Sirengate, major milestones and Covid finals: Launceston’s biggest AFL moments

Launceston is set to host one of its biggest AFL clash in years when unbeaten flag fancies Hawthorn and the Giants lock horns under lights this Saturday. We take a look at the biggest AFL moments in the city.

Fremantle’s Heath Black holds back coach Chris Connolly from an angry Lenny Hayes on the ground after ‘Sirengate’ against St Kilda in Launceston in 2006.

The Giants may not have a rabid Tasmanian fan base, but is their blockbuster clash with Hawthorn at Launceston this Saturday the biggest AFL match the city has witnessed for years?

Given the Hawks had been rebuilding for a few years before emerging as the league’s darlings late last year, a significant case could be built.

It sets the scene for an enthralling contest in a rare night game in north Tasmania.

We take a look at some of the more significant AFL moments where Launceston has taken centre stage.

Round five, 2006: Fremantle 14.10 (94) def St Kilda 13.15 (93) - Crowd: 15282

Without doubt the most controversial game ever played in Tasmania, the match dubbed ‘Sirengate’ will forever live on in infamy.

With the Dockers leading by a point, a faulty sound system meant the final siren wasn’t heard by the umpires.

Ten extra seconds were playing, where Saint Steven Baker booted a behind to level scores.

In ensuing days the AFL overturned the draw and awarded Fremantle the victory, just the second time an AFL/VFL result has been overturned on protest.

St Kilda’s Fraser Gehrig fights with Fremantle’s David Mundy during their clash at Launceston in 2006. Picture: a/ct /Football/AFL

Pre-season, 2023: Collingwood 15.16 (106) def Hawthorn 14.16 (100) - Crowd: 6848

Sure, it was just a practice game, but the fact Melbourne’s big clubs rarely cross the ditch made this a significant event.

The big downside was the AFL’s mystifying decision to schedule the clash for 5.10pm on a Thursday, meaning less than 7000 fans were able to make the trek to Launceston for the big clash.

It was the first time the Magpies had played in Tasmania since 2015, also a pre season clash against the Hawks which attracted a monster 15,500 fans.

Tom Mitchell of the Magpies is tackled by Jai Newcombe of the Hawks during the AFL practice match in 2023. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Round 22, 2023: Hawthorn 9.13 (67) def Western Bulldogs 9.10 (64) - Crowd: 12480

The Hawks gave fans a glimpse of what they could look forward to by backing up their strong win over eventual premiers Collingwood the previous week by upsetting the Dogs.

It effectively proved a gut punch to the Dogs’ finals hopes, who went on to lose at home to struggling West Coast the following week to topple out of September contention.

Round 13, 2024: Hawthorn 12.13 (85) def GWS 12.7 (79) - Crowd: 11568

If Saturday’s game is as compelling as this contest was, we’re in for a pearler.

This was one of the matches which kickstarted Hawthorn’s incredible run to a finals berth after they lost their first five games.

It was their sixth win in eight matches and put them outside the top eight by a win.

The two sides drew at Launceston in 2017 and history looked set to repeat. But Luke Breust kicked the winning goal in the dying seconds after Giants star Tom Green was penalised for hitting Hawks captain James Sicily late after he kicked the ball inside 50.

Jesse Hogan of the Giants handballs during the round 13 AFL match between Hawthorn Hawks and GWS GIANTS at University of Tasmania Stadium, on June 08, 2024, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Round 16, 2017: Hawthorn 14.13 (97) drew with GWS 15.7 (97) - Crowd: 12156

Incredibly, this was the Giants’ second draw in a row after also sharing the points with Geelong the previous week.

Jonathon Patten booted five goals, but it wasn’t enough to topple the top four bound Giants who kicked five majors to three in the last term to grab two premiership points.

It looked like the Hawks may have stolen it late with a rushed behind, but the siren went before the score was registered.

“I think the siren went just before we were able to knock the ball through,” former Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson said afterwards.

“Because I didn’t hear the siren, I thought we’d won it.

“(It’s) the old Maxwell Smart, isn’t it? Missed it by that much.”

Round 10, 2012: Hawthorn 27.12 (174) def North Melbourne 9.5 (59) - Crowd: 16143

“Thirteen.... THIRTEEN!”

It’s perhaps the most iconic piece of commentary of Anthony Hudson’s calling career after former Hawks legend Lance Franklin booted 13 goals in a thrashing of the Roos.

‘Buddy’ had never kicked double digit goals in his career before but was simply unstoppable in one of the landmark days of his stellar career.

Lance Franklin of Hawthorn celebrates kicking his 13th goal against North Melbourne in 2012. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Round 14, 2021: Essendon 13.8 (86) def Hawthorn 10.13 (73) - Crowd: 14834

Like the Collingwood pre-season game, a historic event given it’s the first and only time the Bombers have played in Launceston.

Essendon led at every change with Jake Stringer booting four goals and racking up 29 touches, while Tom Mitchell starred for the Hawks with 36 disposals.

Essendon went on to finish eighth that season, while Hawthorn (14th) missed finals.

Shane Crawford runs through the banner with son Charlie in his 300th game with the Hawks.

Round nine, 2008: Hawthorn 16.14 (110) def Brisbane 5.11 (41) - Crowd: 19929

The match was former Hawks skipper Shane Crawford’s 300th game, and Hawthorn went on to claim the first of three straight flags to send their leader out in style in his last season.

Crawford celebrated the milestone with an influential 28 touch, one goal day.

Round five, 2012: Sydney 16.10 (106) def Hawthorn 10.9 (69) - Crowd: 19217

Sydney Swans champion Adam Goodes broke the club’s games record with his 304th appearance, and did it in style with 21 touches and three goals.

The Swans kicked 11 goals to two in the second half to overturn a 20 point half time deficit and give Goodes the result he deserved.

Adam Goodes is chaired off after breaking the Swans’ games record.

Finals series, 2021

Elimination finals: GWS 11.8 (74) def Sydney 10.13 (73) - Crowd: 8635 (restricted capacity); Western Bulldogs 13.7 (85) def Essendon 4.12 (36) - Crowd: 9760 (restricted capacity)

The Covid outbreak forced the elimination finals to be moved to Launceston, and the all-NSW clash in particular proved a treat for fans.

The Giants only won one quarter and could manage just one behind in the fourth quarter, but it proved enough to keep their season alive.

GWS kicked six goals to two in the second term to build a 23-point halftime lead, and that was enough to hold on despite the Swans booting the only three goals of the last term.

Isaac Heeney kicked four goals and Lance Franklin three, but Toby Greene’s three majors helped drag the Giants over the line.