What Cairns needs to do to secure the Hawthorn Hawks and bring AFL back to the region

Powerbrokers from one of Queensland’s most fruitful footy nurseries will launch a bold bid to become Hawthorn’s new second home from 2026 in a move that already has the support of the AFL’s CEO. Full details here.

Cairns Australian Rules powerbrokers will launch a bold bid to become Hawthorn’s new second home from 2026 in a move that already has the support of the AFL’s CEO.

The Victorian powerhouse AFL club currently takes four games per season to Launceston as part of a deal with Tasmania.

But with the contract expiring at the end of 2025 and the impending addition of Tasmania Devils to the league in 2028 it opens the door for a southern raid by AFL Cairns figures who believe the Hawks could be lured to the Tropical Far North.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon was in the Far North as part of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round last weekend and said Cairns is ideally positioned to secure a long-term partnership with an AFL club in the near future.

“The stadium (Cazalys) is fantastic and we have had games up here in the past,” he said.

“Moving into a new broadcast rights cycle there will be opportunities for us to have the men’s elite game play in different venues across the country.

“But those conversations need to be led by the clubs.

“It’s just a matter of having the conversations and if a club is interested in moving a game from their home, know what the vision is behind doing that.

“For me, it’s not just about the club coming up and playing a game. It’s about having really deep roots in the community.”

AFL Cairns General Manager Craig Lees has continued to do what he can to bring elite content to the region. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Hawks currently play six home games at the MCG, four at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium and one at Marvel.

Since 2011, Gold Coast, Richmond, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda have used Cazalys Stadium a home for a game a year.

The Suns played a game in Cairns from 2011 to 2018, while the Tigers played three games from 2011-2013, the Bulldogs 2014-2017 and St Kilda 2021-2022.

Cairns housed clubs during the covid riddled 2020, with Sydney, Melbourne, Fremantle, Western Bulldogs and Brisbane all playing games at Cazalys Stadium.

Richmond looked to grow the game to become a more national sport, taking three homes games over the three years to the Tropics.

The Tasmania Devils will enter the AFL in 2028, leaving a gap between when the Hawks-Tassie deal ends and when the 19th club enters the competition.

It is understood the Hawks would prefer to lock-in a ‘home’ game against the Devils in Tasmania’s north once the 19th team enters.

Courtney Jones of the Tigers with supporters after the round eight AFLW match between Hawthorn Hawks and Richmond Tigers at Cazaly's Stadium, on October 20, 2023, in Cairns, Australia. (Photo by Emily Barker/Getty Images)

Hawthorn played a game in Cairns in 2023 against Richmond in the first AFLW clash in Far North in what was a stepping stone for AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees to bring elite content back to the region.

The Hawks AFLW side are in discussions with the Queensland Government and AFL Cairns to return for an league fixture and pre-season camp in 2024.

If Cairns were successful in enticing the powerful Victorian club to the region, it would boost the economy of the region on the back of an influx of increased tourism.

But it will also expand the growth of AFL in regional Queensland and could be the tipping point that turns the once NRL state into AFL heartland.

Cairns will also have the three-time premiership AFLW side, Adelaide Crows arrive in the region for a four day training camp from Thursday June 6.

Originally published as What Cairns needs to do to secure the Hawthorn Hawks and bring AFL back to the region