Kangaroos announce three-year agreement for WA home games

North Melbourne has announced a three-year agreement to host two AFL matches each season in Western Australia from 2025, marking a strategic shift away from Tasmania as the club’s base for additional home games.

Under the deal, the Kangaroos will play one match annually at Optus Stadium in Perth and another at the newly refurbished Hands Oval in Bunbury, against Western Australian teams West Coast and Fremantle.

The move aligns with the AFL’s expansion plans, as Tasmania is set to field its own team by 2028.

North Melbourne’s Tasmanian presence decreased to two games in 2024, with a full exit planned for the 2025 AFL season.

North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt highlighted the financial and logistical benefits of the deal, which not only supports the club’s growth but also adds two more home games in Melbourne starting in 2026.

Watt emphasised that while the decision may inconvenience some fans who enjoyed Tasmania-based games, the added revenue from Western Australian fixtures will be directed toward infrastructure upgrades and the club’s long-term strategy to expand its Arden precinct facilities.

North Melbourne’s head of football, Todd Viney, expressed confidence in head coach Alastair Clarkson’s ability to succeed with a “home-away-from-home” model, recalling Clarkson’s success with Hawthorn, where he led the team to multiple premierships while playing several games in Tasmania.

Viney believes North Melbourne’s growing support base in Western Australia will provide a strong home-like atmosphere for the team’s games in Perth and Bunbury.

The Kangaroos are gearing up for these changes as they look to solidify their foundation and fan base in both Victoria and Western Australia, strengthening their long-term presence and financial stability as they prepare for a new era in the AFL.

North Melbourne are currently at $101 odds to claim the 2025 AFL Premiership with the AFL bookmakers after only winning three games out of the 23 played.

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