Kangas to kick-off at North Hobart Oval

THE state’s spiritual home of AFL will return to the national stage next year when the Tasmanian Kangaroos play their first AFLW match at North Hobart Oval.

Roos assistant coach Trent Bartlett and high-performance co-ordinator Jacqueline Liffiton are getting ready for North Melbourne’s historic first AFLW match next season, which will be played at North Hobart Oval. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE state’s spiritual home of AFL will return to the national stage next year when the Tasmanian Kangaroos play their first AFLW match at North Hobart Oval.

The Mercury can reveal the Roos, who will join the expanded competition in 2019, will run on to the field for the first time on Sunday, February 3. Their opponent will be revealed when the full fixture is released this morning.

It will be one of two matches the club — a joint partnership between North Melbourne and Tasmania — will play at the venue as part of the seven-match, nine-week roster.

The North Hobart debut follows calls by the Mercury for the side’s first game to be held at the ground.

North Melbourne’s head of football operations Laura Kane said the Roos lobbied the AFL hard to host its first contest at North Hobart, well aware of the historic significance the ground holds.

Despite all AFL content now played at Blundstone Arena and UTAS Stadium, North Hobart is widely considered Tasmania’s home of football.

“We went quite hard to get our first ever game at North Hobart Oval, we visited the venue and had the AFL down there just recently and worked through with council and AFL Tasmania to make sure we were able to get it all ticked off,” Kane said.

North Melbourne’s head of football operations Laura Kane at North Hobart Oval. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“There wasn’t much in the way, it was just bringing together all the different stakeholders for the games to be broadcast, ensure it’s a good venue for spectators to watch football and all the facilities are sufficient for the elite level of AFL.

“The broader picture for us is we knew it is a really important football venue for Tasmanians.

“We understand the history and how important it is as a venue and there is a really good sentiment there.

“Tasmanians love it by all reports, so it’s something we really wanted to celebrate and make sure we could bring our AFLW team in early days down as opposed to later in the season.”

Premier Will Hodgman welcomed the AFL’s decision.

“The Tasmanian Government is delighted at the news,’’ Mr Hodgman said.

“This is the spiritual home of football in southern Tasmania and we are right behind plans to make this venue more female friendly in terms of facilities and change rooms.

“AFLW is one of the fastest-growing sporting codes in the country and for our young Tasmanian women to see top flight games at such an iconic venue will only help grow the game in this state.”

Nicole Bresnehan can’t wait to hit the track with the Tassie Kangaroos. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Tuesday’s draft, in which Burnie twins Chloe and Libby Haines and Clarence star Nicole Bresnehan were picked up by the Roos, brought the number of Tasmanians on the Roos list to eight.

WELL WORTH THE WAIT FOR NORTH’S NEWEST RECRUIT

ROOS POUNCE ON TASSIE TRIO

North has also confirmed Windsor Park, home of TSL side Launceston, as the club’s northern training base for the local players.

“That is the most central location based on where all the players live and work but also a really good facility, and it helps us have a presence all over the state for the players who don’t live in one place,” Kane said.