RICHMOND has sold its Darwin game to Melbourne, sacrificing an estimated $500,000, reports The Age.

Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale confirmed the decision on Thursday while insisting the decision was not made because the Tigers lost to Port at TIO Stadium in round 10 this year.

Gale said Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had not requested a change of the fixture and "certainly [didn't] blame the fixture for the loss".

"We entered into an agreement and had every intention of meeting our obligations," Gale told The Age's chief football writer Caroline Wilson.

"However, circumstances have changed and that has allowed us to bring this home game back to Melbourne.

"Following discussions with the AFL it became apparent that the Melbourne Football Club was interested in Darwin as a longer-term strategic play and… it made sense for them to take up this opportunity."

Richmond also plays a home game in Cairns which the club will keep. That contract ends in 2013.

"Given the AFL's support for the change, we felt it would be better for the Club to concentrate on one interstate market, which will be Cairns for the next two years," Gale said.

"There are some short-term financial implications, however, the support of the AFL through the recently established Club Future Fund Distribution now provides us with the resources that we believe will allow us to hit key commercial targets in the coming years.

"If our increased investment in football delivers improved performance on-field, we will be able to capitalise and build the financial muscle of the club."