North Melbourne join Hawthorn in pushing for Tasmanian games regardless of crowd lockouts
North Melbourne — like Hawthorn — will push to honour its four-match contract in Tasmania, despite Premier Peter Gutwein saying he is in “no rush” to host games if fans can’t attend.
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TASMANIA would still garner benefit from hosting AFL matches this season, even if crowds are locked out of venues, North Melbourne chief Ben Amarfio says.
Amarfio has joined forces with Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett in declaring the Roos are determined to fulfil their four-match commitment to the state if and when the shortened season resumes.
Speaking on Melbourne radio on Thursday, Kennett slammed suggestions there will be no benefit to the state of clubs flying in and playing at UTAS Stadium or Blundstone Arena if crowds cannot attend.
It came after premier Peter Gutwein said he was in “no rush” to see AFL matches unfold in empty stadiums.
While Amarfio understands the position of the premier, he said sponsors would still obtain exposure due to the television broadcasts.
“I understand the Premier’s view, he’s trying to look after the health and economic interests of his state and that’s his job,” Amarfio told the Mercury.
“But we are absolutely, 100 per cent [committed to playing in Tasmania]. We had conversations with the AFL this week in relation to the fixture more broadly, and specifically in relation to our commitment to play our four contracted games down in Hobart this season.
“We made that very, very clear to the AFL that that is our preference and our desire is to adhere to our contract and to play those games down there.
“We followed that up formally in writing as well. That’s our very clear stance.
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“There is still a benefit because those matches are broadcast, obviously, and broadcast nationally and we have very strong visual presence in terms of signage at Blundstone Arena.
“It’s important that our supporters and sponsors, Spirit of Tasmania being chief among them, are afforded the exposure that is due to them.”
Amarfio said he has reached out to Gutwein, and remains in contact with Adam Sproule at Events Tasmania.
After hosting St Kilda in round one before the season was shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Roos only have seven or eight “home” games left in the shortened 2020 campaign, which has been cut back to 17 rounds.
However, Amarfio will lobby the AFL to have four of those in Tasmania.
The league is understood to be working on an initial block of fixtures once a restart date is locked in and announced.
“Of those seven or eight home matches that we have remaining in the 16-round season, our view regardless, is still that we want to meet our commitment and play out our four matches down in Tassie,” Amarfio said.
“The AFL will shortly, in the next couple of weeks … release the first phase, I guess, of the fixture.
“We are all eagerly awaiting that and I’m hopeful that we get at least one Tassie game in that first tranche.”
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