Richmond and Western Bulldogs will enter the VFL and play double-headers The introduction of the Dogs' VFL side will help their young talent blossom. RICHMOND fans have been handed seven local double-header fixtures next season ahead of the club's return to the VFL as a stand-alone reserves club. The VFL Tigers, who will be coached by Tim Clarke, will play at the club's traditional base nine times as footy for competition points returns to Punt Rd for the first time since 1964. The Tiger army will be able to attend curtain-raisers before AFL clashes with Geelong, Melbourne, Essendon, Fremantle, Brisbane Lions, GWS and St Kilda at the MCG next year. The VFL's other new side, Footscray Bulldogs, will play at Whitten Oval three times before the AFL side does battle in home games at Etihad Stadium. Footscray will host Richmond, Northern Blues (Carlton's affiliate) and Essendon among five games at Whitten Oval. The VFL Dogs will also play three matches at Simonds Stadium. Their clash against Geelong's VFL side precedes the twilight AFL battle at the Cats' home ground. Footscray, which will be coached by Chris Maple, will also line up against Box Hill and Bendigo at Whitten Oval and travels to Bendigo for a night fixture on Anzac Day. Dogs chief recruiter Simon Dalrymple recently said the introduction of a reserves side would boost development of their prized young talent. "It definitely will (help advance them)," he said. The pathway of having consistent messages from coaches is going to be huge. The gap between TAC Cup footy and AFL level is so big the transition period is crucial. To understand game plans and get the really good-quality coaching they're going to get is a really positive outcome. The Tigers will head to the country twice with away games booked against Collingwood (Morwell) and Werribee (Colac). They split from Coburg at the end of this season, while Footscray and Williamstown ended their partnership as the VFL expanded to a 16-team competition. Former Carlton rookie Ross Young will captain the VFL Tiges, who have also signed Reece Conca's older brother Luke, ex-Demon Aaron Davey, former Saint Andrew McQualter and VFL stars James Wall and Nathan Batsanis. Hawthorn affiliate Box Hill won this year's flag, upsetting 2012 premier Geelong in the grand final at Etihad Stadium.