Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
"Self-sabotaging, embarrassing state": What next for the Devils?
Emily Benammar • June 6th, 2025 10:08 am
After a dramatic and devastating 24 hours for the Devils' aspiration to join the league, the state is set to go back to the polls after a no-confidence motion passed against Premier Jeremy Rockliff.
The major concern for the Devils is the deal struck with the AFL, permitting their license to join the league. The deal, which must be fulfilled in full before their inaugural season in 2028, involves the construction of a 23,000 seat, roofed stadium in Macquarie Point.
Could the AFL now revoke that license?
Follow our coverage through the day as we bring you the latest developments from Tasmania.
Tim Paine launched a passionate response to what has happened in his state this week accusing Tasmanians of self-sabotaging the evolution and progression of the island.
"I know people say its only sport its only footy, and it is, but for people this stadium and this team means so much more than just the football," Paine said on SEN Tassie Breakfast.
"Tassie has for a long time been the laughing stock for the other states because of our inability to get stuff done. 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 s--tcan us. They talk down to us and we continually prove them right.
"When you speak to people on the mainland they say ‘we know it won’t happen, we know that Tasmania will find a way to stuff this up’.
"It is staggering that we do this to ourselves we are self-sabotaging state.
"I’m as proud as anyone to be a Tasmanian but at times it is embarrassing.
"I was with Chris Fagan the last few days at the football club, everyone you speak to, they ask if its 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 e 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?"
__
__
Tassie Breakfast with Tim Paine & Brent Costelloe – Mondays and Fridays 7am – 9am on SEN Tassie - 1629am Hobart, SENTrack 1611am Launceston & Devonport and the SEN App
