Ground Up, a new six-part comedy series about Tasmania’s quest to join the AFL, premiered on ABC on June 7 at 8:30pm, starring comedian Sam Pang as Hugh Shen, an AFL administrator dispatched from Melbourne to establish the state’s first football team.
Quick Facts
- The series premiered June 7, 2026 on ABC TV and ABC iview at 8:30pm
- Sam Pang plays Hugh Shen, sent from Melbourne to build Tasmania’s first AFL team
- The show centers on a $1.13 billion taxpayer-funded stadium project
- Created and written by Gary McCaffrie, head writer of 15 seasons of Shaun Micallef’s Mad as Hell
After years of pushing for an AFL team, Tasmania finally got the green light—but with a catch. The state must build a new stadium, and not everyone supports the massive public spending. Hugh Shen must navigate a divided community, oppressive deadlines, and competing interests while establishing the Great Southern Football Club.
The ensemble cast includes Emma Harvie as COO Destiny Pitt, Dylan Murphy as Jameson, Josh McConville as AFL CEO Alistair Penfold, Lucy Durack as Angela Lipscombe, and Marg Downey as Catherine, the club president. Guest appearances come from Broden Kelly, Christie Whelan Browne, Dave Thornton, and others.
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A Sharp Take on Workplace Comedy
ScreenHub’s review gave Ground Up five stars, calling it “one of the sharpest and smartest local comedies in years.” The comedy operates on two levels: broad jokes about the absurdities of building a sports club from scratch, and sharper satire about Tasmania’s real stadium controversy. The writing balances multiple storylines, set-pieces, and one-off gags across each episode.
Ground Up is a Gristmill production made with support from the ABC, Screen Australia, VicScreen, and Screen Tasmania. Director Wayne Hope leads the project alongside producers Robyn Butler, MaryAnne Carroll, and Gary McCaffrie. International sales are handled by Super Java Distribution.
Sources
- FilmInk — premiere date, cast, plot, production credits, and $1.13 billion stadium figure
- ScreenHub Australia — review, character details, writing quality assessment, and cast information
- ABC iview — premiere time and episode count
