MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 20: Jye Caldwell of the Bombers runs with the ball during the round one AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Marvel Stadium on March 20, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Hawthorn could have its home match against Essendon moved to Launceston if fans are not allowed to return to the MCG next Sunday.

The AFL has made a commitment to play games in front of fans in 2021, which means all games scheduled in Victoria in Round 14 could be relocated interstate if crowd restrictions are not loosened.

Peter Ryan for The Age reports the clash could be played in Launceston, Hawthorn's second home, in what would be one of the most attractive games to be played in the Apple Isle.

Hawthorn has a deal to play two home games a season in Launceston, but the fixtures are usually against interstate teams or Victorian teams with low membership numbers.

Essendon showed last week that their support around the country is almost unrivaled, with 55,000 turning up to watch the Bombers against Richmond at Perth's Optus Stadium.

The history between the two clubs also makes this the most traditional VFL/AFL rivalry to potentially be played for points in Tasmania.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking told 3AW on Saturday that timeslots would stay the same for Round 14 even if games were moved from Victoria.

The AFL will have a meeting with the Victorian Government and the Department of Health early in the week to determine whether Victorian fans will be allowed to return to games in Round 14.