Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Visual Arts; Visual Communication Design; Critical and Creative Thinking
