Richmond beat out Melbourne in race for Waverley Park

Richmond has won the race to call Waverley Park home.

It's understood the Tigers will move to the AFL-owned venue in the coming months, and be there until the Punt Road development is complete.

The Demons are still trying to navigate their Caulfield project, and there is scope for them to follow the Tigers to Waverley from midway through 2027 until a permanent home base is confirmed.

The two clubs had been battling over the venue for vastly different reasons.

Richmond needed a ground for its men's and women's programs to train on between September this year up to April or May next year.

Melbourne has been eager to bring its club under one roof for more than a decade, but the delay in navigating the club's long-term wishes to move to Caulfield has been difficult.

It's believed Melbourne players are set to be told as early as Tuesday, while Tigers players are expected to be informed on Wednesday.

Former Melbourne CEO Paul Guerra had been supremely confident in the pre-season that the Dees would be at Waverley by Round 3, but his board didn't share the same conviction.

The AFL imposed a June 30 deadline on the club to formalise its arrangement with Caulfield. It's unclear why a decision has been made a fortnight before the cut off date.

Melbourne, Richmond and the AFL were contacted for comment.