Richmond has committed to playing two VFL matches in the Cardinia Shire next year.  

The Club will nominate to play two home games at Beaconsfield’s Holm Park Recreation Reserve each year, for at least the next three seasons, when submitting its fixturing requests in November.

Richmond has driven the initiative to continue to engage its strong and loyal following in the south-east corridor.

Earlier this year, Richmond played a NAB Challenge match against Hawthorn, in front of a crowd of close to 7,000 at Holm Park Recreation Reserve.

The Club’s connection to the region stems back to 2012, when it joined forces with the Cardinia Shire Council to bring the community together using football, through various programs, events and community engagement initiatives.

Richmond CEO, Brendon Gale, said the Club was excited about its growing connection with the Cardinia Shire.

“We hope our local fans, and the broader community living in the Cardinia Shire and Casey regions, enjoy the opportunity to watch the young and emerging talent in our VFL team, playing in their own backyard,” Gale said.

“We’re committed to establishing our presence in the Cardinia Shire, and we feel that playing two VFL home games each season from 2017 to 2019 is a significant step forward.”

Cardinia Shire Mayor, Cr Jodie Owen, said the local support of the Richmond Football Club was on show each time it visited the shire.

“It is always so fantastic to see so many people coming out to welcome the Richmond Football Club into Cardinia Shire,” Cr Owen said.

“The VFL games will be a great opportunity for football fans of all ages to enjoy a day out with friends and family, to support the players and other activities on the day.”

The Club further strengthened its ties to the region when Aligned Leisure, a fully owned subsidiary of the Club, commenced management of the shire’s major recreational facilities on July 1 this year.