AFL’s North Melbourne confirms end to Tasmanian games with future matches in Western Australia

North Melbourne has announced that is has finalised a deal to play two regular season ‘home’ fixtures in Western Australia for each of the next three years.

The Kangaroos will host one match at Optus Stadium and one at Bunbury's Hands Oval against Perth-based clubs Fremantle and West Coast from 2025-2027.

The new fixtures, which the club advise will “secure its financial future” are part of a strategy to exit Tasmania, where it has played at least two home matches each year since 2012.

With the Tasmanian Government backing its new Devil licence, set to enter the competition in 2028, North Melbourne will not play any more home games in Tasmania after next year, having played four a year at Hobart's Bellerive Oval in recent seasons.

Two of those home matches will return to Victoria from 2026 onwards, the other two will see the Kangaroos host West Coast and Fremantle in either Perth or Bunbury across 2025, 2026 and 2027.

In 2025, North Melbourne will host the Eagles in Bunbury in Round 13 and Fremantle at Optus Stadium in Round 14.

Kangaroos Chief Executive Jennifer Watt said the agreement with the AFL, the Western Australian Government and Tourism WA will provide significant benefits to the club, noting in a statement “this is a great outcome for the club in that we are able to bring two games back to our Melbourne heartland supporters while securing our financial future.”

She added “the club began planning for our post-Tasmania future once Tasmania was granted an AFL licence.

"Having explored a number of options, this three-year agreement stood alone in delivering multiple benefits to the club, our members and supporters."

Reaffirming the club’s commitment to North Melbourne, while also noting that Western Australia has the largest number of Kangaroos supporters outside of Victoria, Watt went on to say that its Arden Street precinct remains North Melbourne's "forever home", stating “enhancing our facilities and expanding our footprint within the Arden Precinct will always be at the heart of our long-term strategy.

"From a financial perspective, this opportunity in Western Australia will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to do that alongside fully funded football departments.

"Underpinning the club's finances also enables us to refocus and invest in talent identification and fan development in our Next Generation Academies.”

Watt emphasised that the new deal will help to ensure the Arden Street precinct remains North Melbourne's "forever home".

"Enhancing our facilities and expanding our footprint within the Arden Precinct will always be at the heart of our long-term strategy," Watt said.

"From a financial perspective, this opportunity in Western Australia will go a long way to ensuring we can continue to do that alongside fully funded football departments.

"Underpinning the club's finances also enables us to refocus and invest in talent identification and fan development in our Next Generation Academies.

Tourism industry welcomes new fixtures
Tourism Council WA has welcomed the matches the Kangaroos’ matches heading to the state.

Tourism Council WA Chief Executive Evan Hall said the two annual games would generate approximately $4 million in visitor spending in both Perth and regional WA, creating approximately 30 new full-time equivalent jobs in the local community.

Looking forward to the fixtures, Hall advised “the tourism industry will work to encourage Roos fans to stay on and holiday in the South West, and turn a one match visit into a one week stay.

“We will encourage them to stay longer and spend more, creating more economic benefits and jobs, particularly in the South West.

“It’s great to see an influx of interstate visitors into regional WA, particularly during the slower winter in the south.”

Images: North Melbourne will play two regular season ‘home’ fixtures in Western Australia for each of the next three years (top, credit: Shutterstock) and AFL at Optus Stadium (below, credit: VenuesLive).