Tasmania is set to finally claim its rightful place in the AFL.
Government sources have told the ABC that this weekend Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce federal funding for Hobart's Macquarie Point AFL stadium and precinct.
The $240 million federal government commitment means a stadium — estimated to cost $715 million — at the prime waterfront site will go ahead.
The securing of a 23,000-seat stadium clears the final hurdle set by the AFL if Tasmania wants to be granted the 19th AFL team licence.
The AFL commission and club presidents are set to formalise the deal as soon as next week.
It will bring to an end a long battle for Tasmania to take the national stage, but there's still lots to happen before an AFL team takes to the field.
Here's what we know.
When will a Tasmanian team play its first game?
It's set to enter the league in 2027, playing games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval and Launceston's York Park for the first year or two of its existence until the Macquarie Point stadium is ready to go.
Like recent expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney, a Tasmanian team could play in the VFL in the years before it enters the big league.
Where will the team play its home games?
The idea is for seven AFL home games to be played at Macquarie Point, and four at York Park. A Tasmanian AFLW team will play games at both those stadiums and at Penguin's Dial Park, which will also host AFL pre-season games.
Hawthorn, which currently plays four home fixtures a year at York Park, has also committed to hosting its home game against a Tasmanian team at the stadium.
What will a new team mean for the AFL?
It's a huge change. The league will go back to having an uneven number of clubs, with one of the 19 sides to have a bye each round — advancing them in the league without playing a match.
It could lead to big shifts in the number of games played each season and might fuel a push for a 20th licence to be handed out, or for one of the existing struggling clubs to merge or fold.
Big draft concessions — like the ones given to Gold Coast and GWS — will also be on the cards, with existing clubs facing losing some big names.
AFL club presidents have also aired concerns about having to share revenues with another club.
What does the deal look like?
The stadium itself is estimated to cost $715 million, with $375 million from the state government and $240 million from the federal government.
The AFL will tip in $15 million and the remaining $85 million will come from borrowing against land sale or lease for commercial uses.
In terms of ongoing funding, the Tasmanian government has promised to provide $12 million a year for 12 years — a total of $144 million — plus $60 million to establish a high-performance complex.
In exchange, The AFL has also announced its own $360 million funding package for the new team.
That includes the stadium contribution and a $209 million funding commitment for the new club.
It also involves $10 million towards the high-performance complex, $33 million towards junior development and a $93 million funding boost for grassroots football.
What would the new team be called or look like?
It's not finalised yet, but there's a high likelihood it will be called the Devils — a nickname synonymous with Tasmanian footballing teams.
There are not many teams wearing dark green in the AFL, so a variation on the iconic 'map' guernsey could be on the cards too.
What do Tasmanians think of the news?
There's been strong public support for Tasmania joining the AFL, but the attachment of a new stadium to the bid has been pretty controversial — an opinion poll last year showed fewer than half of Tasmanians were in favour of the stadium.
The deal had tripartisan political support, but the Greens pulled its support last weekend over the stadium, and Tasmanian Labor has been routinely critical of the stadium proposal.
Federal Liberal MPs have also piled on the stadium, including Bass MP Bridget Archer and frontbencher Jonathon Duniam.
It means there will be a fair split between joy at a Tasmanian side entering the AFL, and criticism over what it has cost to make that happen.
Are there any local stars who could play for a Tasmanian team?
Most of the best current players from Tasmania are on the wrong side of 30, but Richmond captain Toby Nankervis would be 33 in 2027, and could be a prime candidate to end his career in Tasmania.
In terms of younger players, Carlton defender Lachie Cowan is making waves in his first season and could be a prime candidate, while youngsters Colby McKercher and Jack Callinan could be early draft picks this year.
