IN: Fremantle. Out: West Coast.
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That is the only change for Hawthorn’s Aurora Stadium home and away schedule for 2015 after the club released its Launceston engagements last night before the league’s official fixture unveiling tomorrow.
The Hawks will face the Western Bulldogs in round 3 on Sunday, April 19, Gold Coast in round 9 on Saturday, May 30, Fremantle in round 15 on Sunday, July 12, and Brisbane in round 22 on Saturday, August 29, at their second home.
It will be the third year in a row the Dogs and Lions have played at the ground, the fourth time the Dockers have played in Launceston since 2010 and the third time for the Suns since entering the competition in 2011.
Like last season, Hawthorn will use the opening match of the season to unfurl its premiership flag to the Launceston public.
The Hawks won the matches against the three teams returning this season by a combined 163 points, and none of that trio qualified for the finals.
However, the two Queensland-based teams, the Gary Ablett-led Gold Coast and a Brisbane side that has recruited talent such as Dayne Beams and Allen Christensen, are expected to go close to September, while the Western Bulldogs seem unlikely to improve enough to play finals.
Fremantle, despite its straight-sets finals exit this year, is still viewed as a genuine flag threat, making it the big fish of this quartet of opponents for the two-time reigning premiers.
It will be the first time the Dockers have played in Launceston since round 4, 2013, when they lost by 48 points on their way to a grand final meeting with the Hawks.
But they did defeat the Hawks in their last meeting last season, by 19 points in round 21 at Patersons Stadium.
Last night’s news came after the announcement that Collingwood will visit Aurora Stadium to kick off the NAB Challenge series on Thursday, February 26.
Hawthorn chief executive Stuart Fox yesterday said starting the year with a bang against the powerhouse Magpies and the even spread of matches was positive for the club and its Tasmanian supporter base.
‘‘Starting the football year in Tasmania against Collingwood is a huge highlight for our Tassie fans,’’ Fox said.
‘‘This will be a big match for Aurora Stadium and draw a large crowd as well as great interest for all Tasmanian football fans and interstate visitors.