Premier slams door on AFL as borders to stay shut for all of August

Premier Peter Gutwein won’t be making any special exemptions to let AFL clubs into the state as border closure extended for all of August – and Jeff Kennett believes that may be it for Tasmanian AFL games in 2020.

• AFL fixture plans thrown into chaos with Tasmanian border to remain closed
• Hawthorn aiming to set up nest in Launceston for the rest of 2020 season

HAWKS president Jeff Kennett concedes the door is almost shut on Tasmania being an AFL lifeline this season after the announcement a second scheduled game for Tasmania has been canned.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has announced borders will remain shut to all states until at least August 31 – a move that could cost North Melbourne and Hawthorn millions of Tasmanian taxpayer dollars.

SHUT THE STRAIT: TASMANIA TO KEEP BORDERS CLOSED

It means North Melbourne’s clash with Brisbane set for Hobart on August 15 will have to be rescheduled interstate, and comes after the Roos first home game against Melbourne, originally set for this Sunday, had to be moved.

Premier Peter Gutwein kicking a football with Errol Stewart at UTAS Stadium in Launceston. AFL task force announcement. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Hawthorn also had high hopes of playing its home games in Launceston after completing its quarantine hub in Perth on August 16 as Tasmania had originally planned to reopen its borders with Western Australian, South Australia and the NT this Friday.

The Hawks and the Roos have a contract with the Tasmanian Government worth a combined $8 million a season for each club to play four home games in Launceston and Hobart respectively.

CALLS TO LET LOCALS OUT TO PLAY AND EASE RESTRICTIONS AT HOME

Kennett said he completely understood the Premier’s call and the decision would have no impact on the clubs relationship with the state.

“It almost closes the opportunity,” Kennett said of the changes of Tasmania hosting games.

“That’s a decision the Premier has made based on advice he has obviously received and while that is disappointing we won’t get down there, there is nothing we can do about it.

“It is what it is.

“He’s got to make decisions he sees appropriate for Tasmania and we understand that.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 11: Hawks President Jeff Kennett celebrates the win during the round 21 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Geelong Cats at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 11, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The clubs have received the sponsorship component of this deal, but won’t receive the more lucrative match payments without games being played.

But Kennett said it wasn’t about the money.

“It has got nothing to do with the bottom line,” he said.

“From the Premier’s point of view, it is about the health and safety of the Tasmanian community and from our point of view it is about playing games.

“Money has never been a consideration in this.”

Mr Gutwein did not rule out completely Tasmania hosting games, but the window is closing, particularly in Hobart where Blundstone Arena has to be reverted to a cricket ground by the end of next month – and there will be no special favours for AFL clubs.

“As I’ve always said, we won’t make any special deals in terms of exemptions for AFL,” Gutwein said.

“There will be no AFL played in Tasmania for the month of August.

“We will continue to review it on a week by week basis and depending on what we do past August 31 we’ll make decisions then.”

The AFL was contacted for comment.

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