Nick Riewoldt Reveals ‘Nerves’ as Devils Stand on Brink of Extinction Ahead of AFL Entry

Tasmanian football icon Nick Riewoldt is feeling “nervous” that his ambition for an AFL team in the state may not come to fruition.

The AFL has granted approval for the league’s 19th licence, with the Devils set to join the competition in 2028.

However, their future is contingent upon the construction of a new stadium in Hobart.

As of Friday, work had not yet commenced on the proposed 23,000-seat facility at Macquarie Point.

The venue is expected to be finished ahead of the 2029 AFL season, which has prompted the Devils to develop plans to host their home games at alternative locations in 2028.

However, should the construction of the new stadium face further delays or be scrapped entirely, the AFL may withdraw the licence from the prospective franchise.

This week, a report in The Age indicated that club presidents are considering a vote to reassess Tasmania’s licence if the stadium’s development is postponed.

Riewoldt, a former St Kilda player who participated in 336 games and was raised in Hobart, has been a prominent advocate for Tasmania to have its own AFL team.

Nevertheless, he is now expressing doubts about the realisation of this goal.

“My big concern is for Tassie… I don’t think it’s going to progress as smoothly as anticipated,” he shared on Triple M’s Mick in the Morning.

“I’m unsure, and I’m feeling anxious about the situation.

“I have a personal stake in this and I’m genuinely worried about where things stand.

“There’s a lot of chatter and negativity surrounding it.

“We need this stadium to be finalised and approved… we should already be breaking ground.”

With temperatures in Tasmania dropping to dangerously low levels during winter, Riewoldt insists that the stadium “must” feature a roof as part of its contract. Currently, the only AFL stadium with a roof is Marvel Stadium.