Analysis Should we be pursuing a secondary market post-Hobart? If yes, then where?

[ArchKing Carey]

I'm fine with this. Two Melbourne games returned and we have a fairly large following in WA compared to other clubs. I can actually hear our supporters at WA games

 

[The Warlord]

We definitely should have put out a holding line amid these very sensitive multi stakeholder negotiations.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

We definitely should have put out a holding line amid these very sensitive multi stakeholder negotiations.

The way the AFL drip feeds the fixture release with obsessive control, I'd suggest that is just another reason why we were prevented from making any unsanctioned statement about where we might be playing games and when in 2025.

 

[Hearts to hearts]

So many of us have worked in some capacity in complicated deals getting landed. No one makes official comments - even “holding” ones - unless all the parties agree. You all agree on what will be said and when. Unless the noise along the way is actually damaging, it doesn’t matter.

Honestly the only thing raised in this thread that has bothered me is the unauthorised data sharing/autorenew experiences of some loyal members.

The big picture stuff on future games, I was fine to wait. And now I see it, it looks pretty good.

 

[RoyalBlue]

Just wandering in to say hello (trust you're all well), and to say that this is such a good deal that we should avoid being too boastful about it as other clubs will be pissed and clubs like St Kilda will want in.

It's so good I decided to have a little snoop to see if we're happy with it given how cooked some of the deals have been in the past (Hello 'Contribute to the club's future at Arden St' and then Funky Carl dropping a fourth Hobart game a week later).

I had a poke around the internet and looked at some old fixtures to see how often we have played two games a year in WA.

Across 2006 - 2024 (inclusive) and leaving out 2020 (cursed year) - we have played in WA twice in 9 of 18 years.

So effectively this deal (lets assume and hope it runs longer than 3 years) means instead of playing 3 games in WA over a typical two year period, we play 4 games in WA over two years, and get $2.5m a year for it.

If we all accept that we just aren't ready financially to bring all the games home - this is a good deal!

We also:

• Bring games back to Melbourne from 2026.
• Exit Tassie properly and without sending games to Mackay? Townsville? Some Armpit in Tropical FNQ?
• It appears we also get marketable jumper slots back as Spirit deal will end.
• No longer have to devote time, effort, headcount, money and headspace to a 'second market' for first time in decades.
• Potentially from 2026 have finally fixed the W jumper and name.

I'm sure club would have loved to announce it earlier - but we aren't paying for the deal (WA), and we don't control the fixture (AFL) - so it's not our news to announce even if this has momentarily been annoying for Tassie members. The AFL has been in northern states, SA and I am guessing today WA this week drip feeding out the fixture. We have to work on AFl and WA govt's timetable.

Great deal, great job by admin, and great day for the club.

 

[gokangas]

Just wandering in to say hello (trust you're all well), and to say that this is such a good deal that we should avoid being too boastful about it as other clubs will be pissed and clubs like St Kilda will want in.

It's so good I decided to have a little snoop to see if we're happy with it given how cooked some of the deals have been in the past (Hello 'Contribute to the club's future at Arden St' and then Funky Carl dropping a fourth Hobart game a week later).

I had a poke around the internet and looked at some old fixtures to see how often we have played two games a year in WA.

Across 2006 - 2024 (inclusive) and leaving out 2020 (cursed year) - we have played in WA twice in 9 of 18 years.

So effectively this deal (lets assume and hope it runs longer than 3 years) means instead of playing 3 games in WA over a typical two year period, we play 4 games in WA over two years, and get $2.5m a year for it.

If we all accept that we just aren't ready financially to bring all the games home - this is a good deal!

We also:

• Bring games back to Melbourne from 2026.
• Exit Tassie properly and without sending games to Mackay? Townsville? Some Armpit in Tropical FNQ?
• It appears we also get marketable jumper slots back as Spirit deal will end.
• No longer have to devote time, effort, headcount, money and headspace to a 'second market' for first time in decades.
• Potentially from 2026 have finally fixed the W jumper and name.

Great deal, great job by admin, and great day for the club.

Looks a great outcome, especially after 2025 when we get 2 home games back. Good work.

 

[trooroo4life]

I’m ok with it. Extra games in Melbourne from ‘26 onwards is great.

The Tassie games will have embarrassingly low attendance next year. Will try to make a trip out of the WA week.

I want the club to be doing a lot more than it is currently doing to grow the base in Victoria though, so long term this isn’t even a discussion. It’s taken them until now to actually invest in the NGA again. As much as I dislike him, Eddie was right about the growing market in the northern suburbs. Living out here there’s so much potential with the population growing substantially.

