Hawthorn and North Melbourne could miss out on millions of dollars if they don’t play in Tasmania
There is still hope Hawthorn and North Melbourne will play in Tasmania this year. Both clubs risk a financial hit if those games aren’t staged unless the state government eases restrictions.
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Hawthorn and North Melbourne will push to play games in Tasmania in the back half of the season.
But Hawks president Jeff Kennett said the club was yet to hold talks with the Tasmanian Government about the financial ramifications if matches contracted for Launceston were lost.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein declared on Tuesday that neither the Kangaroos or the Hawks would be paid if games were not staged on the Apple Isle in 2020.
“We have not had any discussions with Peter Gutwein over this,” Kennett said.
“We deferred talks over the extension of our contract because of the coronavirus and will be doing it at the end of the year.
“We’ll just wait and see how the season unfolds. The league has only announced the first few games, they’ll be announcing more and we are still very hopeful of playing in Tasmania this season.”
An AFL spokesman said on Wednesday night: “The AFL and the two clubs are keen to play in Tasmania, however it will depend on the government regulations and protocols in place.
“At this point in time, the quarantine requirements make it difficult to facilitate, however that may change through the course of the season.
“We will continue to be agile and flexible in the release of the fixture as the season progresses.”
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The Apple Isle forks out a combined $8 million for the Melbourne clubs to play eight home-and-away games in the state each season — Hawthorn plays four in Launceston and the Kangaroos four in Hobart.
But that funding is at risk because of uncertainty surrounding the AFL fixture following the coronavirus crisis.
“Under the contracts, in both cases, a component of the funding that the government provides is reliant on games being played in the state,” Gutwein said on Tuesday.
The Premier has also doubled down on his statement that he has no interest in games being played in Tasmania without crowds.
Gutwein said AFL games being played in Tasmania this year would depend on “a number of matters”.
“The AFL has put out a four-week roster and they will review the situation once they start playing,” he said.
“They will look at what’s occurring around the country in terms of the travel restrictions. We will review our travel restrictions in early July.
“At this stage it’s too early to provide an unequivocal answer. As I have said, I personally have no interest in playing football in front of empty stadiums.
“The key aim, in terms of looking at the arrangements that we have with the Hawks and North Melbourne, is about generating economic activity that provides a benefit to the broader community.
“Without fans at the grounds, that doesn’t occur, so we will work through this sensibly and responsibly.”
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Hobart’s Blundstone Arena has already ruled out football this season because goalposts will not be installed at the ground.
North Melbourne would have to play at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium.
It is highly unlikely Hawthorn and the Kangaroos will play a combined eight games in Tasmania this year, but with the AFL still to release its fixture beyond Round 5, the door has been left ajar for some games in the state.