TWINS REQUEST

AFL set to return to Kingston after prompt from the league

THE AFL is returning to Kingston’s Twin Ovals – at the AFL’s request.

Tasmania’s most southern TSL ground will see North Melbourne host the Sydney Swans on Monday, March 9, at 1.40pm of the March long weekend.

Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter has previously stated hosting elite sports at the Kingborough Sports Precinct, such as AFL games and Sheffield Shield matches, was no longer the council’s goal. But he welcomed the March match between the Roos and the Swans that could see North Melbourne’s favourite Tasmanian son Ben Brown and Sydney superstar Lance Franklin grace the Twin Ovals in each club’s final hit out before the 2020 AFL season.

“We are really happy to host the game,” Cr Winter said.

“It is a credit to our turf staff who continue to curate arguably the best playing surface in Australia. Council did not request the game, but the ground is available so obviously we will enthusiastically support the match and hope to see a big crowd get along.

“Council has endorsed a new strategic plan that makes it crystal clear that we are focused on the basics.

“The Kingborough Sports Precinct is about encouraging an active and healthy community. It is an important asset for preventive health, not intended to compete with Blundstone Arena to attract high level sport.” The Twin Ovals hosted its first pre-season AFL game in 2018 when the Roos took on Melbourne at the southern venue.

Morning torrential rain kept the crowd down to just 1957 for the venue’s first AFL fixture that day.

However, the venue has had new grandstands installed since then to improve spectator comfort. The March long weekend will kick off Tasmania’s AFL season, with the Friday (March 6) to see the state’s other cotenant, Hawthorn, host Melbourne under the University of Tasmania Stadium lights from 7.40pm.

The full AFL premiership roster will be released on Thursday.

The AFLW fixture will be released today and it is understood the North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos are keen to again host games at North Hobart Oval and UTas Stadium.

THE AFL Women’s collective bargaining agreement has been passed with an overwhelming majority of players in favour of the deal, paving the way for 2020 season plans to be cemented.

The offer was given the tick by 98 per cent of players in a competition-wide vote that closed on Sunday night with the pre-season to start on November 11 and the AFLW04 fixture to be announced today.

It marked a significant increase of support compared to the previous deal, which saw just 70 per cent of players when a vote was held earlier this month. Next season will see teams play eight rounds plus three weeks of finals, with the competition expanding to nine rounds with three weeks of finals in 2021 and 10 rounds with three weeks of finals in 2022.

Union chief executive Paul Marsh said the huge shift in the vote result was a direct result of tinkering the deal to meet player wishes and that he had been “pretty certain that there would be no issue” this time around.

But growing the competition further to ensure every team plays each other once remains a priority.

“There’s no doubt that the players have an ambition of growing the number of games, and every other aspect of the competition for that matter,” he said.