Hawthorn's last Launceston game of the year brings nostalgia and hope

As Hawthorn's penultimate season in Launceston draws to a close, there's a mix of sadness, nostalgia and hope within the club and the northern Tasmanian community. Sitting third on the AFL ladder going into the match against 13th-placed North Melbourne at York Park — and with just three rounds remaining of the home and away season after this weekend — the Hawks are well placed for finals action."There's a bit of sadness and nostalgia around," Hawthorn's head of operations in Tasmania, David Cox, said of today's game.Hawthorn has been playing home games in Launceston for 25 years."That's a really significant part of Hawthorn's story, we've won four flags while we've been part of … that partnership," Mr Cox said.One of Hawthorn's biggest names in recent years, Lance Franklin, played some exciting football at York Park. (Getty Images Quinn Rooney)Hawthorn has been paid about a million dollars per game by the Tasmanian government to play four games a year in Launceston since 2001.In 2022, Hawthorn games in Launceston generated $20.8 million in direct expenditure and $23.6 million in total economic impact to the Tasmanian economy, according to accountants PriceWaterhouseCoopers.About 12,500 people went to each game that year, with 16 per cent of those jetting in from interstate or overseas.Alan Pell is one of those people. In Launceston for today's game, he is combining cheering on the Hawks with a chance to play golf in Tasmania."It's just sensational," he said of the atmosphere in the city on game day."Because it's the second-last year that we're going to be over here, people are really experiencing their last efforts," Mr Pell said."Twenty-five years Hawthorn's been here, we've probably been here six or seven times, so we feel like it's part of us, too."The Hawks have an impressive record at York Park, which has been nicknamed "the fortress". (AAP: James Ross)Another hit for northern TasmaniaFor a community grappling with the impending closure of Boag's brewery and the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter, there is concern about what the Hawks' departure will mean.Alex Britton is a restaurant co-owner and a Launceston City Councillor."Losing the Hawks, coupled with losing Boag's, coupled now with loosing Liberty Bell Bay up in George Town, is horrible for the town, really," Cr Britton said."There's lots of good things going on, you don't want to be too depressed about it all, but it's a major hit."The AFL announced in May that Hawthorn would leave Tasmania to make the Tasmania Devils, who make their AFL debut in 2028, the focus of football in the state.The Hawks will play their final home game at York Park next season. (City of Launceston)At the time, the Hawthorn Football Club said it was "extremely disappointed in the AFL's decision to force an end to our relationship with Launceston and Northern Tasmania post 2027".It also said the club had put forward a "strong argument that it should continue to play games in Launceston into the future".Cr Britton said he was hopeful the Devils' games, some of which will be played at York Park initially, would bring in much-needed custom for hospitality businesses."I think it will work, but I think at the moment in Launceston, it does just feel like we've had hit after hit," he said.York Park has been Hawthorn's home away from home since 2001. (Wikimedia Commons: Kspilling)Hawks fans are also filled with hope at the prospect of their team going all the way this year, and for the club to start its final Tasmanian year as premiers."There's definitely a bit of sadness around us leaving, but they really want to see out next year with joy and celebration," Mr Cox said.And the Hawks are hoping to return to Tasmanian turf when the Devils enter the competition in 2028."I would expect that there will be a Devils' home game that will play against Hawthorn here that will clearly be blockbuster sellout, and what an amazing way to kick off the Devils' journey in Tasmania," Mr Cox said.Mr Pell said he hoped to be among the crowd for a Devils versus Hawks game."Loud and clearly for the Hawks, but I'll be very interested to see how the Devils go," he said.