Analysis: The pros and cons in Tassie’s AFL draw
Hobart footy fans are going to need to hit the road if they want to see some of the AFL’s best teams in 2026 and it could be a major win for the northern half of the state. Here’s why.
Launceston will be Tasmania’s epicentre of AFL more than ever next season, with four of the five matches to be held in the state’s north.
And while there’s been some upsides in the schedule allocated, it also highlights the Devils can’t arrive in town soon enough.
It will be intriguing to see if the Anzac Day clash between Hawthorn and Gold Coast at UTAS Stadium will be a hot ticket item or not.
Tasmania has hosted a handful of games on the public holiday before, which falls on a Saturday this year, but it remains to be seen whether the Suns, albeit now a competition force, can get the turnstiles clicking over.
The 12.15pm fixture will roll into the traditional Collingwood-Essendon clash. Another aspect which remains to be seen is whether fans will front for the game before spilling into the pubs to watch the MCG blockbuster, or watch it from the couch after an early rise for Anzac Day ceremonies.
Personally a clash against a smaller Victorian rival or a strong but well supported interstate opponent - a Western Bulldogs or Sydney, for example - would be more appealing for Tasmanians.
Only one game in Hobart is also sub optimal.
There were four fixtures at Bellerive in 2024 which was slashed to two last season. Now North Melbourne has exited the building in favour of a new second home in WA, Richmond will bring a home game to Hobart for the next two years, starting with Brisbane Lions on June 14.
There were hopes a second team would emulate Richmond’s Hobart deal for the next two years - ensuring two games per year in the capital before the Devils arrive in 2028 - but that hasn’t eventuated.
That could be a positive for Launceston, with southern-based footy fans now more likely to make the trek up north for games, a boost for the region’s economy and hospitality industry.
The Hawks host North Melbourne in round 21. With all due respect, Launceston has hosted the Roos in four of the past five seasons. That’s fine when they were a Tasmania tenant, but now those goalposts have changed Tassie shouldn’t be the dumping ground every year for the fixture against the struggling club.
Melbourne, the only team outside the Magpies to never play an AFL game in the state, are booked in for round 17 in Launceston.
The Thursday night clash against Adelaide in round 11 might attract the most interest, given it is being played under lights.
Launceston hosted two nights games last year, with the corresponding clash against the Crows attracting criticism from some quarters for its 7.30pm timeslot, with the match played in dewy and wet conditions.
It resulted in a low-scoring scrap featuring 11 goals. Some conspiracy theorists suggested the AFL deliberately scheduled night games in Tasmania hoping that would be the case, to reinforce their insistence a roof be built on the controversial Macquarie Point stadium.
Naturally the Devils will have to host night games when they enter the league, but surely we can wait until they take place in an enclosed and comfortable environment, not only for players but for fans.
Asked whether Tassie should host night games after last year’s game, Crows coach Matthew Nicks replied: “Night games are often slippery, often dewy, that was times ten out there tonight.
“I think it will often be a wet game, but we play a lot of wet games and you have to get used to that through the June-July period.”
TASSIE AFL GAMES
Round 7 – Saturday, April 25, 12.15pm: Hawthorn v Gold Coast Suns (UTAS Stadium)
Round 11 – Thursday, May 21, 7.30pm: Hawthorn v Adelaide Crows (UTAS)
Round 14 – Sunday, June 14, 1.10pm: Richmond v Brisbane Lions (Ninja Stadium)
Round 17 – Sunday, July 5, time TBC: Hawthorn v Melbourne (UTAS)
Round 21 – Saturday, August 1, time TBC: Hawthorn v North Melbourne (UTAS)
