Hawks exploring three spots for “new fortress” outside Victoria

Hawthorn’s foray into Tasmania is set to finish up at the end of 2027, but they want to find a new home away from home.

The Hawks have been playing home games in Launceston since 2001 but with the Devils entering the league in 2028, they’ve been told to shut up shop on the Apple Isle.

A brown and gold fortress has been created, delivering 75 per cent of wins in the state, and according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson they want to recreate an away advantage elsewhere.

While some clubs are not all that interested in playing home games away, Sam Mitchell’s Hawks are looking at continuing their ‘home’ road trips.

They are eyeing Wellington in New Zealand, as well as Canberra and Cairns, according to Caro.

“Sam Mitchell and his football lieutenants are thinking left of square when it comes to Hawthorn’s future,” Wilson said on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters.

“There’s a view at Hawthorn that why would they just go back necessarily to the MCG, where they’re already going to play six or seven home games a year, or Marvel Stadium. Why not find a new fortress outside of Victoria?

“Hawthorn are exploring Wellington in New Zealand, they’re exploring Canberra and they’re exploring Cairns where of course the AFLW team has played some games.

“They’re not ruling out anything, they’re not ruling in anything. They’re nervous about talking about it because of their members and supporters who would love them back home.

“But those same members and supporters have loved them winning in Tasmania too.

“The view of the Mitchell team is why would we give up that advantage that we’ve had for so many years.

“Maybe it would be two games a year and see how that goes.

“It’s really interesting that they’re going down this road. Obviously there would be a good financial deal, but if you could build a similar advantage in a new market, I think everyone wins.”

SEN Breakfast’s Tim Watson and Garry Lyon pondered what the Hawks might be thinking after Tassie worked so well for them.

Watson: “Is that a massive advantage for Hawthorn to find themselves a new home and play regularly out of Canberra, Cairns or New Zealand?”

Lyon: “It has been. Tasmania has been unbelievable so that would be the thinking behind it.”

What was of most interest to Lyon was the Canberra aspect given the nation’s capital has already been linked to the GWS Giants.

“They’re a good footy club that will make the right decision, but my take out of that is if I’m a GWS Giants administrator I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Hmmm, Canberra’,” he continued.

“I haven’t done all my homework on this, but I still think that’s the right home for the Giants. I know they want to have a presence in Western Sydney and they’ve invested heavily so they’re probably not going to walk away from it.

“If I’m a Giants man and I’m hearing, ‘What? Hawthorn are sniffing around down in Canberra’, then that might light a little fire under you to see whether they are in danger of losing any of their propriety interest there.”

Watson added: “I think there’s a clear advantage if they can make a home somewhere else.

“I’d be surprised if Hawthorn fans would like to go down this track again. They’ve built themselves into one of the most powerful football clubs in the competition.

“I think they’d be eyeing off the idea that they’d get to see their side more often now than what they did previously.”

The Hawks played their final Tassie game for 2026 last Saturday when beating North Melbourne by 16 points.

The club holds a 3-1 record at Launnie’s UTAS Stadium this season.