Does Tassie’s Friday night AFL slog prove the need for a roofed stadium?

It was a low-scoring slog, but the Hawks and Crows don’t believe Friday’s slippery scrap in Launceston should detract from prime time games in Tasmania. But was it the perfect advertisement for a roofed stadium?

Riley Thilthorpe of the Crows attempts to mark the ball against Hawthorn in Launceston on Friday night. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

It was a dour, low scoring grind, but Hawthorn and Adelaide’s coaches insist Friday night’s slog in Launceston shouldn’t detract from Tasmania’s hopes of more blockbuster prime-time games.

It was a contest which highlighted some pundits’ belief the AFL has scheduled some rare night games in Tasmania this year to highlight the need for a roof on the Macquarie Point stadium.

Hawthorn won 6.11 (47) to 5.14 (44) in dewy, cold and slippery conditions, their eighth straight victory at UTAS Stadium.

Over 15,000 fans, the biggest crowd in Launceston for six years, packed the stands for the top six battle.

Although Launceston’s first-ever Friday night game was far from a shootout, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell didn’t believe it should affect Tasmania’s hopes of hosting more big ticket night games.

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“It is what it is. They almost sold out the game and it was a close game. Even though it wasn’t high scoring, I don’t think many people turned the TV off,” Mitchell said.

“That was a game you want to watch all the way to the end. Will they show replays of it? maybe the last five minute they will, but realistically that’s for the AFL (to decide what time slots Tasmania gets).

“I’m rapt to be playing here on a Friday night, for Tassie to get that exposure is really important for the state, and important for us as a club to put on a pretty good show for the fans.

“The advantage we have here is significant and because we’ve been coming here for so long, there’ a feeling of being at home and community. There’s this homely feeling about the community we’re a part of.

“I know there’s a team coming but I hope Launceston in particular continues to call Hawthorn their home team.”

Crows coach Matthew Nicks said teams simply have to get used to playing in tough conditions through winter, regardless of where games are played.

Hawks fans cheer during Friday’s clash in Launceston. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

“Night games are often slippery, often dewy, that was times ten out there tonight,” Nicks said. “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.”

Asked if he had been keeping a close eye on the uncertainty surround the Tasmania Devils and the stadium, Mitchell’s response was firmly tongue in cheek.

“I’m always a little bit torn. Coming to Tassie for so long it’s a state that loves footy,” he said.

“There’s a part of me that’s like ‘I wish they’d just embrace us’ but I understand a lot of people want the team and the AFL want to push the team, and to be a truly national competition that’s the way we’re heading.

“But having said that, they’re not my friends, the Tassie Devils, they’re the enemy, and I just want everyone from here, on the record, to continue to go for Hawthorn please.”

Sam Berry of the Crows collides with Max Ramsden of the Hawks. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Newly inducted AFL Hall of Famer Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy a stadium is vital for the Devils to be attractive for big name recruits and spectators.

“You want to be driving to the ground thinking ‘how good is this going to be?’, regardless of what's happening from a weather point of view,” he said.

“That’s where we’re at, we’re not back in the 70s here. Once that stadium gets built and they have to drag a couple of recruits down there, you’re thinking Hawthorn has this joint in Dingley which is like the Taj Mahal, or you go down there and play in the elements.”