Richmond Arrives in Monash: AFL Giant Set to Call Waverley Park Home
The Tigers' move ensures one of Australia's most iconic football precincts remains at the heart of the game.
For decades, Waverley Park stood as one of the defining landmarks of Australian football.
From grand finals and record crowds to Hawthorn Football Club’s long standing presence, the Mulgrave precinct has occupied a unique place in Victoria’s sporting history. Following Hawthorn’s departure to its new Kennedy Community Centre, many local residents were left wondering what the future would hold for the famous site. Now, those questions have been answered.
Photo: Izy Rajapakshe | Monash Herald
Richmond Football Club has confirmed it will relocate its football operations to Waverley Park while a major redevelopment of its Punt Road headquarters is undertaken, ensuring the iconic venue remains an active part of the AFL landscape for years to come.
For the City of Monash, the announcement represents far more than a simple change of tenant. It is a significant vote of confidence in one of Melbourne’s most strategically located sporting precincts and reinforces Waverley Park’s ongoing role in elite Australian sport.
The Tigers’ arrival comes at a pivotal moment for the venue. Hawthorn’s departure marked the end of an era, concluding a relationship that spanned more than two decades and helped establish Waverley Park as one of the premier training and administration facilities in the AFL. While many feared the site could lose relevance following the Hawks’ exit, Richmond’s decision demonstrates the enduring appeal and quality of the facility. From a football perspective, Waverley Park offers exactly what elite clubs require: world-class training infrastructure, established administration facilities and a location capable of supporting large scale professional sporting operations.
Photo: Izy Rajapakshe | Monash Herald
From a local perspective, the benefits extend well beyond football.
Richmond remains one of Australia’s largest sporting organisations, boasting a passionate supporter base and significant commercial reach. The club’s presence is expected to generate increased visitation to the area, providing flow-on benefits for local cafés, restaurants, retailers and service businesses throughout Mulgrave, Wheelers Hill, Glen Waverley and the broader Monash municipality. The move also ensures that Monash retains a direct connection to the AFL at the highest level.
In recent years, the City of Monash has continued to emerge as a major centre for business, education and community activity in Melbourne’s south-east. Retaining an AFL club presence strengthens that position and further enhances the municipality’s profile as a destination for major organisations and investment.
Photo: Izy Rajapakshe | Monash Herald
Importantly, the transition reflects the evolving story of Waverley Park itself.
What was once one of Australia’s largest sporting stadiums has continually reinvented itself over successive generations. First as a premier match-day venue, then as Hawthorn’s headquarters, and now as the temporary home of one of the AFL’s most successful modern clubs, the precinct continues to adapt while remaining deeply connected to the game that built its reputation.
For Richmond supporters, Waverley Park will become a temporary base during a transformative period for the club. For Monash residents, however, the significance may prove more lasting.
The colours may have changed from brown and gold to yellow and black, but the message is clear: Waverley Park remains very much part of football’s future.