Police football teams from all six Australian states are in Hobart this week for the National Police Football Championships.
The 36th championships run until Friday at North Hobart Oval, with games across three playing days.
It is the first time the event has been held in Tasmania since 2018.
Men’s and women’s teams will play 18 games across the event, with around 300 participants competing for the National Championship Trophy and the Lillian Armfield Cup.
Tasmania Police Football Club president Commander Jason Elmer said the competition also honoured officers who had died on duty.
“Many of the matches are played in honour of police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, with memorial trophies and perpetual shields struck in their honour,” he said.
On Friday, Tasmania will play Western Australia for the Ty Bennett Memorial Shield.
Commander Elmer said Constable Bennett was “a popular Hobart footballer and Tasmania Police officer”.
He was killed on February 16, 1999, when his unmarked police car left Colebrook Road near Cambridge and crashed into Duckhole Rivulet while he was responding to an alarm call.
He encouraged people to come along and support the teams.
“Entry to the championships is free of charge and it’s a great way for the community to show their support for police jurisdictions from across Australia,” he said.
