Hawthorn and North Melbourne welcome Tasmanian AFL fixtures
HOME COMFORTS: Hawthorn's Tasmanian future is uncertain beyond next season.
Launceston's first AFL fixture in 21 months will also be its first ANZAC Day clash in more than a decade.
Starved off top-flight action since Hawthorn's shock loss to Brisbane in July 2019, the North's footy fans have been handed two Melbourne derbies and a curtain-raiser role on one of the competition's signature dates.
With no guarantee of an extension to the five-year $20 million contract with the Tasmanian Government beyond 2021, the Hawks will play Adelaide, North Melbourne, Fremantle and Western Bulldogs at UTAS Stadium.
Meanwhile the Kangaroos, whose future in Tasmania is in similar doubt, will host both expansion clubs plus Victorian neighbours Melbourne and last season's grand finalists Geelong at Bellerive Oval.
The 12.30pm fixture against Adelaide on Sunday, April 25, will be Launceston's first ANZAC Day clash since a crowd of 16,301 watched the visit of North Melbourne in 2010.
To Crystal Palace supporters: DVDs of the excellent Brad Pitt-Morgan Freeman thriller Seven.
— Rob Shaw (@TheShawThing) December 21, 2020
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Hawthorn's chief commercial officer Ash Klein said the club was delighted.
"The family-friendly Sunday afternoon time slot presents a fantastic opportunity for our Tasmanian members and fans to spend the afternoon together and pay their respects on such an important day," he said.
"We have been given a strong fixture at UTAS Stadium in 2021, including a match against North Melbourne," Klein added.
"Our games against North tend to be pretty fierce contests, add to that stands filled with Tasmanian Hawks and North supporters, it's sure to be a match not to be missed.
Face offs against old teammates, Tassie showdowns + even a trip north to TIO Stadium. 🙌
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) December 21, 2020
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"Having only made it to Tasmania for one pre-season match this year we are more excited than ever to get back to playing on our home turf in Launceston and to get back to our Tasmanian supporters."
Fremantle will overtake former co-tenant St Kilda as the venue's second-most regular visitor when it returns in round 17 while the Western Bulldogs will make their first visit in six years in August.
Tasmanian Kangaroos fans will be able to see their team play five matches in the state with four in Hobart and one in Launceston.
Left the old Christmas shopping a bit late again?
— Rob Shaw (@TheShawThing) December 12, 2020
Got you covered. Here's all you need.https://t.co/8AKGz5AuXa still only $29.95.
Email: rshaw@examiner.com.au to order. pic.twitter.com/B5RV3FiARR