Richmond fans have three big games before round 10 to lock horns with departed premiership winners

Richmond fans can lock in rounds 5, 6 and 9 for matches involving a trio of departing premiership players in 2025 among a slew of big games for players who shifted clubs at the end of 2024.

As the full AFL fixture was confirmed on Thursday, those players who moved, some in acrimonious circumstances and some with their old club’s wishes, could start preparing themselves to take on their old teams.

Among them are s trio of Tigers premiership winners, with Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and vice-captain Liam Baker moving to the Gold Coast, Fremantle and West Coast respectively as Richmond faces years of rebuilding.

Rioli and Bolton left while under contract, much to the dismay of many Richmond fans, which also earnt them a not-too subtle rebuke from president John O’Rourke at the club’s best and fairest awards as he praised the loyalty of some who stayed.

“Just by way of example … how fortunate are we to have players of the character of a Nathan Broad,” O’Rourke told the function.

“I know through this year, I’m sure he could have explored options to see out his career in his home state or perhaps look for more lucrative options with other clubs.

“But he chose to extend for a further two years … what a Richmond man.”

Only Baker will bear the full brunt of his former fans at the MCG, with Bolton’s encounter scheduled for Gather Round in the Barossa Valley and Rioli’s at Marvel Stadium, where Tiger fans are loathe to go.

Richmond wasn’t the only club to lose premiership winners, with Caleb Daniel leaving the Western Bulldogs while under contract to join North Melbourne.

The club best and fairest winner will come up against his former teammates in round 1, while disgruntled former Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith will wear his new Geelong jersey against his old team in round 11.

New Collingwood recruit Dan Houston, who flip-flopped on wanting out of Port Adelaide, will face his old team in round 2 at the MCG, while enigmatic former Essendon star Jake Stringer will have to wait until round 19 to play for his new club GWS against the Bombers.

Josh Battle, who knocked back a big offer to stay at St Kilda to join Hawthorn, will have round 17 circled when he faces off against the Saints, while new teammate Tom Barrass, who said he would be a “West Coast player for life” before signing with the Hawks, will get a soft reintroduction in Melbourne against the Eagles in round 7.

John Noble, who left the Magpies as the pain of missing the 2023 premiership lingered, will front up for the Gold Coast Suns against his old team in a home game in round 18.

Veteran Luke Parker, who was forced out of the Sydney Swans and signed with North Melbourne, will face his former team in round 4.

SHOWDOWNS FOR PLAYERS WHO MOVED CLUBS IN 2025

Bailey Smith (Geelong) v Western Bulldogs – round 11

Dan Houston (Collingwood) v Port Adelaide in round 2

Jake Stringer (GWS) v Essendon in round 19

Daniel Rioli (Gold Coast) v Richmond in round 6

Liam Baker (West Coast) v Richmond in round 9

Shai Bolton (Fremantle) v Richmond in round 5

Caleb Daniel (North Melbourne) v Western Bulldogs in round 1

John Noble (Gold Coast Suns) v Collingwood in round 18

Josh Battle (Hawthorn) v St Kilda in round 17

Tom Barrass (hawthorn) v West Coast in round 7

Luke Parker (North Melbourne) v Sydney in round 4