Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves says the club gets offended when critics claim they haven't done enough to grow the game in Tasmania.
The Tasmania-Hawks partnership began in 2001 and has grown over a period of time, with the state becaming a naming rights sponsor of the club in 2006.
Hawthorn play four games per season in Launceston with its current deal with the Tasmanian Government worth close to $20 million.
“We do get offended because I think that we’ve done everything that’s ever been asked of us,” Reeves told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“We’re not entitled to play that role down in Tasmania – in fact, it’s been set up so we can’t.
“We don’t have any access to the Academy, we don’t have any access to the women’s program down there.
“We do get disappointed because people don’t see what happens outside of the four games.”
Reeves explained how Tasmania has benefited from Hawthorn’s presence in the state outside of the four games they play each year.
“The just short of $4 million investment from Tasmania, there’s about a $28-30 million economic return, so it’s a pretty good deal,” he said.
“It’s not as if they’ve put $4 million in to pay Hawthorn to just play games there and get nothing in return.
“We do a whole lot of things outside of those four games to drive tourism, we get involved in coaching clinics and junior clinics.
“You would probably remember after the last four premierships we’ve been down there within a day or two with the premiership cup on parade in Tasmania.
“So there’s a lot more to it than just that money from the games and there’s been a huge economic return to Tassie.”
Hawthorn’s five-year deal with Tasmania expires at the end of the season.