The first time AFL finals have been played here takes the state's 2021 involvement to an unprecedented 14 games with the possibility of more to follow.

Back-to-back Sydney and Melbourne derbies both sold out within hours with mask-wearing crowds capped at 10,000.

Sydney and Essendon make just their second appearances at UTAS Stadium seeking to remain unbeaten.

Swans fans have fond memories of a 2012 comeback victory in Adam Goodes' club record 304th match in front of 19,217 fans, which was the last time a Launceston crowd exceeded 19,000.

Bombers fans have much fresher reflections of a come-from-behind triumph with their side visiting just two months after a 13-point win in front of a COVID-restricted 14,834 sell-out, helped by four goals from Jake Stringer.

In contrast, Western Bulldogs have won just once in six visits and while the Giants remain winless they were involved in the only draw in 78 fixtures at the venue.

That 2017 clash came four years after the team's first visit saw Hawthorn amass 140 points in an 83-point shellacking watched by a record-low crowd of 10,513.

Despite selecting Launceston as their preferred venue this weekend, the Doggies' record in the city is dreadful.

Their solitary success dates back to Hawthorn's premiership year of 2008 and was achieved in front of 19,378, the ground's fourth highest attendance.

Three of their five losses were by at least 10 goals, including back-to-back matches in 2014-15, and they return to the scene of their worst loss this season when held to just five goals by the Hawks a fortnight ago.

Playing on a ground where he kicked 13 goals in one game nine years ago, Swans figurehead Lance Franklin requires eight more to reach two major milestones.

That would not only see him become the sixth player to kick 1000 goals, but also draw level with long-time partner-in-crime Jarryd Roughead as leading goal-kicker at the ground.