AFL fixture plans thrown into chaos with Tasmanian border to remain closed
The AFL fixture is in disarray after the Tasmanian Premier refused to reopen the state’s borders – forcing the cancellation of North Melbourne’s first Hobart game and an urgent schedule shake-up.
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Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has slammed the state’s borders shut on the AFL, saying the league is “the least of my considerations”.
The Tasmanian Government’s borders to Queensland, NSW, Victoria and the ACT will remain closed and will not open in time for Hobart’s first scheduled AFL game of the season, the August 9 clash between the North Melbourne and Melbourne – both of which are based in Queensland.
Instead, Tasmania will form a travel bubble with fellow COVID-safe areas Western Australia, South Australia and the NT.
Mr Gutwein was unapologetic in forcing the AFL to reschedule the match just three days after the league announced the next phase of the fixture with two Roos home games in Hobart.
“Unfortunately for North Melbourne and Melbourne supporters they won’t be playing here on August 9,” Mr Gutwein said.
“At the end of the day, and I've made this point ad nauseam in regards to the AFL, we will not do anything we believe will put the health of Tasmanians at risk and so to be frank, in terms of the AFL that is the least of my considerations.”
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The Roos are scheduled to play Brisbane the following week at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena (August 15), but that is also now in doubt and would depend on where those teams were based.
“I would hope AFL would be played here later in the year,” Mr Gutwein said.
“But that will largely be dependent on the circumstances of the states where the teams are based at the moment and whether or not we have travel arrangements available.”
An AFL spokesman said the league appreciated the Premier’s continued support to host matches in the state this season.
“All through this season we have been led by Government advice and protocols and will continue to be flexible and agile as we find a solution,” the spokesman said.
“We will now work through options for relocating the North Melbourne vs Melbourne match scheduled for Round 11 advise in due course.”
North Melbourne and Hawthorn both have contracts to play four home games each in Hobart and Launceston respectively, worth a combined $8 million to the clubs.
But this financial lifeline might be in doubt for the clubs following the border decision.
Asked about what payment the state would be making to the clubs, Mr Gutwein said: “Our contract relies along a certain number of games being played in Tasmanian locations.”
North Melbourne chief executive Ben Amarfio said the club would work with the AFL to have affected games rescheduled back to Queensland.
“We will obviously endeavour to secure replacement games in Hobart when the borders re-open to Queensland,” Amarfio said.
“The AFL has said all along that we must remain flexible and agile as the environment is ever-changing. We will make the necessary changes and our team will adapt accordingly.”
Blundstone Arena’s operators, Cricket Tasmania, backed the Government's stance but still hoped to host AFL games later this year.
“We have always had complete trust in the Government to act on public health advice, and while this delay is far from ideal for the AFL it is clearly in the best interests of Tasmanians,” CT’s government relations and communications manager Tim Lovibond said.
“We look forward to North Melbourne playing here at Blundstone when border restrictions allow for it.”
Originally published as AFL fixture plans thrown into chaos with Tasmanian border to remain closed