It was a capacity crowd for two traditional AFL rivals. And perhaps a reminder for the game’s powerbrokers that the appetite for top-level footy in Tasmania is strong.
Sunday’s clash between Hawthorn and Essendon at Launceston’s University of Tasmania Stadium attracted 14,834 people – essentially a full house under coronavirus capacity restrictions.
The game sold out in hours last week after it was announced the fixture was being shifted from Melbourne.
The crowd was the largest in Round 14, albeit in a truncated weekend with crowd limits in place in various states.
“Great scenes out of…Launceston Tasmania. Full house, great atmosphere. People who know and love their footy!,” Richmond boss Brendon Gale posted on Twitter.
It was the first match Essendon had played for premiership points in Tasmania since 1992, with the red and black of their supporters outnumbering the “home” colours of Hawthorn.
The match was the second of two shifted to the Apple Isle at the weekend, with 5077 people turning out at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena to watch North Melbourne play Brisbane on Saturday.
Many eyes are on the state of the game in Tasmania as the island aims to become the league’s 19th team.
The state government’s business case is being examined by former Geelong Cats president and AFL commissioner Colin Carter, with a final report expected mid-July.
Gold Coast Suns president Tony Cochrane recently drew headlines by saying the AFL can’t afford a 19th franchise “under any circumstances”.
Tasmania’s government is adamant a stand-alone side stacks up financially and have placed on hold negotiations with North Melbourne and Hawthorn to play games in state after this season until the AFL provides a clear answer.
In other Round 14 crowd figures, 6583 people were at GMHBA Stadium to watch Geelong play the Bulldogs, under a 7000 limit.
On Saturday, 7117 watched Gold Coast and Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium, while the GWS-Carlton fixture at Giants Stadium attracted 7035.
shifty
Roar Rookie
Maybe when supporters of the Tasmanian bid can come up with a better proposal than " Tasmania is a traditional footy state so the AFL should financially subsidise them instead of GWS and GCS" then we might stop shouting it down.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I love how Hawthorn supporters keep shouting down a standalone Tassie AFL franchise. :stoked:
JamesH
Roar Guru
In Tony's shoes I'm not sure I'd be effectively telling the AFL that in order to have a Tassie team, it has to reduce the number of other teams! His response to anyone questioning the Suns' future in the AFL should be to point to the growth of junior footy in SE Queensland since the Suns joined the comp. Sure, they need to start doing something on the field soon, but the AFL can afford to take a longer view if the Suns' presence is growing the game. The blustering and attacking other teams/States doesn't help the Suns' cause at all.
Republican
Guest
Shifty that's a tired old chestnut. Tassie is a parochial hot bed of footy fervour and given the opportunity they would certainly get right behind a personalised entity.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
The Tassie government is supporting the bid......NRL would love that sort of support for their expansion
shifty
Roar Rookie
A once off fixture vs a team that hasn't played in Tasmania for nearly 2 decades is hardly a ringing endorsement that Tasmania can sell out the stadium every other week. How many supporters will give up their existing teams to become Tasmanian team supporters?