by Dutchy » Mon Jul 20, 2020 12:57 pm
HOBART will host up to four AFL games in the next two months.
The Mercury can reveal the AFL, the Tasmanian Government and Cricket Tasmania have reached an agreement that will see North Melbourne play possibly its full allotment of four games at Blundstone Arena.
Cricket Tasmania has allocated early August to mid-September to host the AFL games that will possibly see the Roos play four matches across a three-week block before the venue is returned to cricket operations.
North Melbourne will most likely hub in Hobart, with its opponents to fly in, fly out.
Tasmania’s borders will remain closed to at least July 31, but even if they do not reopen, teams may receive travel exemptions having been quarantined in Queensland hubs for some time.
Currently, Blundstone Arena can host up to 25 per cent crowd capacity (about 3000-4000 fans), but it is understood the Government is exploring possibilities of lifting this to 50 per cent should health authorities give the all clear.
North Melbourne is scheduled to play Carlton at the Gabba this Saturday, the last round that has been announced, and are yet to play Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast, Fremantle. Brisbane, Gold Coast, Collingwood, Geelong and Melbourne.
If the Magpies are scheduled to head to Hobart, it would be the first time Collingwood has played for premiership points in Tasmania.
Hawthorn, which has a contract to play four homes in Launceston a season, is also keen to host its matches in Tasmania.