By: ADAM SMITH
This comes in light of the code being unable to capture public support in the rugby league heartland.
Last season, Sydney's television ratings, attendances and membership nosedived.
The AFL was left red-faced after the Swans-North Melbourne second elimination final at ANZ Stadium failed to attract more than 20,000 people.
To rub salt in the wound, last weekend's 2008 national draft failed to provide one registered NSW player.
The AFL Commission would prefer to have an 18th team join the league in 2012 to avoid a bye in the roster once the Gold Coast becomes the 17th side in 2011.
Tasmanian-bid steering committee member and ANZ Bank chief economist Saul Eslake said if the Western Sydney move was held back it would only paint a brighter picture for Tasmania's push.
``Clearly if the [Western Sydney] team is not going to be a starter as soon as had been expected, then unless a Victorian club falls over or two Victorian clubs merge, there will be a bye in the competition,'' Eslake said.
``I would have thought for a commission that is particularly anxious about TV rights, that having one team doing training runs every Saturday would not be an attractive option.
``Ideally, I would like to think this development strengthens Tasmania's hand, strengthens what I regard as a very strong business case to begin with.
``Hopefully, in this altered climate, the AFL is being a little more realistic about it.
``I've always struggled to understand their logic in this, but it would be nice to think a light bulb has gone off somewhere in AFL house.''
Despite no guaranteed future, Tasmania's proposal has already secured three major sponsorships -- confectionary giant Mars with a three-year $4 million deal, MyState Tasmania committing $300,000 over the same timeframe and TOTE Tasmania's five-year $500,000 pledge.
However, AFL spokesman Patrick Keane hosed down any excitement, saying it was business as usual despite the perceived problems regarding the expensive expansion program.
``After the last commission meeting in Sydney in mid-November, our plan was for the Gold Coast [to join] in 2011 and the AFL Commission has asked the committee to do some financial modelling to ensure none of our current clubs are impacted,'' Keane said.
``The plan is for a Western Sydney team to join in 2012 and there has been no decision beyond 18 teams.
``Our next two markets we want to put clubs into will be the Gold Coast and Western Sydney, they haven't changed.''
Tassie's push for inclusion started after a campaign launched by the Mercury in March.
Last Modified on 09/04/2009 16:14