The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos' foray into the expanded AFLW will begin in Hobart in 2019 with the league confirming the opening fixture.
The Roos will bring North Hobart Oval alive on Sunday, February 3 as one of two matches they will play in Tasmania throughout the seven-round season.
“We visited the venue and had the AFL down there just recently and worked through with council and AFL Tasmania to make sure we were able to get it all ticked off,” North head of football operations Laura Kane said.
“There wasn’t much in the way, it was just bringing together all the different stakeholders for the games to be broadcast, ensure it’s a good venue for spectators to watch football and all the facilities are sufficient for the elite level of AFL.
“The broader picture for us is we knew it is a really important football venue for Tasmanians.
“We understand the history and how important it is as a venue and there is a really good sentiment there.
“Tasmanians love it by all reports, so it’s something we really wanted to celebrate and make sure we could bring our AFLW team in early days down as opposed to later in the season.”
The fixture release also welcomed by the Premier, Will Hodgman.
“The Tasmanian Government is delighted at the news,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
“This is the spiritual home of football in southern Tasmania and we are right behind plans to make this venue more female friendly in terms of facilities and change rooms.
“AFLW is one of the fastest-growing sporting codes in the country and for our young Tasmanian women to see top flight games at such an iconic venue will only help grow the game in this state.”
Windsor Park will become the club’s northern training base for local players.
“That is the most central location based on where all the players live and work but also a really good facility, and it helps us have a presence all over the state for the players who don’t live in one place,” Kane explained.