North Melbourne Kangaroos Announce Partnership Extension with the Tasmanian Government

The North Melbourne Kangaroos and the Tasmanian Government have signed a two-year extension of their AFLW partnership, ensuring the back-to-back premiers maintain their strong presence in the state through the 2026 and 2027 seasons.

Under the renewed deal, the Kangaroos will continue to host two home matches per season in Tasmania, split between Blundstone Arena in Hobart and University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.

Expressing her enthusiam about the partnership extension, North Melbourne CEO, Jen Watt, noted: v“With the Tasmania Devils set to be competing in the not-so-distant future, the decision to update the team’s name is a logical one.” 

The club will also continue its community impact through pre-season camps and clinics, featuring local stars like Nicole Bresnehan and Mia King.

“Our first-ever AFLW match was played in North Hobart and we’ve been blessed to have amazing Tasmanian players be part of our team,” Watt added.

The agreement is underpinned by $900,000 in funding from the Tasmanian Government via Events Tasmania. This investment is designed to maintain elite women’s sporting content in the state while the Tasmania Devils prepare for their inaugural entry into the national competition.

In addition, the team will transition from the “North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos” to the North Melbourne Kangaroos from 2026. This realignment is a proactive response to the looming arrival of the Devils.

The partnership has delivered exceptional results on-field, with the Kangaroos suffering only one loss in Tasmania since the arrangement began in 2019.

As part of the 2026 community engagement strategy, North Melbourne will take the 2024 and 2025 AFLW Premiership Cups on a statewide tour, further cementing the commercial and cultural value of the “North-Tasmanian” alliance before the state’s standalone team officially takes the field.

Don’t miss out on the latest in sports business – Subscribe today to the free Ministry of Sport newsletter and stay ahead of the game. For even more exclusive insights, event tickets, professional development and networking events, become a MoS Member today!.