A new deal that locks in North Melbourne to play three games a season in Tasmania until 2021 cements the future of AFL in the island state, league boss Gillon McLachlan says.
The agreement announced on Friday includes plans for a junior development academy for children aged 11 and over.
"It's a deep partnership not only at an elite level but in the community," McLachlan said.
"It feels like the start of a new dawn of football in Tasmania.
"We're incredibly committed to this market - we've got a clear plan now from the grassroots right up to the elite."
The announcement means the Kangaroos and Hawthorn have deals that tie them to Tasmania until 2021, playing games at Hobart's Bellerive Oval and Launceston's York Park, respectively.
North Melbourne's new Tasmanian partner is TT-Line, a state government-run business that operates the Bass Strait ferries.
There continues to be a groundswell of support in Tasmania for the state to have its own side in the AFL, but McLachlan said that would be discussed closer to the expiry of the present deals.
Kangaroos chairman James Brayshaw said the club was thrilled to continue its strong links with Tasmania.
"There's not one thing about playing football in this part of the world that hasn't been absolutely superb for our club, so we were very keen for it to continue," he said.
The Kangaroos meet Richmond at Bellerive Oval on Friday night.
