Whether you love or loathe AFL there is one part that never fails to bring out a smile.
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The young fans, decked out to the nines in their team’s colours, faces painted and hats or beanies plastered to their heads.
Their pure joy at seeing their idols live and in the flesh can’t be beaten, whether you have children or not.
The Hawks have been Tasmania’s faithful adopted team for the past 15 years and never fail to bring out a strong “home crowd.”
In the past 10 years the Hawks have appeared in five grand finals and won four, while Tasmania has welcomed visitors from the mainland as a result of the exposure.
If they have done nothing else, the Hawks have captured the imaginations of Tasmania’s children – games held in Tasmania never fail to attract a crowd of Auskick-playing young faithful, loyal to a fault to their home team.
To give back to their younger fans, the club encourages a family atmosphere at its Tasmanian games.
On Saturday night, Hawthorn took on former Tasmanian team St Kilda, a match-up also played in the state last year.
St Kilda also has a strong Tasmanian fan base. The St Kilda Supporters Club hosts events each time the club comes to play in the island state.
A highlight of the game’s calendar was the family fireworks and entertainment by X Factor’s Samantha Jade.
Autumn and winter in Launceston can often be quiet. When the weather cools down it is sometimes not desirable to go out at night.
But winter events are a great way to boost the economy of the North, during a time that is generally more quiet.
Hawthorn has done a good job of marketing the family-friendly atmosphere for its Launceston games, to try and encourage as many people as it can to come along.
If we want to support future AFL games in Tasmania, attendance at the games is important.
Encouraging families to participate in sport and sport culture is always a win.
All children benefit from participation in sport and spectating is a big part of that.
Watching their favourite team encourages healthy competition and inspires the kids to get out there and emulate their idols with their friends and peers.
Plus, a night out with the family can be a special bonding experience for everyone.