Basketball On The Internet.

SHOWING they were Tasmanians first, AFL footballers second, Richmond's Jack Riewoldt and Collingwood's Jeremy Howe defied the unspoken footy law to ignore the NBL, and on Thursday's AFL 360 Plus on Fox Footy, acknowledged the huge difference the JackJumpers made to sport on the Apple Isle.  

After decades of pontificating and ongoing resistance from entrenched Victorian AFL clubs, the league this week announced its 19th license would go to a Tasmanian-based team, likely kicking off in 2028.

Make no mistake, the emergence of the Tasmania JackJumpers across two bumper NBL seasons lit a fuse under the AFL as it watched the basketball club capture a state's imagination.

After all, Tasmania has traditionally been a football state, producing legends such as genial Hawthorn full forward Peter Hudson, St Kilda's only premiership captain Darrel Baldock, Richmond superstar Royce Hart and truly a holy host of others.

But the JackJumpers successfully took the state's sporting spotlight and shone it on themselves, while uniting the state with its "Defend the Island" catch-cry, one of a few club mantras embraced by a growing fan base.

Riewoldt and Howe were quick to acknowledge the work the JackJumpers had done and what the club had achieved in a relatively miniscule amount of time.

They also said the AFL could do worse than seek consultation with JJs coach Scott Roth, one of the main men behind the culture and profile of the NBL club.

While that is extremely unlikely to happen, hats off to Riewoldt and Howe for recognising and acknowledging what can be achieved with the right people and motivation behind a sporting organisation in Tasmania. 

For their part, the JackJumpers have extended a warm welcome to the new AFL club, delighted Tasmanians now can watch top level sport all year around - basketball in summer, footy in winter.