The RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup returns next week, with the gala days taking place on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 of September at UTAS Stadium
The RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup sees winners from the South, North and Northwest regional football competitions to compete in a tri-series event.
The RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup seeks to encourage and inspire young Tasmanians, by bringing the best of the best together to compete across the state’s high school football season.
This year marks the 15th year of Tasmania’s only state-wide high school football competition and the second year in partnership with Road Safety Advisory Council of Tasmania.
The competition runs for 14 weeks across terms 2 and 3. This year there were 39 boys teams across 32 schools and 31 girls teams across 30 schools equating to approximately 1600 players in total.
The RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup uses its state-wide reach and profile across a mid-teen cohort to deliver safe driving messages and encourage positive driving behaviour as they start their learner driving journey.
The gala days see the three competing teams play each other across the morning and early afternoon with the Grand Final to kick off at 1.40pm with the result forecast to be decided by 2.30pm.
Hawthorn Chief Executive Officer Ash Klein said the club's connection to the Tassie Hawks Cup remained strong.
“Hawthorn is proud to present the Tassie Hawks Cup for another season, allowing students to enjoy healthy competition against other regions of Tasmania whilst also learning the importance of road safety,” Klein said.
“This initiative is another way our club can contribute and engage with the broader Tasmanian community and we wish the best of luck to all students participating.”
Chair of the Road Safety Advisory Council of Tasmania Scott Tilyard said The Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) is excited to partner again with the Hawthorn Football Club as the Naming Rights Sponsor of the RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup.
“This partnership is a key opportunity to reach young Tasmanians who are about to start driving,” Tilyard said.
“Road trauma is a major concern, being the second leading cause of death for Tasmanians aged 17 to 25. Each year, over 90 people in this age group are seriously injured or killed on our roads. Therefore, the shift from supervised to independent driving is crucial.
“The RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup helps us share critical positive driver behaviour messages with 14- and 15-year-olds, promoting a culture of safety in the Tasmanian community. We are proud to work with the Hawthorn Football Club to reduce road trauma and foster safer driving behaviours across the state.”
AFL Tasmania State Participation Manager Aaron Roberts said the RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup is a significant event on the AFL calendar for many Tasmanian High Schools.
“This year saw a record number of schools playing in regional competitions and gala days to win the right to represent their region,” Roberts said.
“Once again, we thank the Hawthorn Football Club and the Road Safety Advisory Council for supporting school football in Tasmania and are excited to welcome six schools to UTAS Stadium across two days of exciting football.”
Minister for Transport, Eric Abetz, said the Tasmanian Liberal Government is working hard to improve road safety for Tasmanian road users right around the state.
“Being able to integrate safe driving messages into an event like the Road Safety Advisory Council (RSAC) Tassie Hawks Cup can have a lasting impact by engaging young drivers in a positive and memorable setting,” Minister Abetz said.
“This sponsorship between the RSAC and the Hawthorn Football Club is important in helping shape healthy driving habits and mindsets in our young people before they take to the roads.
“By incorporating road safety conversations into events like the RSAC Tassie Hawks Cup, we hope to create a ripple effect where young drivers carry these lessons into their everyday lives and are also able to influence their peers about safe driving habits.”
Girls Gala Day participants – Tuesday 24 September
• Marist College (Northwest)
• Clarence High School (South)
• Prospect High School (North)
Boys Gala Day participants – Wednesday 25th September
• Reece High School (Northwest)
• The Hutchins School (South)
• St Patricks College (North)
