Tassie’s festival of footy

TASMANIA is set for a festival of football across the March long weekend next year.

The state will play host to three top-level games across four days via two AFL men’s pre-season games on either side of the AFLW returning to the spiritual home of Tasmanian football, North Hobart Oval.

The Mercury can reveal the state also will be in for a slice of AFL Anzac Day action, with Hawthorn to host one of the premiership favourites, West Coast, in Launceston on Saturday, April 25, starting at 1.10pm.

The North Melbourne-Tasmanian Kangaroos will play host to the AFLW reigning premier, the Adelaide Crows, at North Hobart on March 7, following the ground’s hugely successful debut in February where nearly 5000 fans turned up.

The Roos men’s team will also be in action on the holiday Monday, taking on Sydney at Kingston’s Twin Ovals, while the festival will kick off in Launceston on Friday night (March 6) under the University of Tasmania Stadium lights where Hawthorn hosts Melbourne in a men’s pre-season fixture.

AFL Tasmania female talent manager Leigh Elder said it would be a great weekend for the code in the state.

He also dismissed suggestions having the AFLW game flanked by the men’s games would deny the women’s game clear air.

“There is never too much football, especially this time of the year when we are a little bit starved,” Elder said.

“It is a long weekend. Let’s enjoy the opportunity that we’ve got. I think it is absolutely fantastic.

“The AFLW is a free event. It is a fantastic opportunity for Hobartians to come and really enjoy it that weekend.

“It was a magnificent success last year when we played Carlton and got a win, and it would be nice to beat the Crows.

“It is a great celebration and a great way to start the footy season.”

The AFLW game will also be a chance to showcase the $1.2 million redevelopment of North Hobart Oval that will see new coaches and media boxes, kiosk, cool room, bar service area and wet area in operation for the first time.

North Hobart Football Club president Craig Martin said he was delighted with the fixture announcement, especially with the Kangaroos now boasting nine Tasmanians on their playing list.

“I think it is fantastic we’ve got all these matches over the four days,” Martin said.

The full men’s AFL fixture will be released on Thursday.