Lets hope one day there’s no need to ever sell off games, fans could also start actually turning up which will make a difference too.

 

[Tiberius]

Does this mean we only get to play the Eagles once a year? Boo.

 

[The Warlord]

Just wandering in to say hello (trust you're all well), and to say that this is such a good deal that we should avoid being too boastful about it as other clubs will be pissed and clubs like St Kilda will want in.

It's so good I decided to have a little snoop to see if we're happy with it given how cooked some of the deals have been in the past (Hello 'Contribute to the club's future at Arden St' and then Funky Carl dropping a fourth Hobart game a week later).

I had a poke around the internet and looked at some old fixtures to see how often we have played two games a year in WA.

Across 2006 - 2024 (inclusive) and leaving out 2020 (cursed year) - we have played in WA twice in 9 of 18 years.

So effectively this deal (lets assume and hope it runs longer than 3 years) means instead of playing 3 games in WA over a typical two year period, we play 4 games in WA over two years, and get $2.5m a year for it.

If we all accept that we just aren't ready financially to bring all the games home - this is a good deal!

We also:

• Bring games back to Melbourne from 2026.
• Exit Tassie properly and without sending games to Mackay? Townsville? Some Armpit in Tropical FNQ?
• It appears we also get marketable jumper slots back as Spirit deal will end.
• No longer have to devote time, effort, headcount, money and headspace to a 'second market' for first time in decades.
• Potentially from 2026 have finally fixed the W jumper and name.

I'm sure club would have loved to announce it earlier - but we aren't paying for the deal (WA), and we don't control the fixture (AFL) - so it's not our news to announce even if this has momentarily been annoying for Tassie members. The AFL has been in northern states, SA and I am guessing today WA this week drip feeding out the fixture. We have to work on AFl and WA govt's timetable.

Great deal, great job by admin, and great day for the club.

Sorry, I ain't reading all that n00b

 

[giantroo]

Meanwhile, North Melbourne will earn a whopping $2.5 million in 2025 under a deal in which they will play two home games in Western Australia in the next three seasons.

North Melbourne will play West Coast in Bunbury in round 13 on Sunday, June 8 and Fremantle at Optus Stadium in round 14 on Saturday, June 14.

In 2025, the club will play seven home games in Melbourne, two in Tasmania and two in Western Australia.

However, in 2026 they will exit Tasmania with nine home games in Melbourne and two home games in Western Australia.

North Melbourne CEO Jennifer Watt said the deal would give the Kangaroos a better financial return.

"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,” Watt said.

“North Melbourne will always be our forever home, and 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.”

 

[jay317]

All you raging before the club actually announced anything can finally calm down. Great deal.

 

[The Nostradamus]

i still maintain if saints don't sell games we dont need to

they just get extra afl funding

they essentially get rewarded for doing nothing

 

[Grogg]

Good stuff.

Now to plow that cash into growing our Melbourne market

 

[Ichiro #51]

Great deal, particularly if we also only play 2 games total in WA in 26/27.

Feel for the Tassie members though. As much as Melbourne members hated the Tassie deal, it’s worth remembering there’s a bunch of North people down there losing big time.

I hope those who have already renewed for next year are being compensated in some way. Has that been mentioned?

 

[ChopChopDigDig]

This is a great deal for everyone. AFL gets the WA teams off their back RE over-travel, NMFC gets the same $'s as playing four games in Tassie, WA supporters get to see us play more, and Melbourne supporters get more home games. Only downside is Tassie supporters, but I'd be guessing most nmfc vs tas games once they enter the comp will be played in tassie anyway, giving those remaining nmfc supporters in Tas a game or two to watch us live.

Even the other clubs should be happy, since two additional WA based games lowers the risk of the AFL sending melbourne based teams over to WA more frequently in the future, and those Vic teams dont have to fly to Tassie to play another Melbourne based team.

win-win-win-win-win IMO.

 

[giantroo]

They should thank us.

 

[Orange Peanut]

Just wandering in to say hello (trust you're all well), and to say that this is such a good deal that we should avoid being too boastful about it as other clubs will be pissed and clubs like St Kilda will want in.

It's so good I decided to have a little snoop to see if we're happy with it given how cooked some of the deals have been in the past (Hello 'Contribute to the club's future at Arden St' and then Funky Carl dropping a fourth Hobart game a week later).

I had a poke around the internet and looked at some old fixtures to see how often we have played two games a year in WA.

