25 years is a long time in footy, but while the last quarter-century has seen the evolution of the VFL into a national competition and the addition of two teams from Adelaide and expansionary teams in New South Wales and Queensland, there still isn't a standalone team in Tasmania.

While the AFL's chief executive Gillon McLachlan said Tasmania "deserves" its own team this week, he also said the Apple Isle can't give a hypothetical 19th AFL club the financial support it requires. 

Currently the Hawks and Kangaroos play a respective four games and three games in Tasmania, in the main cities of Launceston and Hobart.

While the AFL doesn't look like establishing a team south of Bass Strait anytime soon, polling of football fans has consistently shown support for a team for Tasmania. 

In 2008, the Mars Corporation threw support behind the concept, and surveys this year show huge support for the idea.

portadelaidefc.com.au asked Power fans as part of its BIG PORT SURVEY where the next AFL club should be, and Tasmania was the hands-down winner, with support from 67.84% of its supporter base.

The Northern Territory - currently represented by the NT Thunder in the NEAFL competition - was second, with 22.35% of fans backing a team for the Top End.

Port Adelaide's Jake Neade in action for the NT Under-18 team before moving to Alberton [pic: AFL Media]

New Zealand was a distant third with 3.23% of the vote, with a third South Australian team and an expansion team in another state or territory even further behind.

Both the NT and Tasmania are represented in the AFL’s Under-18 National Championships, while the ACT combines with New South Wales for the under age competition.