Why the AFL put ‘unwatchable’ Hawks v Crows clash on Thursday night

Thursday night’s game between Hawthorn and Adelaide in Launceston wasn’t exactly one for the neutrals, despite the clash being between two potential finalists.

While the match would have attracted a big crowd at either the MCG or Adelaide Oval, the match was sent to Launceston as one of the Hawks’ home Tassie games, which was something Kane Cornes couldn’t believe, labelling it the ‘worst fixturing of the year’.

Compounding this match being played in Tassie was the fact that UTAS Stadium is currently under development, restricting the crowd to just 8,312 for the Hawks' nine-point win over the Crows, while the stadium upgrade also meant the broadcast cameras were stuck on a half-forward flank.

Simply put, the viewing experience for many was described as ‘unwatchable’.

Knowing that this fixture was to be played in Tassie at a stadium under construction, the question of why it was put on a Thursday night arises.

SEN’s Sam Edmund explained some of that reasoning from an AFL perspective, despite himself not loving the decision.

“I've had my say on Thursday night football down in Launceston,” Edmund said on SEN Captain’s Run.

“It's only fair that I present you with the other side. This explanation comes from those who make these sorts of decisions.

“The game has to keep being played in Tasmania due to the money that they're putting into the industry.

“That's obviously the UTAS Stadium redevelopment and Macquarie Point, that new stadium.

“Back in October, when the fixture was obviously laid out by the AFL, this particular game last night and the Geelong game against Sydney were the two best games.

“They had to put one on the Thursday, knowing that Thursday viewership is strong. It's probably the strongest.

“They also brought this Tasmania game forward six weeks in comparison to the Hawthorn-Adelaide game last year, which was a difficult watch as well, just to try to minimise the dew.

“This is something that the AFL was conscious of.”

As well as minimising dew and backing Tassie for the money they’re pouring into the game, Edmund says putting the Hawks up early gave the AFL greater flexibility for the rounds ahead.

“It also means they get greater flex. Hawthorn can now play next Thursday, which will be a very good game against St Kilda, you would've thought,” Edmund said.

“So, it guarantees the fixture has greater flexibility going forward. We get Hawthorn off a seven-day break on Thursday night next week as well.

“That's just the other side of things to balance the debate, if you like.”