Hawthorn’s AFL pre-season clash with North Melbourne will now be played in Melbourne

Tasmania has lost all three AFL pre-season games ahead of the Hawthorn-North Melbourne match next week, which has been pushed back to the Roos’ home ground. Here’s why >>

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TASMANIA has been denied all AFL pre-season action after the AFL banned interstate travel due to COVID-19 precautions leading up to the season opener on March 18.

The backflip by the AFL means the Hawthorn-North Melbourne pre-season match scheduled for UTAS Stadium on March 6 has been scrapped as a Tasmanian event.

It will now be played in Melbourne at the Kangaroos’ home ground Arden St on the same day.

Tasmania initially had two AFL pre-season games: North Melbourne was to play Adelaide at North Hobart Oval on February 28 and Hawthorn last year’s minor premier Port Adelaide at UTAS Stadium on March 6.

When that changed in a previous COVID-19 fixture shuffle, the AFL paired Hawthorn and North Melbourne to meet in the all-fated pre-season derby in Launceston.

The North Melbourne Tasmania Kangaroos’ AFLW clash with Carlton is still on track to be played at UTAS on Saturday.

Shaun Higgins of the Kangaroos and Shaun Burgoyne of the Hawks compete for the ball during the Round 4 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the North Melbourne Kangaroos, Sunday, June 28, 2020. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour)

Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said the decision was out of the club’s control and caused “frustration and disappointment”.

“It has been almost 12 months since we have had the opportunity to play at UTAS Stadium and reconnect in-person with our Tasmanian members,” Reeves said.

“We are bitterly disappointed for our club, but most importantly for our 10,000 Tassie members and the local community that this will now not occur next week.

“Our Anzac Day match at UTAS was already earmarked as a highlight of our 2021 fixture, but now more than ever we are looking forward to this clash and ensuring it is a fitting celebration of our partnership and our long-awaited return to our home away from home.

“Both President Jeff Kennett and myself will travel to Tasmania over the coming week and our team on the ground will continue our important work within the community.”

AFL Executive General Manager of Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said the decision to revise the fixture was to minimise risk by avoiding travel for the men’s programs prior to the home-and-away season.

“The AAMI Community Series continues to play an important role for AFL clubs and supporters across the country and we thank everyone in the game for their understanding as we continue to work through the safest and most straightforward options for players, staff and supporters,” Auld said.

“The changes to the fixture are consistent with the league’s approach to best managing the risks around COVID-19 by minimising travel for teams where possible across both the men’s and women’s programs.

“As a result, we have had to make changes to some venues and we thank the people of Canberra, Fremantle and Launceston for their understanding – each of those areas plays an extremely important role in our game.

“We hope to be able to return to Fremantle in the near future and we look forward to Canberra and Tasmania hosting AFL games as part of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

“While we share the disappointment of these areas, we are also looking forward to supporters being able to safely attend AAMI Community Series matches, particularly in states where supporters have not been able to attend a men’s game in over a year.”