SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Carlton and St Kilda head south as Tasmania secures big games

IT will be the Roos versus the Blues and the Hawks hosting the Saints as Tasmania dazzles under Saturday night lights at both ends of the state early next year.

As the Mercury online has revealed, Carlton will make its AFL debut in the state’s capital in round four against North Melbourne on Saturday, April 14, while St Kilda will head south to take on Hawthorn at University of Tasmania Stadium in round six, Saturday, April 28. Both games will start at 7.25pm. AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld confirmed the fixtures to the Mercury.

“North Melbourne and Hawthorn have forged homes away from home in Hobart and Launceston respectively, and we’re pleased to confirm their first games in Tasmania of the 2018 AFL Premiership Season,” Auld said.

“Hawthorn will host St Kilda in Round 6 and North Melbourne will host Carlton in Round 4,” Auld said.

“We would like to thank the Tasmanian Government for their ongoing support of AFL at all levels.”

North Melbourne has previously hosted a night game in Hobart – against Richmond in 2016 – but that was on a Friday night, while it will be the Hawks’ maiden Tasmanian night fixture for premiership points. The Blues will be lead by Tasmanian Brendon Bolton, who called Blundstone Arena home in 2008 as coach of Clarence.

North Melbourne will host two more games in Hobart and the Hawks three more in Launceston, with the fixture to be released tomorrow.

The Roos will also host their first pre-season game at Kingston’s Twin Ovals against Melbourne on February 24.