Most deem it a spiritual necessity to call past Tigerland on game days at the MCG – even if just for a glimpse on the walk from Richmond railway station along Brunton Avenue.

There is something special, perhaps a little surreal, about Richmond’s game-day return to Punt Road.

This is the second season the Tigers have been playing home games back at their true home for Victorian Football League matches.

AFL clubs have clearly outgrown their traditional bases, some even for training purposes, but it is more than a nice gesture to the past. These matches bring football history alive.

Ballarat’s elite players get their first taste of taking on the Tigers at the heart of Tiger territory this weekend.

North Ballarat Roosters expect nothing less than a strong, vocal Richmond presence. A little like what we imagine away games used to be like in the stories told by older generations.

The Roosters are well-versed in Collingwood’s Victoria Park – a living museum complete with real-life parochial Magpie fans who pack the stands.

They have paid a couple of visits to Essendon’s Windy Hill, while Carlton’s Princes Park remains heavily used.

But never Punt Road for a home-and-away game.

AFL clubs continue to strengthen their VFL arms under their own branding to take more control of player development and staff, rather than the fading model of alignments with existing VFL entities.

The Roosters will be on the flip side of this next season when North Melbourne withdraws its partial partnership.

Yes, this is making it tougher for stand-alone VFL clubs to compete, but it is far from impossible.

Traditional heavyweights Port Melbourne and Williamstown finished in the top three last season on their own.

The Roosters have more than a year’s worth of planning to ensure they remain competitive when they become fully independent.

This early-season trip to Punt Road highlights the importance of sticking to that plan.

Our region’s leading footballers are playing more matches against AFL clubs in AFL environments with AFL facilities.

AFL clubs with full control of their VFL team run matches with the same match-day process.

AFL coaches such as Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley and Geelong’s Chris Scott can be seen in VFL huddles when their AFL duties do not overlap. These matches are just another day in the office.

Such an increased push for control in VFL ranks is lifting the standard and exposure of the state league.

Our players have a great chance to benefit and, in turn, take this experience and exposure back to our grassroots clubs and leagues.

Punt Road is just the beginning for the Roosters this season.

The Roosters are on the road the next month, taking on Carlton’s Northern Blues in an AFL curtain-raiser under the roof at Etihad Stadium, their first trip to face Footscray at Whitten Oval and capping it off with Port Melbourne in the ’Borough at one of the VFL’s premier and historic grounds.

This trip to Punt Road highlights why the Roosters need to get it right when they stand alone as the only regional VFL club. Get it wrong and the only exposure our footballers will get to VFL in this city could be from the sidelines.

There is a stark example of this in Bendigo on Saturday night when Geelong hosts Collingwood at Queen Elizabeth Oval, right where that city’s VFL team played until the club burned out last season.

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au