Chiefs seething over delayed Dockers
WAFL presidents will tonight quiz WA Football Commission chairman Frank Cooper on the threat to the league's integrity created by Fremantle's decision to hold out two players for nearly half of Peel's match on Saturday.
Kepler Bradley and Tom Sheridan did not join their Peel team-mates until just before half-time of the game against Subiaco at Medibank Stadium.
The pair were Fremantle emergencies and warmed up with the Dockers squad before the western derby at Patersons Stadium, which started 35 minutes after the start of the WAFL game.
They arrived at Leederville late in the second term and helped Peel regain the lead before the last-placed Thunder lost by 26 points.
The WAFL's council of presidents will meet tonight, with the issue set to provide a flashpoint on an already fiery agenda.
Council chairman Brett Raponi, the West Perth president, said Fremantle's actions had threatened the integrity of the competition.
"We are not happy," Raponi said. "The WAFL comp is better than this.
"(Its) integrity is in question (and I) expect those running it to sort it."
The presidents will also receive a presentation on Channel 7's bid to broadcast the competition next season.
The WAFC have confirmed that Seven West Media, which owns The West Australian, is the preferred broadcast partner but that at least $1 million must be found to underwrite the coverage and compensate clubs for the likely loss of a home match.
Under the proposed Channel 7 deal, the season may be reduced to 18 home-and-away matches.
Broadcast games are likely to take place at one or two venues and be scheduled before or after AFL matches.
Motoring giant AHG, whose chief executive Bronte Howson is president of East Perth, is understood to be one of the preferred broadcast sponsors.
