Wilson has accused  and Hawks president Jeff Kennett for not investing in Tasmania. She argued the Hawks could leave and Tasmania would not be in better shape than it was 10 years ago before the club arrived.

The problem with this argument is the focus being on AFL in Tasmania.

The sport is currently struggling at a local level. That cannot be denied with the North-West Coast not even having a team in the state league for 2018.

But is it Hawthorn’s sole responsibility for the growth and development of the sport in our state?

The Hawks play a role in the development of future players. 

This is a fair expectation given the dollars given to the club to play four games of football in Launceston every year. 

But the funds are not just given to help find the next four to five players to be drafted.

Professional sport promotes community engagement and sport participation.

We want families to be active – for children to put down the devices and get outside.

Having access to their idols either through the Hawks community camps, Auskick or watching the games encourages this behaviour.

Despite popular belief, there is more to life than football.

Launceston and Tasmania benefits economically from having this partnership with Hawthorn.

In 2015 a deal was struck for the state government to give $19 million to the Hawks to play four games a year until 2021.

The Launceston Chamber of Commerce estimates that partnership brings about $18 million a year into the local economy.

Hawthorn players also wear tops that have “Tasmania” branded above their heart throughout the season.

On March 10 we will host our first match for 2018 at University of Tasmania stadium.

Let’s prove the naysayers wrong. We deserve to have professional football in our community. Let’s show this with strong attendance at the game. And we can leave the role of strengthening football in Tasmania to those being paid to support our local clubs such as AFL Tasmania and not lump Hawthorn with the problem or solution.