North Melbourne’s pending deal to play two home games per season in Western Australia will hasten the club’s departure from Tasmania and disappoint Tasmanian football fans from next year.

The Kangaroos are contracted to play four games in Hobart in 2025 as part of a long-standing sponsorship deal with Tasmanian government-owned ferry operator TT-Line.

But ABC understands the commitment will be halved, with North playing just two games at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval next year, before a full transition away from Tasmania at the end of the season.

North Melbourne are in talks to head west next season to play two home games against West Coast and Fremantle, as part of a three-year multi-million dollar deal between the club and the Western Australian government.

They will keep seven home games in Melbourne, meaning two of the club’s four games in Hobart will be forgone.

Talks are ongoing between the club, the AFL and TT-Line about what a restructuring of Tasmania’s deal with North Melbourne could look like and what compensation, if any, stakeholders affected by the sudden reduction of Hobart fixtures might be eligible for. .

Fighting TT-Line could save some money

The decision to leave Tasmania a year early will have a knock-on effect across the state, including Cricket Tasmania, which owns and operates Bellerive Oval, and which has just negotiated a new naming rights deal for the venue based on four games of the AFL that are being held. will celebrate there next year.

As of this week, Tasmania-specific North Melbourne memberships were still on sale, offering packages including entry to two to four Hobart games.

For troubled TT-Line, which is reviewing its finances following the failed and costly replacement project for its two Spirit of Tasmania ferries, the restructuring of the deal comes at a potentially opportune time.

The ferry operator could save about $800,000 in sponsorship money, as well as receive some financial compensation, if the deal is restructured or terminated early.

And it is understood that while the number of Hobart matches is likely to be reduced next season, the quality of the remaining two matches could improve – with a higher profile, Victorian clubs are more likely to play the Kangaroos in Hobart.

A combination of Victorian clubs could play two games in Hobart in the 2026 and 2027 seasons, before the entry of the Tasmania Devils in 2028.

Crowds at Bellerive Oval have dwindled in recent seasons due to both North Melbourne’s poor ground performance and the constant presence of non-Victorian clubs such as Port Adelaide and Gold Coast, who do not have strong support in Tasmania.

In a statement, a North Melbourne spokesperson told the ABC the club was “continuing to work on transitioning out of Tasmania, and WA is an option we are exploring”.

The club also confirmed it will continue to play seven games at Melbourne’s Docklands.

TT Line has been contacted for comment.

Hawthorn, who receives state government sponsorship, is still expected to play four games in Launceston next season, and has previously indicated he would like to continue playing home games in the state beyond 2028, when the Devils are established.

The 2025 AFL match will be released on November 14.