AFL, clubs donate to mine disaster fund

The AFL, St Kilda and Fremantle will donate $20,000 to a fund set up to help the families affected by the Beaconsfield mining disaster.

Speaking before Sunday's AFL game in Launceston against Fremantle, St Kilda president Rod Butterss said his club would give $5,000 to the Beaconsfield Miners Families Support Fund.

Butterss said the Dockers would also contribute $5,000 and the AFL had agreed to donate $10,000.

Addison Knight, 10, also ran out with the St Kilda team before the start of the game at Aurora Stadium.

Addison is the son of Larry Knight, who died in the underground rock fall.

"We arrived yesterday afternoon to magnificent weather, but ... we also arrived in a community going through a difficult time," Butterss said.

Volunteers were collecting donations for the fund at the gates before the game.

Meanwhile, Butterss said the Saints remained unsure about whether they would continue to play two "home" games a season in Launceston.

"The answer is 'I don't know', the one thing I do know about AFL is that it's a rapidly-changing industry," Butterss said.

"We need to be on the other side of that change and adapt to that change.

"What I can say is that it's been a significant win for the football club."

He added the Saints would discuss the matter with the Tasmanian government in the next few months.