Worst fixture of the year: Cornes' concerns over Round 11's opener

Round 11 commences with what Kane Cornes believes is the worst scheduled fixture on the 2026 calendar.

Kicking off the round with a blockbuster Thursday night clash, Hawthorn and Adelaide face off in a highly anticipated contest between two top six hopefuls.

However, despite the pedigree of the two sides entering the contest, and the ability for the two clubs to draw strong crowds, the AFL has scheduled the fixture at UTAS Stadium in Launceston, Tasmania.

As part of the Hawks’ deal with Tasmania, the club must play four home games at UTAS per season, through to the end of the 2027 season. However, the stadium is now undergoing a major redevelopment, cutting the capacity from 17,600 to less than 10,000.

These two sides also faced off at UTAS in 2025 – at the time, the Crows and Hawks were sat just one game apart, making up two of the top six.

In freezing conditions – ‘feels like’ sitting at 3.6° - the Hawks mounted a 47-44 win in a complete slog in front of 15,129 rugged up fans.

Now, with conditions expected to hover below 10° and the capacity cut to nearly half, Cornes cannot believe that the fixture won’t be relocated.

“I’m not sure why that game is in Tassie,” Cornes told SEN Fireball.

“What a shocking fixturing that is. That’s an early vol-Kane-o.

“That’s the worst fixturing of the year – to have that game at a ground that is under construction in front of 8,000 people.

“This should be in Adelaide, or it should be at the MCG. Hawthorn and the Crows on Thursday night is in Launceston in front of 8,000 with a ground that is under serious construction.”

David King added: “I have genuine fears that Channel Seven are not going to be able to get the game to air without it going down again.”

Cornes: “We’ll be there. You’ll be there (Fox Footy), and we’ll be there.”

King: “I don’t think there’s room for an extra commentary box. It’s not necessarily our fault, this one.”

Cornes: “You’ve paid billions for the rights, and the AFL have put a game on that can’t accommodate both broadcasters. That is up there as the worst fixturing you will ever see.”

King: “Even as a spectacle, it’ll be -5° down there!”