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Liverpool vs Arsenal LIVE from 3amRichmond's three-step off-season plan ahead of 2026
Jaiden Sciberras • August 31st, 2025 2:15 pm
Richmond’s goal on-field is rather straightforward in the lead up to 2026; develop the kids, get Sam Lalor and Josh Smillie right to go and attack next season at full throttle.
But what about off the field?
The Tigers’ checklist ahead of the 2026 season contains a list of behind-the-scenes activities that CEO Shane Dunne will look to address, and as told by AFL.com.au journalist and SEN regular Josh Gabelich, the on-field workings are far from the club’s concerns over the coming months.
“I sat down with Shane Dunne, their CEO this week, and clearly this off-season is going to look very different to last year when you consider the retirements and the departures of so many premiership greats, plus the departure of (former CEO) Brendon Gale,” Gabelich told SEN Crunch Time.
“This year, they go to the draft with pick two and pick three, that’s what they’ve got at the moment. They are not going to be aggressive – we don’t expect – in the trade period.”
Temporary relocation
“This off-season, they need to make some big decisions around where their base is next year.”
“Waverley Park is something they are considering in terms of renting, the AFL bought that off Hawthorn this year. They don’t get back to Punt Road full time until the middle of 2027, so they have to make a big decision on that.”
Richmond commenced their redevelopment of Punt Road in 2025, with the training ground undergoing a state-of-the-art upgrade featuring a new stand to sit over 8,000 patrons, improved facilities for all of the AFL, VFL and AFLW programs and to build education spaces.
Selling a home game
“They also are exploring selling a home game to Hobart or Sydney.”
“This has to be a Marvel game – they are not going to sell an MCG game. They are making a decision around that, and part of the reason they’re doing this is because they need to finance stage two of their redevelopment.
“$25 million they need to find, and this is one way that can help solve some of that problem.”
Adem Yze’s contract
“The third part I want to hit on is Adem Yze.”
“He enters 2026 without a deal beyond that year – his initial three-year contract ends next year. They haven’t started any discussion just yet, they will contemplate that over the off-season, they will review his year like they will the whole footy department.
“I wonder if this is one that gets done before Round 1 next year.”
