In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news
- Hawthorn would like to continue to play at least one home game in Tasmania after the state’s standalone team enters the competition in 2028.
- The Melbourne Cricket Club has scrapped a new parking system just a week after it was introduced, and has brought back its pay-at-the-gate system from round eight onwards.
Hawks want to keep presence in Tasmania
Peter Ryan
Hawthorn would like to keep playing at least one home game in Tasmania after the state’s standalone team enters the competition in 2028, if the community wants them to do so.
The Hawks have a deal with the Tasmanian government to play four home games at UTAS Stadium in Launceston until the end of 2025 and hold out hope they can extend an arrangement beyond that.
It’s unclear which direction the Tasmanian government will want to head after 2025 as the new Tasmanian team will have their team in the VFL by then. The Hawks receive approximately $4.5 million per annum under the existing deal.
However, Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves confirmed that the club was “open to the conversation” with the Tasmanian government about potentially continuing to play at least one home game in the state beyond that date.
Hawthorn’s Jai Newcombe tackles Adelaide’s Rory Sloane in the round six clash at UTAS Stadium, Launceston.Credit: Getty Images
“We are open to what Tasmania looks like for us post our current contract ending at the end of 2025,” Reeves said.
“After 25 years and with nearly 10,000 members we have a generation of Hawks supporters and amazing relationships with government and the community that need to be thought through.
“Our commitment to Tasmania is solid and we will always work collaboratively with Tasmania on what’s best for all parties. We are open to playing a home game if that’s appropriate and helps football in Tasmania.”
Under one potential scenario, the Hawks could play two games against Tasmania in the state with one of the matches being an away game in Hobart and the other being a Hawthorn home game against Tasmania in Launceston.
The Hawks have played home games in Tasmania since 2001 and made UTAS Stadium a fortress during their recent golden era, winning 19 consecutive clashes at the venue between 2012-2015.
Under president Andrew Gowers they have supported Tasmania’s bid to have their own team, but are keen to maintain a presence in the north of the state where they have built up a solid membership base and attract above 10,000 spectators to each home game.
On Wednesday, the Hawks released a statement celebrating the AFL’s decision to award Tasmania a 19th licence.
Gowers said the state deserved the opportunity to have its own team.
“This announcement realises a dream of so many Tasmanians,” Gowers said.
“The state has a proud football history and this decision confirms its future will be even brighter.”
North Melbourne also play some home games in Tasmania and president Sonja Hood said the club was already making plans ahead of their agreement to play home games in Hobart finishing up – but they remained committed to the state until at least 2025.
“Via our relationship with Spirit of Tasmania, we will forge ahead with our plans to play four AFL games at Blundstone Arena for at least the next three years until 2025, and our plan is for the AFLW team to play one match each in Launceston and Hobart in step with that timeframe,” Hood said in a statement.
“Our partnerships with government and the local business community, and our commitment to our members, supporters and talent pathway programs in Tasmania will stay strong well past the expiration of any match-day agreement.”
Pre-paid parking scrapped at MCG after one round
Claire Siracusa
The Melbourne Cricket Club has scrapped a new parking system just a week after it was introduced, and has brought back its pay-at-the-gate system from round eight onwards.
The MCC had introduced a pre-paid system that was intended to be in place from round seven onwards, in an attempt to reduce congestion. Fans were required to pre-book parking via Ticketek and show their mobile ticket for entry.
Parking at the MCG has reverted to the old system.Credit: Marnie Vinall
However, the MCC released a statement on Wednesday saying that it had reviewed feedback from fans and would reintroduce the old system from this weekend.
Fans can now drive up and pay for parking, which costs $10 and can only be paid by card, on game days when Yarra Park is safe to be opened for parking. Anyone who had pre-booked parking for future matches will be refunded.
The pre-paid parking system will remain in place for accessibility permit holders, though they will also have the option to pay at the gate.
The MCC’s manager of venue and event services, Josh Eltringham, apologised to those who had a “disappointing experience” parking in Yarra Park last weekend.
“We transitioned to fully pre-booked parking for the general public in Yarra Park for the first time, and unfortunately, this new model presented a range of unforeseen challenges that have since been reviewed.
“We will continue to carefully manage the parklands which means Yarra Park won’t open to the general public for fixtures where particularly large crowds are forecast or in the event of poor weather in an effort to maintain the condition of the park for all weekday users.”
