Launceston recorded the fourth largest crowd of the 17 matches so far in the preseason series as strong Hawthorn and Richmond sides attracted fans from across Tasmania and the mainland on Saturday night.
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The crowd of 6982 was larger than in 2018 when the Hawks took on Carlton, and was only behind attendances at Princes Park in inner-Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium in Geelong and a West Coast-Fremantle derby in Perth.
Players were also generous in their praise of the surface at the University of Tasmania Stadium, which Hawks player James Sicily described as like "carpet".
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UTAS Stadium manager Robert Groenewegen said it was pleasing to see the clubs field the strongest teams available, making for a high-quality spectacle.
"It was a terrific match," he said.
"The surface was fantastic and the ground staff deserve credit for that."
JLT 2019 crowd figures:
- 9070 - Geelong v Essendon, GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
- 8215 - Carlton v Essendon, Ikon Park, Carlton
- 8047 - West Coast v Fremantle, David Grays Arena, Mandurah
- 6982 - Hawthorn v Richmond, UTAS Stadium, Launceston
- 6271 - Port v North Melbourne, Alberton Oval, Port Adelaide
- 6028 - West Coast v Geelong, Leederville Oval, Perth
- 5482 - Adelaide v Port, The Memorial Oval, Port Pirie
- 5245 - Fremantle v Collingwood, HBF Arena, Joondalup
- 5190 - Richmond v Melbourne, Deakin Reserve, Shepparton
- 4918 - Sydney v Gold Coast, Oakes Oval, Lismore
- 4384 - Western Bulldogs v St Kilda, Mars Stadium, Ballarat
- 4215 - Melbourne v Brisbane, Casey Fields, Casey
- 4098 - GWS v Adelaide, UNSW Canberra Oval, Canberra
- 2812 - Brisbane v Hawthorn, Moreton Bay Sports Complex, Burpengary
- 2636 - GWS v Sydney, Blacktown International Sportspark, Sydney
- 2016 - Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
- 1596 - North Melbourne v St Kilda, Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
The Examiner spoke with Richmond fans at the gate, many of whom had travelled from Hobart or Melbourne for the match.
Hawthorn will play four homes games at UTAS Stadium in 2019, against Carlton on April 28, Port Adelaide on May 25, Fremantle on July 13 and Brisbane on July 27.
