'Gut feel' reveals opportunity for new Tassie stadium as club president labels AFL 'corporate bullies'

The AFL relenting on the Macquarie Point stadium in Hobart being built without a roof is not out of the realms of possibility, according to Caroline Wilson.

It comes as Essendon president David Barham accused the league of corporate bullying, as Tasmania remains in limbo on whether to commit to building the $1b stadium.

Wilson revealed that Barham used a recent meeting between the club presidents and league executives to say the AFL has pushed too hard with their ultimatum of no stadium, no team.

FOLLOW LIVE: State of Origin III team selection scuttlebutt

READ MORE: 'Stick with them': Tubby's plea to selectors amid run drought

READ MORE: Warriors gun's Dally M charge crippled by ACL blow

A 23,000 seat roofed stadium at Macquarie Point is estimated to cost nearly $1b, and that is before further delays cause cost blowouts.

A recent YouGov poll indicated that 69 per cent of Tasmanians want their state government to renegotiate with the AFL on the costly build.

"There was a commission meeting shortly before the hall of fame two weeks ago and I'd heard that one particular president had been quite outspoken after the latest presentation on Tasmania .. that president was the Essendon president David Barham," Wilson told 3AW.

"Barham warned the AFL commission that the league would be seen as corporate bullies if Tasmania failed now to get a team.

"And that if the roof became a deal-breaker, this would not be good for the game's image.

"He was really strong. You're watching kids in Tassie Devils caps and scarves now. You look at the list management that's happened, Brendon Gale has bought a house in Hobart, it's impossible to see it unwind now."

And with that, Wilson struggles to see how the AFL would simply abandon Tasmania if the government ultimately decided not to build a roofed stadium, as the deal currently enforces.

"My gut feeling, and the AFL refute this, they said some presidents spoke against Barham, but my understanding is no one spoke strongly against him, and my feeling is, for the first time I'm hearing a few people in positions of power saying 'well maybe there might be no roof'," Wilson said.

"I'm not saying that's going to happen, and I'm not giving an opinion either way. I don't think even the Tasmanian board knows what a roof will cost and how much it will cost in comparison to the whole thing.

"If it's a crazy amount of money, maybe they will try to renegotiate."

The Devils are slated to enter the AFL competition in 2028, with the initial plan being for the stadium to be ready for the 2029 season.

The former remains the plan, though pushing their entry back has not been ruled out, while the latter now appears to be inconceivable, given the stadium's planning commission agreements can't even be discussed until after the July snap state election.