This may sound cynical, but what reason could possibly be given other than so that Hawthorn and North Melbourne fulfil their contractual obligations and therefore bank their sponsorship money?

Better to be cynical than mercenary.

Tasmanians have enjoyed an unbroken 19-year run of entertaining, thrilling AFL action in the state. The Kangaroos have also played here.

However, if this season's games are to be played behind the locked gates of UTAS Stadium, it begs the question: why?

Why would Tasmania wish to receive planeloads of visitors from the nation's coronavirus epicentre for fixtures they will then only be able to watch on television?

All so that two Victorian clubs can justify an $8 million donation from the Tasmanian government which could be spent on far more deserving causes, not least ventilators and face masks to prepare for a second COVID-19 wave that might follow such an unnecessary breach of previously well-followed border restrictions.

A week ago, Round 8 fixtures were announced with games in Brisbane, Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth.

The AFL is expected to release its condensed schedule for Rounds 9-12 this week and indicated on Sunday that it has been working closely with the Tasmanian Government about them.

Victorian players may soon be wishing they had squeezed in puffa jackets and thermals along with their boardshorts and surfboards when packing to leave their home state.

Irrespective of the weather, the warmth of their welcome may struggle to get above luke.

Tasmania has gone 65 days with no new coronavirus cases. AFL footballers visiting to play games behind closed doors to ease pressure on their employers' bank balance do not qualify as essential exemptions to border restrictions which have served the state extremely well in that time.

Authorities love to say medical reasons are the overwhelming factor in decision-making and people's health is their over-riding priority.

It sounds good and makes for an excellent soundbyte on TV.

But when money rears its ugly head it usually has a much louder voice.

If the decision was being taken purely on health grounds, it would be one of the no-brain variety.

If the decision is made to play games in Tasmania, the next question would be: where?

With Bellerive Oval devoid of goalposts, there is but one AFL standard venue in the state and the prospect of hosting eight matches may even test the staying power of UTAS Stadium's much-praised surface.

It probably won't be very popular with North Launceston either.

It is difficult to view playing AFL games behind closed doors in Launceston as anything other than a financial convenience for the league and two of its clubs.

Coming so soon after another underwhelming international cricket schedule for Tasmania followed by an apparent reduction in WBBL fixtures, it would appear to be a continuation of the state's dismissive treatment from the governors of the nation's two highest profile sports.

If pushed, those sports would argue that declining attendances at Tasmanian fixtures have contributed to that policy.

AFL crowds in Launceston have mirrored the fall in Hawthorn's ladder standing in recent years while North Melbourne's have been acceptable if unspectacular. Meanwhile, recent international cricket fixtures in Hobart have been about as popular as a royal visit from Prince Andrew.

But at a time when the National Basketball League is organising a team, venues and top-flight fixtures for the state, it's as dangerous a road to go down as Mount Wellington's on an icy July morning.