Launceston deputy mayor Hugh McKenzie has implored Tasmanian-based Hawks fans to get behind the Devils, despite maintaining his stance a compromise could have been reached to continue to play Hawthorn games in the city.
Speaking at the launch of the Hawks' '25 years of Hawthorn in Launceston' exhibition at the Town Hall, McKenzie, a Hawks fans, admitted he can understand the logic behind the Devils' insistence they end their long partnership to play games in the city after next year.
"I understand the decision from a Tassie Devils point of view quite clearly," McKenzie said.
"We thought there was a way to make it work going forward, we lobbied for an arrangement to go beyond 2027, but it's not the case.
"So what we'll do is make sure we'll celebrate in a big way Hawthorn's contribution to Launceston over the next 12 months.
"From a Tasmanian point of view I hope we (Hawks fans) do (do back the Devils), because it's really important we support the Tasmania team.
"The reality is I'll still be a Hawthorn supporter, but also a Tassie Devils supporter.
"I hope there's some ongoing relationship. I hope what the Tassie Devils have learned is how to partner with Launceston in how they do things, because I think they are a significant blueprint for that.
"If people are looking for examples on how to run a partnership this is one of them."
While the exhibition highlights the impact of the club, the elephant in the room is it's about to come to a crashing halt.
The Hawks will officially celebrate 25 years in Launceston in conjunction with next Saturday's clash with Melbourne at UTAS Stadium.
"Those decisions (for Hawks to leave Tasmania) are made. We're looking forward and support the Devils, and look forward to them delivering great things to this community, as we have done," Hawthorn's head of Tasmania Operations David Cox said.
"Any partnership has two parts to it, you give and you take, and we hope that this community feels we've given as much as we've received from it.
"If you take the emotion out of it, what we've done is we've kept elite football relevant in Tasmania for 25 years. We feel that's had a measurable impact on the preparedness of Tasmania to have their own team.
"We've been fully supportive of their aspirations for a team, it's amazing for Tasmania and will be great for this community as well.
"We feel we've got a relationship here that whether we're here or not, it will continue."
The Hawks exhibition highlights the biggest moments the club has enjoyed in the city, including Lance 'Buddy' Franklin's 13 goals against North Melbourne in 2013, and bringing their premiership cups to town after grand final wins.
As part of next week's 25-year celebrations, Cox and Hawks president Andy Gower will join fans in recreating the 'Hawk Walk' to the ground.
Historically starting at City Park, next Saturday's trek will start at the exhibition at 11.15am.
The exhibition is open from Saturday, June 27 until August 2, open 8.30am-5pm weekdays and 10am-2pm on weekends, with free entry.