North Melbourne’s final two games in Hobart in 2025 will be AFL blockbusters

EXCLUSIVE: North Melbourne will end its 14-year “residency” in Tasmania next year with two AFL blockbusters in Hobart.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 03: Toby Nankervis of the Tigers and Tristan Xerri of the Kangaroos contest the ruck during the round 21 AFL match between North Melbourne Kangaroos and Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium, on August 03, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

North Melbourne has been gifted a huge “send-off” to its time in Tasmania with the Kangaroos set to play AFL blockbusters against reigning premier Brisbane Lions and ever-popular Richmond in their final two games in Hobart next year.

With the AFL’s 2025 roster to be released at 1pm on Thursday, the Mercury can reveal North Melbourne will play the champion Lions, coached by Tasmanian Chris Fagan, in round nine, and the Tigers, captained by Tasmanian Toby Nankervis, in round 23.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 29: Chris Fagan, Senior Coach of the Lions holds the Premiership Cup aloft during the Brisbane Lions Premiership Celebrations at Brighton Homes Arena on September 29, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The final-round game on the weekend of August 15-16-17 is set to be the hottest ticket in town, being the Kangaroos’ last appearance in Tasmania playing one of the AFL’s biggest clubs.

Richmond games in Tasmania have produced AFL record crowds at both ends of the state.

The Tiger’s 2006 game against Hawthorn in Launceston produced the Tasmanian all-time AFL attendance record of 20,971.

Flashback 2006 – Hawthorn versus Richmond at Aurora Stadium, Launceston, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin tackles Richmond's Andrew Raines

North Melbourne’s two games against Richmond in Hobart have produced AFL attendance highs in the south of 17,544 in 2015, followed by 17,844 when they played under lights in 2016.

Flashback – Ben Cunnington of the Kangaroos prepares to fend off with the ball infront of Dustin Martin of the Tigers during the round 11 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Richmond Tigers at Blundstone Arena on June 3, 2016 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

The Kangaroos’ clash with Brisbane Lions will be on May 11, at 4.40pm.

Details for their match against the Tigers in the last round of the home-and-away season in August are yet to be released.

Meanwhile, North Melbourne will play only two games in Tasmania next season as part of its “strategic exit” from the state _ despite being contacted to play four Hobart games in 2025.

After the two 2025, the Kangaroos’ 14-year relationship with Tasmania will officially end.

Hobart 2012 – Tickets to the first AFL (Australian Football League) game North Melbourne will play at Blundstone Arena (Bellerive Oval), Hobart, to go on sale, from left, deputy Jack Ziebell and North Melbourne skipper (captain) Andrew Swallow, with the first two tickets for the game against Greater Western Sydney (GWS)

On Wednesday the club announced it had signed a three-year deal to play two games per season in Western Australia as part of its exit from Tasmania.

“It was necessary for our board and administration to begin planning for a post-Tasmania future once the Devils were granted an AFL licence in early 2023,” said North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt.

“We have had a terrific relationship with Spirit of Tasmania and the people of Tasmania since 2012.

“We are proud of the role we’ve played in bringing AFL football to Tasmania, helping pave the way for Tasmania to have a club of its own.”

In December 2022, North Melbourne announced its latest deal with Tasmanian sponsor TT-Line to “play four AFL home games per season in Hobart across 2023, 2024 and 2025”.

North Melbourne said at the time: “Tassie is our home away from home, our Tasmanian supporters have been unwavering in their support and what better way for our Victorian-based supporters to travel across Bass Strait than on the Spirit of Tasmania.”

The contract with TT-Line included a get-out clause that allowed the deal to be “re-negotiated” when Tasmania got its own AFL licence.

The Devils are set to debut in the AFL in 2028.

HOBART, AUSTRALIA: Taylor Walker of the Crows tackles Kayne Turner of the Kangaroos during the round 15 AFL match between the North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Adelaide Crows at Blundstone Arena on June 26, 2022 in Hobart, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

On Wednesday North Melbourne ended speculation over its future in Tasmania.

From 2026, North will split its four former “Tasmanian games” with two in WA and two at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.

Its first WA game next year will be played against West Coast Eagles in Bunbury in round 13 and against Fremantle at Perth Stadium in round 14.

Watt said the Western Australia agreement would provide significant benefits to the Kangaroos.

“As we explored options available to us, the opportunity for North Melbourne to secure two homes games in Western Australia and deliver us a range of outcomes presented itself,” she said.

“The combined outcomes of reduced overall travel, suitable financial terms and the eventual return of two games to our Melbourne heartland made this the best solution for the club moving forward.

“As a result, we worked with the Spirit of Tasmania to plan a phased exit from Tasmania.

“We look forward to bringing two quality games to Hobart next season and of course our North Melbourne Tasmanian AFLW team will also play two games in Tassie in 2025.”

Originally published as North Melbourne’s final two games in Hobart in 2025 will be AFL blockbusters