Home of footy ready for AFLW

TASMANIA’S first AFLW game was a stunning success, but yet North Hobart remains in the dark whether it will host another game this summer.

The North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos’ debut was a win over Carlton in front of about 5000 fans at the spiritual home of Tasmanian football, North Hobart Oval.

Now the ground is undertaking a Federal and State Government $1.26 million upgrade that will vastly improve player, coach, media and fans’ experiences.

North Hobart Football Club president Craig Martin said he was hopeful the ground would be showcased again when the AFLW fixture and structure was finally released.

“No, we haven’t had any formal indication yet but just going on the feedback we received on staging the event here last time,” Martin said.

“I’d be very, very hopeful that we’d stage it again here around about February 2020.

“It was a big success and it is no secret Gill McLachlan and the other AFL executives were very happy with the show that was put on here. The venue now, once these upgrades are done, will be a hell of a lot more amenable to patrons and will be an even better place to watch and enjoy footy.”

The upgrades include AFLstandard coaches’ and media boxes, kiosk, cool room, roofed bar area on the Rydges Hotel wing and a lift in the Plaister Stand, with most finished by the end of next month.

“We think these are going to be game changers not only for the North Hobart Football Club but also for the patrons who come to the famous venue as well,” he said.

The club has long-term aspirations for new social and function rooms, which would allow the current Horrie Gorringe Stand social rooms to be turned into a club museum.

“The memorabilia you see in the room there at the moment is pretty much the tip of the iceberg,” Martin said.