Unavailability of Blundstone Arena could force North Melbourne and Hawthorn to share Launceston
AFL matches in Tasmania this season remain in doubt due to the state’s border restrictions, but should games take place it is increasingly likely the Roos will join Hawthorn up north.
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NORTH Melbourne and Hawthorn appear certain to be UTAS Stadium co-tenants should AFL matches be staged in Tasmania in 2020.
Cricket Tasmania’s decision to shut football out of Blundstone Arena this year due to “infrastructure complications” has left the Roos without their Hobart home base.
While it remains unlikely the state will host any games due to strict border restrictions, both North Melbourne and Hawthorn are striving to fulfil their commitments of each playing four matches in the shortened COVID-19 season.
With Blundstone out of the picture, only UTAS or Kingborough’s Twin Ovals are of AFL standard, but a lack of infrastructure at the Twin Ovals makes Launceston the logical choice to showcase up to eight matches if border restrictions are eased.
North Melbourne declined to comment on Cricket Tasmania’s lockdown of Blundstone, but club chief Ben Amarfio told the Mercury two weeks ago his club was willing to play anywhere in Tasmania if it allowed it to honour its contract.
With contests to unfold in empty stadiums for the foreseeable future, questions were asked of the value of AFL clubs flying into the state due to little tourism impact — drawing heavy criticism from Hawks president Jeff Kennett.
In a statement, CT said it had no alternative but to make Blundstone Arena off limits after the company that dismantles the sightscreens at the ground was unable to enter the state, while it is also unable to install goalposts for football.
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With travel restrictions across the country still in place, the organisation has also decided to use the venue for the Tigers’ pre-season instead of the squad flying to Queensland.
TSL club Clarence has been the hardest hit by the news, with the Roos now scrambling to find an alternate venue for matches should the State League season begin in the coming months.
“There are currently infrastructure complications at Blundstone Arena that are a direct result of COVID-19, with one unfortunate impact being the inability to install Australian Rules Football goalposts for this season,” CT’s statement said.
“Clarence District Football Club has access to the ground for training in the context of these impacts. Assurance has been provided by AFL Tasmania that, if they are able to fixture a 2020 season in the current climate, they are able to allocate Clarence District Football Club an alternate venue to host matches.
“Cricket Tasmania has a long relationship with the Clarence District Football Club, and at their request has already waived all rent for their clubrooms, change rooms and ground access at Blundstone Arena dating back to March.
“Cricket Tasmania has offered and remains keen to work with the Clarence District Football Club, AFL Tasmania and the Clarence City Council to find an alternate training venue for the club for this season.”
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