Cairns is positioning itself as a future home for AFL club Hawthorn, should the Hawks end their long-standing partnership with Tasmania in two years. Football leaders in Far North Queensland are pushing to secure regular AFL men’s premiership matches, which the city last hosted in 2022.
AFL Cairns and the Queensland government already have a three-year agreement with Hawthorn, whose AFLW team is set to play its third consecutive home game at Cazalys Stadium next month. AFL Cairns and stadium general manager Craig Lees recently made a strong pitch for more elite men’s games during AFL chief Andrew Dillon’s visit to the region.
Lees said Cairns aims to replace Launceston as Hawthorn’s interstate base once the Tasmania Devils join the AFL. The move could bring up to four home-and-away matches a year to Cairns starting in 2028. While Hawthorn has expressed interest in maintaining its presence in Tasmania, Devils CEO Brendon Gale has voiced opposition to the idea.
Cairns is also exploring a strategic alliance with the Northern Territory, which plans to bid for a licence to become the AFL’s 20th team if the league expands. Lees confirmed discussions with AFLNT and said a standalone bid from Cairns may not be viable, but a joint effort could be.
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden, a former Territorian, supports the partnership. She proposed a shared northern Gather Round with Darwin, highlighting the potential for both regions to host world-class events together.
“We are quite regional in that sense, and if we can produce world-class events and do it together, then it just cements both of our successes in the future,” she said.
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