A senior Richmond team will play for premiership points at Punt Road Oval for the first time since 1964, when the Tigers host four AFLW games at the venue next year.
Commencing with a home Round 1 clash against Brisbane on Sunday, January 31, the Tigers will also host Geelong (Round 3) and St Kilda (Round 9) at the Club's spiritual home, as well as a Friday twilight clash with Adelaide in Round 8.
The March 19 fixture at the Swinburne Centre against Adelaide will see Richmond teams in action on back-to-back days in the precinct, with the AFL season opener against Carlton slated for the night before.
Richmond CEO Brendon Gale said the home fixtures would give the Club's AFLW players an enormous boost.
“Current circumstances have enabled AFLW games to be fixtured at Punt Road Oval for the 2021 season, and I know how much that means to our women’s team,” he said.
“COVID restrictions, combined with the fact we can’t use the Jack Dyer Stand because of its condition, means the ground capacity will be significantly reduced. But I know that won’t dampen the excitement of having our women play games at their home ground for the first time at AFLW level.”
Structural engineers did not clear the stand as safe to patrons, limiting the potential crowd number.
“The whole Club is looking forward to next season. The trade period and draft have enabled the Club to further develop its AFLW playing list, and we anticipate a much-improved performance under the guidance of our new coach Ryan Ferguson,” Gale added.
In other games, Richmond will travel to Perth to face West Coast in Round 2, marking the first time the expansion clubs have met in an AFLW fixture.
The Tigers will also play the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval in Round 4, North Melbourne in Tasmania (Round 5), the Suns under Friday night lights at Metricon Stadium (Round 7) and Melbourne at Casey Fields in Round 6.
Information regarding AFLW membership and access to games will be communicated to members shortly.
Richmond 2021 AFLW Fixture:
Round 1 v Brisbane at Swinburne Centre, Sunday January 31 - 1.10pm
Round 2 v West Coast at Mineral Resources Park, WA, Saturday February 7 - 2.10pm
Round 3 v Geelong at Swinburne Centre, Sunday February 14 - 1.10pm
Round 4 v Western Bulldogs at Victoria University Whitten Oval, Saturday February 20 - 5.10pm
Round 5 v North Melbourne at North Hobart Oval, TAS, Saturday February 27 - 3.10pm
Round 6 v Melbourne at Casey Fields, Saturday March 6 - 3.10pm
Round 7 v Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, Friday March 12 - 7.50pm
Round 8 v Adelaide at Swinburne Centre, Friday March 19- 5.10pm
Round 9 v St Kilda at Swinburne Centre, Sunday March 28 - 4.10pm
