Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein has taken aim at Gold Coast Suns chairman Tony Cochrane, urging island state AFL fans to boo the footy club boss.
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Cochrane created waves earlier this month by criticising the Apple Isle's bid for a licence, labelling it "insanity" from a business point of view.
The Suns, who have won just four matches this season, meet fellow cellar-dwellers North Melbourne at Hobart's Blundstone Arena on Saturday.
Gutwein described Cochrane as "one of the few detractors" of a Tasmanian side in the making.
"When he is here at Blundstone, and I understand he is coming, we as Tasmanians get the opportunity to show him first hand our passion for the game," Gutwein told state parliament on Thursday.
"Whilst I understand that the Suns aren't the most successful team ... I would make the point that we need to turn up on Saturday.
"There'll be a chance for all Tasmanians to go along to very politely, but very loudly, boo Tony."
Fans turned out in force at Launceston last weekend, with a sold out crowd of just under 15,000 watching traditional rivals Essendon and Hawthorn go head-to-head.
It was the first time the Bombers had played a top-line game in Tasmania since 1992.
Backers of an island state side have said the crowd figure, the highest of the round, is proof there is a strong appetite for top-line AFL in Tasmania.
Tasmania often welcomes lesser-drawing non-Melbourne sides as opponents to Hawthorn and North Melbourne, who are contracted to host four games each in the state per season.
State government negotiations with the two clubs for a 2022 arrangement are currently on ice pending greater clarity from AFL headquarters on a stand-alone side.
AFL commissioner and former Geelong President Colin Carter is assessing the business plan for a Tasmanian side and is expected to finalise a report by mid-July.
Australian Associated Press