 Some have argued that the combination of reduced operating costs of existing AFL clubs, the increased debt taken on by existing clubs, and the need for the league to increase revenue and cash flow post-pandemic mean that a Tasmanian team in the league has never been a more viable and competitive option.This was noted by the state's newly appointed premier, Peter Gutwein, who stated that "Now is an opportunity for the AFL to actually start with a blank sheet of paper and to determine that they should have a national competition in the future and that Tasmania should have an AFL team at some stage in the future - and for them to consider whether some of those outlying clubs that they have poured so much money into are part of the AFL’s future moving forward".Gerard Whately responded to Gutwein's comments saying that "I think he is tired of the niceties and the condescending idea that, 'yes Tassie deserves a team', but this harnesses the challenge.