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Andrew Slevison • July 16th, 2025 9:57 am
The Richmond Football Club is wanted by the Tasmanian State Government to make Hobart a temporary home for the next two years.
As North Melbourne gets set to end its relationship with Tassie after almost 15 years, the Tigers are wanted to fill the void ahead of the induction of the Devils in 2028.
Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary is reporting that the Tigers have been approached by the State Government to take a game or two down south.
Whether it would replace their home game at Marvel Stadium is unclear.
“The Tasmanian State Government wants Richmond to replace North Melbourne as the new club in Hobart over the next two seasons before the Devils arrive,” Cleary said on The Agenda Setters.
“Richmond are still working through this prospect and will determine it over the next couple of months.
“We know Richmond have a couple of games each year at Marvel Stadium - their fans just don’t rock up. They average 21,000 over the last five games at Marvel Stadium.
“The proposal has the Tigers moving a game or two down to Hobart to fill the void before the Devils come in.
“We know Hawthorn will play four games a season in Launceston for the foreseeable future. But when North Melbourne moves their two games back to Marvel from next year and get out of Tassie completely, there’ll be a big hole down in Hobart.
“The Tasmanian State Government want Richmond to fill that void.”
It is understood that the Tigers - who are not a cash-poor club - would profit handsomely from the proposed shift.
Cleary suggests there would be a significant difference to what they would bring in for a home game at Marvel.
“I dare say they could make double or triple down in Tassie,” Cleary added.
“Club are talking about 25 to 30,000 being the breakeven at Marvel, and Richmond barely touch that. The fans just don’t rock up, this goes back to the Damien Hardwick days.
“We know they’re working through the new development of Punt Road Oval as well.
“This is not a cash-struck club by any stretch. They’ll find a way. But an extra $2 million for your club to work through something like this will help.
“The Tassie Government want to spend up big because they want content in Tassie before the Devils arrive. They can’t have a gaping hole in Hobart for the next two years.”
The Tigers have a very strong link to Tasmania with club greats such as In Stewart, Royce Hart, Matthew Richardson, Michael Roach and Jack Riewoldt all hailing from the Apple Isle.
As a result, the two biggest attendances for games in Hobart have involved the Tigers, both against North, and the largest AFL crowd (20,971) at a game in Tassie was played between Hawthorn and Richmond in Launceston in 2006.
Former Hawks skipper Luke Hodge, who barracked for the Tigers as a kid, experienced the support of the yellow and black during his career.
“They’re not going to plays finals over the next couple of years with the young list snd the turnover they’ve had,” Hodge said.
“Why wouldn’t you take them down and make some money before Tassie get a team down there?
“Richmond have a lot of support everywhere they go, but especially down in Tassie. I’ve seen that first-hand.”
