Victorian hoodoo next big goal for WA

Western Australia will have the opportunity to end one of the longest droughts in Australian sport when they travel to Melbourne in 2017 to take on the Big V.

The Black Swans have never beaten Victoria in Melbourne – the closest being the six-point loss at the MCG in 1970 – over more than a century of interstate rivalry.

And their most recent visit in 2007 ended with a 119-point thrashing to continue a series of heavy defeats against the powerful Victorians.

But West Australian football is surging and there is considerable confidence within WAFL ranks that a maiden Victoria win is within reach.

Under the programme established by the AFL to co-ordinate interstate clashes, WA will take on Tasmania and Victoria in the next two seasons.

The Black Swans produced their third consecutive interstate win last Saturday when they outran South Australia by 45 points at Lathlain Park.

WA will host Tasmania next year as the Black Swans attempt to complete a clean sweep of the four major State leagues.

The game is again likely to be at a WAFL ground with club and league officials delighted with the success of Lathlain Park.

The victory over the Croweaters followed an 85-point thumping of the NEAFL in Sydney last year and a 17-point win at Northam in 2013 that ended a 22-year drought against the Big V.

WA are scheduled to have a bye in 2018 though that could be avoided if one of the other States agreed to play two matches in the season.

Victoria have a bye this year while the NEAFL is due to host Tasmania next month at the new $13 million Moreton Bay sports complex at Burpengar, 35km north of Brisbane.

Former WAFL players Nick Winmar, Jacob Derickx and Jack Anthony have all been selected in the NEAFL team while Tasmania will be coached by Brett Geappen, the brother of Swan Districts forward Tim.

Interstate schedule

2016

WA Tas Perth

SA Vic Adelaide

bye NEAFL

2017

Vic WA Melbourne

Tas NEAFL Hobart

bye SA

2018

Vic NEAFL Melbourne

Tas SA Hobart

bye WA