Premier Peter Gutwein to speak with AFL next week about games in Tasmania

Premier Peter Gutwein has a date with the AFL to discuss Hawthorn and North Melbourne playing in Tasmania later in the season.

North Melbourne’s Curtis Taylor is tackled during the 2020 Marsh Community Series AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Sydney Swans at Kingston. Picture: STEVE BELL/GETTY IMAGES

HAWTHORN and North Melbourne are on the brink of million-dollar windfalls, with Premier Peter Gutwein preparing to speak to AFL CEO Gill McLaughlin next week about playing games in Launceston and Hobart later in the season.

The coronavirus shutdown looked likely to cost Hawthorn and North Melbourne their annual incomes from a combined eight games in Tasmania — the Hawks earning about $950,000 per game at UTas Stadium and the cut-price Kangas about $550,000 per game at Blundstone Arena.

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Jy Simpkin of the Kangaroos kicks the ball during the 2020 Marsh Community Series AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Sydney Swans at Kingston. Picture: STEVE BELL/GETTY IMAGES

Tasmania will ease border restrictions next month, paving the way for the Hawks and Kangaroos to play at least one or two games each in the state.

With cash-strapped clubs fighting for every dollar they can find, the AFL is unlikely to stand in the way of Hawthorn and North Melbourne games in Tasmania.

The only thing that could cost the two clubs their millions is AFL rival Essendon.

“The Victorian situation, and I note they are working through that matter with the Essendon Football Club and the false positives that they’ve had, we will continue to talk with the AFL,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I’ve got a time set for a discussions with Gill McLaughlin this coming week, and I spoke with him in the past couple of days to set that up.

“One would hope that we would be in the position where, later in the year with our border restrictions removed, we would have confidence that we could play here in Tasmania.

“But we will take these things on a week by week basis.”