Richmond will kick off its 2013 pre-season campaign with round-robin matches against Melbourne and North Melbourne.
In the fixture released by the AFL today (Wednesday, October 24), the Tigers will play the Demons and Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on Friday, February 22 in games over two 20-minute halves, from 6.40pm.
In a similar format to last year’s pre-season competition, matches in weeks two and three count in the overall standings. But, unlike the opening round-robin matches, all games in the second and third rounds will be full-scale, four-quarter affairs.
All matches will count equally, with four points for a win and percentage also being taken into account. The two best-performed teams over the three rounds (two shortened and two full games) will play off in the grand final on either Friday, March 15 or Saturday, March 16.
Richmond will travel to Wangaratta on Sunday, March 2 to take on Essendon in Round 2, at 5.10pm.
Then, on Saturday, March 9, the Tigers meet Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Tasmania at 1.10pm.
“We are a strong national brand and we get great support wherever we play. We look forward to playing in Wangaratta and Tasmania, and engaging with the local Tiger fans, and the broader community,” said Richmond CEO Brendon Gale.
“The players enjoy these road trips during the pre-season, and they help shape the group we are developing.
“Given they caught a bus back from Sydney in 2011, the short trip to Wangaratta won’t be a problem.”
The 16 clubs who don’t make the grand final, will play one last match at various metropolitan venues across Australia on the weekend of March 15-17.
2013 pre-season competition fixture
Round 1 (Triangular)
Friday, 22 February
Etihad Stadium
18:40 EDT
Richmond/Melbourne/North Melbourne
Round 2
Saturday, 2 March
Wangaratta
17:10 EDT
Essendon v Richmond
Round 3
Saturday, 9 March
Aurora Stadium
13:10 EDT
Hawthorn v Richmond
