The AFL has required Hawthorn to cease playing home matches in Tasmania as the league prepares for the Devils’ entry to the competition in 2028. Multiple outlets report that Hawthorn is “extremely disappointed” by the decision, which the AFL says is intended to give the incoming club “clean air” during its start in the AFL.
The Age, Brisbane Times and the Sydney Morning Herald all describe the move as part of an AFL process that is endorsed by the league’s commission. Under the league’s plan, Hawthorn must “transition out of playing home matches” in Tasmania, meaning the club is effectively being forced to end the Tasmanian partnership ahead of 2028.
ABC Australia likewise reports Hawthorn’s dissatisfaction, noting that the club is unhappy about being compelled to stop staging home games in Tasmania before the Devils begin competing. Across coverage, the core points are consistent: the AFL commission approves the change, the club is required to transition out of Tasmanian home games, and the stated reason is to support the Devils’ expansion into the league.
