State locks AFL back in

Hawks, Roos return for four games each

THE Hawks and Roos contracts became the centrepiece of a big game of chess between Tasmania and the AFL, but now the clubs will return next season after a new one-year deal was announced yesterday.

Hawthorn will play four roster games and a pre-season game in Launceston and North Melbourne will play four roster games in Hobart

The deals are believed to be worth about $8m combined.

THE Hawks and Kangaroos are locked into Tasmania for 2022 but the state remains open to other AFL clubs as it transitions into eventually having its own team, Premier Peter Gutwein said.

The deal announced on Thursday is a continuation of the existing contracts under which Hawthorn plays four roster games and a pre-season game in Launceston and North Melbourne plays four roster games in Hobart.

The deals are believed to be worth about $8m combined but Mr Gutwein said the economic return was valued at about $40m.

However, he warned the Hawks and Roos clubs don’t have a duopoly on the state.

“There is real interest from other clubs though in terms of Tasmania, but I would hope the arrangements we have in place with North Melbourne and Hawthorn post this one year deal would continue as a transitional deal until we are able to put our own team into the national league,” Mr Gutwein said.

Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett welcomed the deal after the Hawks and the Roos became pieces in a tense chess match between Mr Gutwen and AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan over a timeline for a decision on a Tasmanian team.

He said he hoped it would not be the last contract between the state and the Hawks.

“We have invested a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot

WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF EFFORT AND A LOT GOODWILL IN TASSIE FOR 20 YEARS.

HAWTHORN PRESIDENT, JEFF KENNETT

good will in Tassie for 20 years,” Mr Kennett said.

“I would like to think something will occur that will allow the deal to go on.

“We can only live year by year but I would imagine now the Premier has rolled this over for a year, it gives us, them and the AFL plenty of time to consider what happens beyond that.

“I don’t know what the AFL and the government’s agreement is going to be but they’ve had the Carter and the Taskforce report so there is a whole lot of paper work that has been done.

“What is now required is some decision making and I’m sure that will occur in the first half of next year one way or another.”

Due to Victoria’s Covid restrictions, Tasmania hosted 14 games this season, including two finals.

The Hawthorn-Essendon R14 clash sold the restricted capacity of 15,000 in less than three hours.

Mr Kennett said he would be pushing hard for better scheduling in the state for next year.

“I would certainly be hoping the AFL would give us the opportunity to play against some traditional Melbourne teams,” Mr Kennett said.

“The Essendon game was great proof of the value of that and I think the same should go to North Melbourne as well. But that is all up to the AFL.”

North Melbourne chief executive Ben Amarfio said he hoped Victorian members would be able to travel to Tasmania next season to see the Roos play in Hobart.

“We’re also really confident that our Melbourne-based fans will relish the opportunity to not just watch games at Marvel Stadium in 2022, but also be able to head down on Spirit of Tasmania and see our AFL team in action in Hobart,” Mr Amarfio said.