Ground Up: Tasmania’s AFL Dream Faces Turmoil and Triumph

Production Details

Title: Ground Up

Format: Series / ABC

Production Begins: January 2026

Filming Location: Tasmania, Australia

Synopsis: Set in Tasmania, the series follows AFL administrator Hugh Shen (Pang), dispatched from Melbourne to establish the island’s first-ever AFL team. But there’s a catch: the locals must build a brand-new stadium and not everyone’s happy about the $1.13 billion taxpayer-funded spend. Hugh’s mission? Win over a divided public, meet impossible deadlines, placate feisty protesters, and somehow find a coach, players, and a mascot that won’t offend anyone. Should be a piece of cake.

Production Company

Company name: Gristmill

Postal Address:
PO Box 276
Balaclava, VIC Australia

Email: knockknock@gristmill.com.au
Phone: 03-9686-8000

Producers: Robyn Butler, MaryAnne Carroll, Todd Abbott, Gary McCaffrie, Greg Sitch, Rachel Okine

Director: Wayne Hope

LP: Juanita Stroh

PM: Nicole Peters

DP: Dan Maxwell

1AD: James Short

Cast: Sam Pang

CD: Nathan Lloyd

About Ground Up

Ground Up is a series set in Tasmania, focusing on Hugh Shen, an AFL administrator from Melbourne. His task is to create the island’s first AFL team, a project complicated by the need for a new stadium and public dissent regarding the substantial funding required. As Hugh navigates challenges such as tight timelines and community opposition, he must also assemble a coaching staff, players, and a mascot that resonates with a diverse audience. The series explores themes of teamwork, resilience, and the complexities of public engagement in sports development.