WAFL's big Subi opener
A prime-time Saturday night clash between East Fremantle and East Perth at Domain Stadium will highlight round one of the WAFL season next month in a bold start to the league’s new era on commercial television.
The fixture between the two premiership contenders will start at 7.10pm on March 21.
The game will be broadcast live across WA on digital channel 7Mate in a concerted effort to open the 2015 season with a bang.
WA football heavyweights are keen to make an ambitious statement to kick off the three-year broadcast agreement with Channel 7, which is part of Seven West Media, along with theweest.com.au.
Organisers are targeting a crowd of at least 5000 at the Subiaco venue for the clash between the Sharks and West Coast’s WAFL affiliates.
West Coast will promote the match heavily to members and up to half of East Perth’s team is expected to be Eagles players.
The game is a departure from recent WAFL seasons. Only the grand final has been played at the venue.
WAFC operating officer Nick Sautner said there were big plans to make the match a “blockbuster”.
One-off promotions include broadcast sponsor reiwa.com giving a fan the chance to win $100,000.
“Fans will also be able to have a kick on the hallowed turf at the quarter and half-time breaks,” Sautner said.
“This will be the first of 18 live WAFL games on the Seven Network in 2015, not including finals, and we are genuinely excited about the new opportunities this will present for the competition.”
The WA Football Commission has underwritten much of the cost of holding the match at Domain Stadium, covering expenses such as security, ground cleaning and lighting.
The match counts as one of East Fremantle’s 10 home games for the year. Officials had also weighed up the option of making the first broadcast an afternoon game at Fremantle Oval.
Sharks chief executive Todd Shimmon said the WAFC should be applauded for the ambitious fixture.
“It’s two weeks before the actual AFL season, so we think there’s an audience still looking for a bit of football,” Shimmon said.
East Perth chief executive Dean Turner said the match was part of a sustained bid to increase WAFL attendances.
An average 31,364 viewers watched SANFL matches broadcast by the Seven Network for the first time last season.
Fast food giant McDonald’s will be the WAFL’s naming-rights sponsor.
Three other matches are scheduled for round one. Peel have the first-up bye.
South Fremantle will host West Perth in a night match at Fremantle Oval on Friday, March 20.
Subiaco will start their premiership defence against Claremont at Medibank Stadium the following day, and Swan Districts play Perth at Steel Blue Oval.
