Roos and Hawks have opposition in chase for Tasmanian taxpayers’ cash

Hawthorn and North Melbourne’s grip on games in Tasmania — and the cash that comes with them — could be in jeopardy from rival clubs, says Premier Peter Gutwein.

• Expansion or relocation? Everything on the table in review
• An answer in the debate for a Tasmanian AFL team could be nigh

IT is not only the Roos and the Hawks looking to sell games to Tasmania.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has revealed he has had approaches from rival clubs should deals with Hawthorn and North Melbourne to play games in Launceston and Hobart not be renewed after this season.

The current deals for eight games a year are worth a combined $8 million a year, but both are on hold while the state awaits the outcome of Colin Carter’s review of Tasmania’s AFL business case for entry into the league.

Mr Gutwein would not name the clubs, but in February St Kilda expressed an interest in again playing home games in Tasmania “should an appropriate opportunity present itself”.

Hawthorn has played “home” games in Tasmania over two decades. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Mr Gutwein said the current deals were preferable but not the only options.

“Others have reached out, I won’t name them, but there is obviously great interest,” Mr Gutwein said.

“The arrangements we have in place with Hawthorn and North Melbourne are good for the state in terms of our economy and tourism but they are also good for the clubs as well.

“But I would hope … that the arrangements, especially with Hawthorn over two decades, they have been good corporate citizens.

“They understand our aspirations for our own team and we’ve assisted them to reach their aspirations.

“I would hope as we move forward that we could work together and as we exit this arrangement over time we would do so with dignity and with a demonstration of the goodwill that exists on both sides as we move towards achieving our own aspirations.”

Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Chris Kidd

He said he had reached out to Mr Carter, the former Geelong and AFL commissioner conducting the review on the league’s behalf, and invited him to Tasmania to discuss the state’s entry before the review’s completion next month.

“We’ve got a very good story to tell,” he said.

“It is going to be important we talk to him not only about the great facilities we already have and the opportunity for AFL football to be played here but it is important he gets a good understanding of where the state stands in terms of some of the fantastic assets that we’ve got like Mona, some of the great restaurants, some of ... the magnificent liveability of Tasmania.

“I think it is important that he has a good understanding of what it would mean for the players and those that would support a team were it to be based here.”

North Melbourne hosted Melbourne at Blundstone Arena in their round seven AFL match last weekend. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Where were all the footy fans on Sunday?

IT was a record low crowd for Blundstone Arena, but the AFL has defended Sunday’s tiny turnout due to the uncertainty over the match leading into the game.

Just 6009 turned up to watch unbeaten Melbourne defeat winless North Melbourne on a perfect Autumn Day – more than 1000 less than the previous lowest mark (7194 who saw the Roos take on the Giants in 2018).

Bayley Fritsch of the Demons celebrates a goal during the round seven AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Melbourne Demons at Blundstone Arena on May 02, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

However, given the COVID outbreak in Perth the previous week when the Roos were taking on Fremantle, the game wasn’t given the official go ahead of tickets put on sale until last Wednesday.

The Roos poor start to the season also would have a had an impact on neutral supporters deciding whether to go to the game or not.

But this figure could be huge compared to attendances for North’s matches against the expansion teams — the Suns and Giants — in Hobart later this year as neither team has a traditional supporter base in the state or a large, travelling fan base at home.

An AFL spokesman said the figure of 6009 was the second largest at the venue since the pandemic hit, only beaten by a crowd of 6082 for a BBL match in January.

“Considering the match actually wasn’t confirmed by the Tasmanian Government as going ahead until Wednesday afternoon, and tickets then going on-sale, the crowd number is actually really strong,” the spokesman said.

Fans watch on during the 2021 AFL Round 07 match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Melbourne Demons at Blundstone Arena on May 02, 2021 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

He said the same fixture in 2019 — Hobart’s last AFL game before Sunday — only attracted 8202 fans.

“Are we concerned? No,” he said.

“The Tasmanian footy community continues to support the game on all levels, from local leagues and competitions, through to our AFL and AFLW matches in Hobart and Launceston.

“We look forward to the next match in Tasmania in Round 9 as Hawthorn host North Melbourne at UTAS Stadium in the traditional Saturday afternoon slot.”

Follow @Stubboir