AFL fixture 2025: Kangaroos near deal to play two home games in Western Australia
North Melbourne is looking for a new way to sell home games with the imminent arrival of Tasmania, and they may just have found the right spot, way out west.
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North Melbourne is closing in on a deal to play two home games in Western Australia next year with Bunbury firming to host its first AFL match.
Talks have advanced with the WA state government to play back-to-back matches in the west in 2025, against Fremantle and West Coast.
It is understood discussions have included one of those matches being played in Bunbury, two hours south of Perth, with the other to be at Optus Stadium.
The Roos would not shave off any Melbourne home games in the deal, with the club to still host seven matches at Marvel Stadium next year.
The potential deal has come after North Melbourne began looking into finding a new venue to sell home games as the Tasmanian side prepares to own the island state when the club enters the AFL in 2028.
Like the Tasmanian deal, the WA government would financially support the Roos to bring more games to the state.
The matches are expected to be staged together on back-to-back weekends to allow North Melbourne fans to travel over and stay in the west and attend both games.
Playing two home games against Perth-based sides coincides with a groundswell from interstate clubs – particularly from the west – to make up for the travel burden they face in comparison with the 10 Victorian teams.
While Alastair Clarkson’s side has battled in recent seasons, the Roos have a strong record at Optus Stadium, having won two of three games there under Clarkson, and having lost the other game to the Eagles by just five points.
The Roos have a strong western fan base, having lured over stars such as Barry Cable, Ross Glendinning and brothers Jim and Phil Krakouer in the 1970s and 80s.
North Melbourne is no stranger to a nomadic life, having played home games this century in Hobart, Gold Coast, Carlton’s Princes Park, Sydney’s SCG and Canberra.
Club CEO Jennifer Watt said in June the Roos were searching for an “exit strategy” to fill the gap when the Hobart games are lost.
“We have a bit of time to work out what the exit strategy is and it is a big financial return for the club so we will need to find something and it probably doesn’t look like just bringing four games back to Marvel,” she told ABC Radio.
“We are open minded.”
North Melbourne is planning a marquee game at Marvel Stadium next year to celebrate 100 years since the club joined the VFL.
The AFL fixture will drop next month.
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