ROOS TASSIE FOOTY CAMP
PLANS FOR STATE TO JOIN AFL REBOOT
FRIDAY’S border announcement is the only impediment to Hobart hosting up to four AFL games in the next two months.
The Mercury understands the AFL, the Tasmanian government and Cricket Tasmania have reached an agreement that will see North Melbourne play four games at Blundstone Arena — should state health authorities give the OK to open the borders.
Premier Peter Gutwein said no deal had been signed, but hosting games would be beneficial to Tasmania even without the tourism flow-ons and limited crowd sizes.
“The economic benefit will largely be felt at a local level in terms of modest crowd sizes but importantly part of the arrangements would be the teams would be based here,” Mr Gutwein said.
FRIDAY’S border announcement is the only impediment to Hobart hosting up to four AFL games in the next two months.
The Mercury understands the AFL, the Tasmanian government and Cricket Tasmania have reached an agreement that will see North Melbourne play possibly its full allotment of four games at Blundstone Arena — should state health authorities give the OK to reopen the borders.
Premier Peter Gutwein said no deal had been signed yet, but hosting games would be beneficial to Tasmania even without the tourism flow-ons and limited crowd sizes
“The economic benefit will largely be felt at a local level in terms of modest crowd sizes but importantly part of the arrangements would be the teams would be based here,” Mr Gutwein said.
“They would be paying for their hotels and their food and other services they would require.
“There would be an economic impact that would be valuable for the state.
“But again, until we make a decision on our borders, until we are sure it is safe to allow people from other jurisdictions into the state without having to go through quarantine, we won’t be playing AFL here.”
He said if the borders were not opened, players would not
receive an exemption to enter the state to play AFL games.
Cricket Tasmania has allocated early August to mid-September to host the AFL games that will possibly see the Roos play four matches across a three-week block before the venue is returned to cricket operations.
North Melbourne will most likely stay in Hobart, with its opponents to fly in and fly out.
Tasmania’s borders will remain closed to at least July 31, but an announcement would be made by the government on Friday.
Tasmania pays a combined $8m to Hawthorn and North Melbourne for four Hawks home games in Launceston and four Roos home games in Hobart.
Mr Gutwein indicated both clubs would receive their full payment should they fulfil their end of the deal, even if interstate tourists are unable to attend matches in Tasmania.
“Certainly part of the discussions I’ve had if North Melbourne were able to be based here we get the benefits of three or four weeks of having a significant cohort staying in the state spending (money) and there would be an economic benefit as a result of that,” he said.
“In terms of the contract,
I’m not a lawyer.
“What we would do is ensure that we met our contractual obligations under the contract with those clubs as I’m certain those clubs would do likewise with ourselves.”
Blundstone Arena can host up to 25 per cent crowd capacity (about 3000-4000 fans), but it is understood the government is exploring possibilities of lifting this to 50 per cent should health authorities give the all clear.
North Melbourne is scheduled to play Carlton at the Gabba this Saturday, the last round that has been announced, and is yet to play Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Fremantle. Brisbane, Gold Coast, Collingwood, Geelong and Melbourne.
If the Magpies come to Hobart, it will be the first time Collingwood has played for premiership points in Tasmania. Hawthorn, which has a contract to play four games in Launceston, is also keen to host its matches in Tasmania.
THEY WOULD BE PAYING FOR THEIR HOTELS AND THEIR FOOD AND OTHER SERVICES THEY WOULD REQUIRE ... THERE WOULD BE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WOULD BE VALUABLE FOR THE STATE PREMIER PETER GUTWEIN