Polling conducted by EMRS has revealed that 20 per cent of Tasmanian households were directly involved in local football matches in 2019, up from 17 per cent in 2018.
Combined with results released last year from Sport Australia’s AusPlay survey showing that 7.4 per cent of Tasmanians, or approximately 38,000 play football in some capacity, the polling cements the World Game’s position as Tasmania’s favourite sport.
Across the same Ausplay data set, around 22,000 Tasmanians played Australian Rules.
Football Tasmania CEO Matt Bulkeley said it was extremely encouraging to see that Tasmania’s favourite sport was continuing to grow in popularity both on and off the pitch.
“Football is highly inclusive and has the ability to bring people from diverse backgrounds together like no other sport,” Mr Bulkeley said.
“Player-wise, football is flourishing in all areas of the state, across both junior and senior levels and for males and females.
“With one in five Tasmanian households directly involved in football, either through watching, playing or volunteering, we know that the sport’s reach and popularity extends further than just those on the pitch.
“Taking the kids to football on a Saturday morning is a weekend ritual for so many Tasmanians, with junior football fields across the state acting as the meeting place for hundreds of mini-communities.
“It’s this community aspect which has contributed to football being not only the World Game, but Tasmania’s Game as well.