Tasmania has secured another blockbuster AFL clash next weekend, with the game between Hawthorn and Collingwood originally scheduled for the MCG, to now be played at UTAS Stadium in Launceston.
This is the first time Collingwood has been in Tasmania since 2015, when they played a pre-season game, and the first time ever they will play for premiership points in our State – making history.
With the Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs game scheduled for UTAS Stadium on the weekend of 14-15 August, this will also mark the first time ever that Tasmania will host AFL games three consecutive weekends in a row – with Hawthorn scheduled to play each week.
Tasmania has demonstrated it can host AFL matches in a COVID-safe way, and despite Victoria having now been downgraded to low risk, the game will proceed under strict COVID-safe conditions, with important safeguards in place.
As we saw earlier this year, if you bring the big clubs to Tasmania, we will turn up, and I expect tickets will be snapped up in a heartbeat as footy fans take the opportunity to see these this history-making clash between two big Victorian teams in action.
It’s a great outcome for Tasmania, and in particular for local businesses in Launceston and surrounds who will benefit from the expected increase in trade as people get out and about before and after the game to see what the city has to offer.
Of course this weekend we’ll be hosting two AFL matches in both the south and north of the State. Public Health has been working with both those teams and the AFL and there will be COVID-Safe precautions in place.
For spectators, this means there will be caps on the number of people able to attend the games and unless you are under 12 or have an exemption, masks must be worn at the games – this includes while queuing outside, in service areas and while watching the game.
Thanks to the AFL and the clubs involved for working so closely and constructively with the Government and our Public Health authorities, and I look forward to another great weekend of footy ahead.