Across 2006 - 2024 (inclusive) and leaving out 2020 (cursed year) - we have played in WA twice in 9 of 18 years.

So effectively this deal (lets assume and hope it runs longer than 3 years) means instead of playing 3 games in WA over a typical two year period, we play 4 games in WA over two years, and get $2.5m a year for it.

If we all accept that we just aren't ready financially to bring all the games home - this is a good deal!

We also:

• Bring games back to Melbourne from 2026.
• Exit Tassie properly and without sending games to Mackay? Townsville? Some Armpit in Tropical FNQ?
• It appears we also get marketable jumper slots back as Spirit deal will end.
• No longer have to devote time, effort, headcount, money and headspace to a 'second market' for first time in decades.
• Potentially from 2026 have finally fixed the W jumper and name.

I'm sure club would have loved to announce it earlier - but we aren't paying for the deal (WA), and we don't control the fixture (AFL) - so it's not our news to announce even if this has momentarily been annoying for Tassie members. The AFL has been in northern states, SA and I am guessing today WA this week drip feeding out the fixture. We have to work on AFl and WA govt's timetable.

Great deal, great job by admin, and great day for the club.

New phone who dis

 

[archerboy]

They should thank us.

They will I'm sure. How does the Suns & GWS on a Sunday twilight sound?

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

They should thank us.

And renegotiate Essendon's sweetheart deal that allegedly sees them profit from merch sales and catering within the stadium even when they are not a competing team.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Assuming we won't have extra trips to WA then? Or is that still a possibility to play WA and Freo at home?

Financially it seems to make sense, and the added couple of home games in melbourne from 2026 is a fantastic result.

 

[Chadwiko]

They should thank us.

They should pay us.

 

[shintemaster]

It will be a bit rich if fans of the SA clubs ark up after the absurdity of Gather Round.

Have you met other AFL clubs? Prepare to be entertained. I'm willing to guarantee clubs who get absolute silver service fixture treatment from head office (the usual Vic suspects) will be amongst the first to complain. It will almost be worth it for that alone.

 

[shintemaster]

Just wandering in to say hello (trust you're all well), and to say that this is such a good deal that we should avoid being too boastful about it as other clubs will be pissed and clubs like St Kilda will want in.

It's so good I decided to have a little snoop to see if we're happy with it given how cooked some of the deals have been in the past (Hello 'Contribute to the club's future at Arden St' and then Funky Carl dropping a fourth Hobart game a week later).

I had a poke around the internet and looked at some old fixtures to see how often we have played two games a year in WA.

Across 2006 - 2024 (inclusive) and leaving out 2020 (cursed year) - we have played in WA twice in 9 of 18 years.

So effectively this deal (lets assume and hope it runs longer than 3 years) means instead of playing 3 games in WA over a typical two year period, we play 4 games in WA over two years, and get $2.5m a year for it.

If we all accept that we just aren't ready financially to bring all the games home - this is a good deal!

We also:

• Bring games back to Melbourne from 2026.
• Exit Tassie properly and without sending games to Mackay? Townsville? Some Armpit in Tropical FNQ?
• It appears we also get marketable jumper slots back as Spirit deal will end.
• No longer have to devote time, effort, headcount, money and headspace to a 'second market' for first time in decades.
• Potentially from 2026 have finally fixed the W jumper and name.

I'm sure club would have loved to announce it earlier - but we aren't paying for the deal (WA), and we don't control the fixture (AFL) - so it's not our news to announce even if this has momentarily been annoying for Tassie members. The AFL has been in northern states, SA and I am guessing today WA this week drip feeding out the fixture. We have to work on AFl and WA govt's timetable.

Great deal, great job by admin, and great day for the club.

Agree, other clubs will be filthy as I pointed out. Should be funny watching the whinging from those who get gifts from head office every year.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Great deal, particularly if we also only play 2 games total in WA in 26/27.

Feel for the Tassie members though. As much as Melbourne members hated the Tassie deal, it’s worth remembering there’s a bunch of North people down there losing big time.

I hope those who have already renewed for next year are being compensated in some way. Has that been mentioned?

Yes, Tassie members are receiving an email and there is an FAQ on the app covering this. They are automatically being refunded 50% to their payment account if their membership auto-renewed. They can also choose to donate that 50% to the club as a tax deduction through the ASF or they can take it in merch.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Assuming we won't have extra trips to WA then? Or is that still a possibility to play WA and Freo at home?

Financially it seems to make sense, and the added couple of home games in melbourne from 2026 is a fantastic result.

No extra trips to Perth.