The AFL is believed to have given North Melbourne the go-ahead to play four matches in Hobart from 2012, giving the league's pauper club a massive financial fillip.

The development, if confirmed, would give the AFL an eight-match presence in the Apple Isle.

It would also be a huge boon for the perenially hard-up Roos who currently lose money on many poor-drawing home games at Etihad Stadium. If the Tasmania move is given the green light, the club could expect to make a six-figure sum from each of its Hobart appearances.

While Richmond was also bidding for the chance to play two of its home games in Hobart - Tigers chief executive Brendon Gale is Tasmanian and on the board of AFL Tasmania - it is understood the AFL favoured the Roos' bid because it gave the club the hope of some financial relief and, just as importantly, they were committed to making a second home in Tasmania whereas Richmond's involvement was of a more fleeting nature.

Any Hobart matches would be played at Bellerive, home of Cricket Tasmania and venue for the state's Test cricket matches. While the ground can only accommodate about 17,000 spectators, Cricket Tasmania has said there were plans to lift that capacity to about 20,000, the same as Launceston's Aurora Stadium.

Cricket Tasmania has said that Bellerive would provide a low-cost stadium for modest crowds.

Hawthorn plays at Aurora Stadium in the north of the state four times a season in a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian government. That deal ends after the 2011 season, so the government will then be under pressure to ratchet back the money it pays Hawthorn to help fund the Roos' foray into the south of the island.

And Aurora is a 'clean' stadium, meaning virtually every dollar the Hawks make at their matches is taken back with them to Melbourne, and not ploughed into the local community and local sport. That situation would not be allowed to occur at Bellerive where a slice of profits would be set aside for the Tasmanian Football League, and other grassroots sport.

North Melbourne, which knocked back a lucrative AFL deal to move holus-bolus to the Gold Coast in late 2007, will again have some members worried they might be looking to re-locate permanently interstate. It is believed, however, they are just looking to emulate the success of Hawthorn's four-match Launceston venture.

There was speculation the Roos' announcement was going to be made by club chairman James Brayshaw on the Footy Show last night, but Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett does not return from overseas until next week and any announcement is now likely to be delayed until after his return.