Just hours before the release of Tasmania's AFL Taskforce findings, one of the state's current tenants was completing its final training session in Launceston.
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The last day of Hawthorn's week-long training camp began with a two-hour session at Windsor Park before Jaeger O'Meara and 2018 Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell were unveiled as vice-captains for the first time.
Having played 64 home and away games at UTAS Stadium since first arriving in Launceston in 2001, Hawthorn has built up a considerable Tasmanian fan base - particularly among the younger generations.
Asked whether the Hawks would be disappointed to see a two-decade relationship ended should Tasmania gain its own AFL team, Mitchell said his side would keep returning to Launceston for as long as they could.
"We love coming down here," the 26-year-old said.
"Obviously the AFL always wants to continue to grow the game and it's great that the expansion clubs GWS and Gold Coast have come in to grow the competition.
"It's not really up to us, it's out of our hands but all we can say is that we love coming down to Launceston to play home games and we're looking forward to the next couple of years of doing that."
Appointed as Jarryd Roughead's successor last year, Stratton will lead the Hawks into a second season following a ninth-placed finish in 2019.
Complimenting the Windsor Park deck as "unbelievable", the 30-year-old said he was happy to see O'Meara and Mitchell step up to replace last year's vice-captain Jack Gunston.
"Obviously it's a massive honour just to play for this club but captaining it is huge," he said.
"We've got a great team around us which has helped me massively last year and we'll continue learning.
"I'm really excited to captain the club again and see how we go."