Snow falls during Canberra clash between GWS and Hawthorn

GWS and Hawthorn have become the first AFL teams to play an official match during a snowfall as freezing temperatures in Canberra brought down a white frost.

Michael Randall

less than 2 min read

August 9, 2019 - 11:16PM

The meteorologists predicted it and the freezing weather in Canberra delivered late in the first quarter, GWS and Hawthorn becoming the first AFL clubs to play a game in the snow.

You’re keen wearing shorts in those conditions, Clarko. Picture: Twitter/@HawthornFC

As temperatures dropped to a freezing 2.5C — and felt like -7.5C — the first signs of snow coming when the crowd erupted with about seven minutes to go in the first term.

Then huge sheets of white snow began streaming from the sky across Manuka Oval.

The locals came prepared, many sporting ski masks, goggles and thick snow jackets.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW: “It’s looking like a hot shower, new socks and a fresh jumper at half-time.”

The blizzard didn’t bother Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who wore shorts in the freezing conditions and was seen with a huge grin on his face as he addressed his troops at quarter-time, with snow tumbling down on the brown and gold huddle.

Clarkson dubbed the match “the Snow Bowl”.

“I’m not sure it’s happened in AFL footy before,” Clarkson said on Seven after the match.

GWS star Heath Shaw told Seven at half-time the crowd going wild when the snow began to fall was an interesting spectacle and said his hands were “numb”.

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Hawks players were handed cups of hot tea and the Giants had heaters on the bench, electric throw blankets and hand warmers to try to keep the players warm.

There were even fans who appeared to be dipping their hands into buckets of hot water — doing anything and everything they could to keep warm in the snow.

The last time it snowed in Canberra — over 19 years ago — NRL clubs Canberra Raiders and West Tigers fought out a classic battle 24-22 battle on an almost white field.