The full toll of Hawthorn’s forced exit from its relationship with Tasmania has been laid bare as Midweek Tackle panellist Jon Ralph detailed the Hawks’ “anger” – but why a diplomatic approach “backfired on them”.

The Hawks’ four home-and-away matches, as well as a pre-season fixture, in Launceston will make way for the Tasmania Devils’ arrival in 2028.

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Hawthorn argued to keep its matches in the northern part of the state given the Devils would play out of Hobart. But the AFL confirmed on Tuesday morning that Tasmania would get an open run across the entire state.

Hawthorn, which has been playing games at UTAS Stadium since 2001, has about 8000 members as well as full-time staff based in Tasmania.

“Hawthorn is shocked, dismayed and, to be honest, just bloody angry they’ve been booted out of the Apple Isle,” Ralph told Midweek Tackle.

“It’s been an AFL turf war and Tasmania has decisively won it.

Hawks ‘disappointed’ as Tassie deal ends | 02:27

“Why are they so angry? It’s the best deal in footy and it’s just been gutted. It’s the perfect combination of money and also wins – and those wins sometimes are the difference between a wildcard playoff and the top four.

“The money is $4.5 million officially from the Tassie government. It’s worth over $5 million a year when all the add-ons and benefits are thrown in there as well.

“It’s impossible for them to replace it, no matter if all those four games are brought back from Tasmania to the MCG.

“Eleven wins on the bounce at UTAS (Stadium). It’s a beautiful surface and one they play so perfectly well. It is as close to an automatic four points as you get.

“So the double whammy. The Hawks hurt their bottom line, they hurt their finals chances. You could understand why they’re upset, you can understand why Tasmania is cock-a-hoop.”

The Hawks’ four games in Launceston this year are against Gold Coast, Adelaide, Melbourne and North Melbourne.

“They’re not playing Collingwood (in Launceston), they’re not playing elite sides that would fill the coffers. They’re playing teams like Adelaide and GWS and Gold Coast,” Ralph said. “You bring those (games) back to the MCG, they’re not quite break-even but they’re pretty close to it.

“The MCG, if you can fill that it’s $1.7 million – you’re not making that money there. So it’s going to be a real challenge for them.”

“They were only ever the tenant” | 00:47

Ralph also detailed why the Hawks’ renegotiation approach didn’t work out well – and the anger from both Launceston’s mayor and one of Hawthorn’s greatest ever players.

“They (the Hawks) went to work behind the scenes and tried quiet diplomacy – and it backfired on them,” Ralph said. “They tried their submission to the AFL Commission, they thought maybe a transition arrangement (to the Devils), maybe two or three games, maybe one game where the Devils are not playing in the state.

“Matt Garwood is the Launceston mayor. He said the city repeatedly tried to write to the AFL, they tried to speak to the AFL, they tried to make phone calls to the AFL. They felt a transition arrangement would be so critical given it was (around) $80 million between 2022 and 2025 – that’s how much it’s worth economically.

“Radio silence. They got absolutely nothing back from the AFL.

“The man who orchestrated the (initial) deal is Peter Hudson – a Tassie legend, Hall of Fame legend and Hawks goalkicking freak. He was the bloke who linked Jim Bacon, who was the-then Premier (of Tasmania), with Ian Dicker (former Hawks president) – and they got games in Tasmania, which then expanded to four (per season).

“He says that Jim Bacon would ‘turn in his grave’. He says exactly what Tasmania needs is a local derby, it needs competition, it needs drama.”

AFL reveal Devils establishment rules | 02:24

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said the decision was like being “kicked out of a home”.

“I understand, I guess, from the AFL’s perspective,” he said. “I mean it’s easy to group all of Tassie together, but we’ve spent the vast majority of our time in Launceston and we’ve loved our time there.

“We’re enormously disappointed we won’t get the opportunity to continue to be a part of that community.”

But earlier on Tuesday night, Melbourne legend Garry Lyon said the AFL made the right call to leave Tasmania a ‘Devils only’ domain, declaring Hawthorn was “only ever the tenant” in Launceston.

“This is a no-brainer – this is Tasmanian! This is a Tasmanian footy team – not a half-Hawthorn footy team,” Lyon told AFL 360.

“They’ve had a great run at it – we thank them for it – now get out! And let Tassie get in.”

Co-host Gerard Whateley said the decision to kick Hawthorn out of hosting Tasmania games had to be based on “what’s best for the code” and to give the Devils “every conceivable chance” to succeed.

Midweek Tackle host Lauren Wood added: “Not to push their barrow for them (the Devils), but I think they would argue they need this clean slate. This is a club that’s been up against it with stadium, the fight to even get a team.

“I think they really need to have a clean run at it if they’re going to win the hearts and minds of an entire state.”