HAWTHORN will unfurl its 2013 Premiership flag against Fremantle in a Grand Final re-match at the MCG in Round 3 next year.
Club CEO Stuart Fox confirmed the date, 4 April to hawthornfc.com.au as the AFL announced the 2014 Premiership season fixture on Thursday.
The Hawks are also seeking to unfurl the flag in Tasmania, however, in the opening round of the home-and-away season against Brisbane at Aurora Stadium.
“We haven’t got approval to do it yet but we’re investigating the possibility of unfurling the flag twice,” Fox said.
“The main unfurling would be Round 3 against Fremantle – the Grand Final replay, that’ll be an exciting opportunity. It’s where the flag will be unfurled.”
Hawthorn was granted its wish by the AFL to open the season in Tasmania, given the unavailability of the MCG for the opening round.
The Round 1 twilight clash against the Lions is an exciting opportunity for the Club to use the newly installed lights at Aurora Stadium.
“Given the season starts a bit earlier this year, we thought it was a good opportunity to ask for a home game at Aurora Stadium early in the year,” he said.
“We’re really pleased with that because there’s new lights been installed at Aurora and that presents a good opportunity and something new for Tasmania.”
The game will be the first of four home matches at the venue in 2014, with the Hawks also hosting West Coast in Round 12, Gold Coast in Round 15 and Western Bulldogs in Round 19.
The Hawks face four of this year’s top eight teams in the opening eight rounds – Fremantle in Round 3, Geelong in Round 5, Richmond in Round 6 and Sydney in Round 8 plus return match-ups with the Dockers (Round 21), Cats (Round 22), Swans (Round 18), Pies (Round 23) and Suns (Round 15).
Fox said the fixture presents challenges but like this year, the Club will take an enthusiastic approach and take each game as it comes.
“No doubt we’ve got some really tough games across the fixture, but that’s the way it’s designed to be,” he said.
“Under the new AFL rules, the top clubs draw each other to play each other twice and we’ve done that with some of the top teams this year, so that’s always going to be a challenge.
“We’re ready for that and we’ll just take the attitude that we’ve got to beat the best teams in the competition to be competitive in September.”
Like 2013, the Hawks again face a tough ending to the home-and-away rounds, scheduled to play Fremantle, Geelong and Collingwood in the final three games but that’s not worrying the Hawks CEO.
“Our last three games in 2014 will be tough,” he said.
“There’s no doubt it’s a tough finish to the season but like 2013, that proved worthy in terms of getting ready for finals football.”
Hawthorn will play seven home games at the MCG next season plus four away games at the venue and travel interstate on five occasions – at least once to each state.
It has also been blessed with the bye rounds – both occurring the week following an interstate trip.
A Round 9 bye is scheduled after a trip to Sydney to play the Swans followed by a break between 11-26 July after the Hawks take on the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Fox said overall, the Club is happy with its draw for season 2014.
“I think it presents some great opportunities both commercially and from a football perspective, it’s pretty balanced and a fair outcome for us,” he said.
“It’s a really good fixture this year; we’re really pleased with it.”
