Anzac Day should not be a Dockers exclusive, say Eagles
West Coast will continue to lobby the AFL to host a game during the Anzac Day round, with chief executive Trevor Nisbett saying rivals Fremantle should not own the honour of the marquee fixture in Perth.
The AFL yesterday released its 2015 fixtures, with the Dockers to host Sydney in their 20th annual Len Hall tribute game at Patersons Stadium on Anzac Day evening.
AFL DEFENDS PACKED ANZAC DAY | FRIDAY NIGHT IN PERTH ON CARDS
West Coast will play Brisbane at the Gabba the following day, but Nisbett said they had pushed for a home game that round and would do so again in 2016.
"Because of our relationship with the SAS Resources Trust and the SAS in general, we have been pitching for that for a few years and missed out so we'll be pitching again," he said.
"We don't believe it's anyone's right just to have for one of the teams in Perth. We think our members and supporters deserve the opportunity to have an Anzac Day game as well.
"We actually celebrate the HMAS Finding Sydney game against Sydney and that's always a really popular game with our members and supporters and we'd like to play Sydney on that day. I see Fremantle are playing Sydney on that day."
Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich said the Len Hall fixture had been one of their key submissions, but wouldn't be drawn on the Eagles' claims on the round.
"Well I think there's the vagaries of the fixture," he said. "Not all teams get everything they want. We have got a long and established history. It's one we're looking forward to next year and I dare say into the future.
"I think it's hard to get commitments from the AFL on anything but they respect and value the contribution that we've made to Anzac Day and particularly the Len Hall game."
Nisbett, who confirmed his club's interest in de-listed pair Taylor Hunt (Geelong) and WA product Kane Lucas (Carlton), was also unhappy the Eagles had been hit with six six-day breaks and would only play in Melbourne four times in 2015.
The Eagles have two trips to Queensland, as well as games in Darwin and Hobart.
Fremantle are the only 2014 finalists West Coast face twice, with Adelaide, Gold Coast, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs their other double-ups.
Fremantle will play the Eagles, 2014 finalists Port Adelaide, North Melbourne, Richmond and Melbourne twice. Rosich said the Dockers' key submission had been around six-day breaks after they struggled with short breaks in 2014.
They have been scheduled five six-day turnarounds, but will almost certainly face another going into their final round against the Power at Adelaide Oval, with a Saturday game likely with both clubs tipped to be playing finals.
"We think on balance the five six-day breaks that we are scheduled to play is about what you would expect in a 23-week season," Rosich said.
- Nisbett yesterday backed Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's call for compensation for losing contracted staff to other clubs.
McGuire demanded and received financial compensation for the loss of contracted football boss Rodney Eade, who on Tuesday accepted a three-year deal to coach Gold Coast.
"I think Eddie has got every right to ask for compensation," Nisbett said.
