World Footy News

The outside chance of Tasmania being granted an AFL licence looks likelier with the bid announcing a $4 million, three-year sponsorship deal.

The announcement comes as the Gold Coast (GC17) and Western Sydney syndicates have yet to announce a major sponsor for their bids and while at least two Melbourne based AFL clubs, the Western Bulldogs and Richmond Tigers are still without a sponsor for 2009.

Increasing the unlikely chance of a Tasmanian AFL team is the change of heart from the league's CEO Andrew Demetriou, who was quoted on ABC News for the first time entertaining the possibility of a future Tasmanian team.

The official Tasmanian bid is currently being prepared by the high profile Gemba Group who have already worked with eight AFL clubs. Tasmania's bid has gained momentum and has already achieved several of the AFL's key criteria which are still to be met by the AFL's preferred new licences.

The AFL Commission will consider Tasmania's official bid later in the year.

The news appears in the following articles:

Tassie AFL bid takes the chocolates
Tasmanian AFL bid gains major sponsor
Mars sweetens AFL bid