2016 McDonald's WAFL fixtures finalisedSaturday, December 19, 2015 - 7:40 AM

Fixtures have been finalised for the 2016 McDonald’s WAFL Premiership Season.

The season will feature 23 rounds in total, with 18 games and the finals series to be covered live on the Seven Network.

The 2016 McDonald’s WAFL season will follow the Top 5 finals format after it proved to be a great success in the 2015 season. The system made a return for the first time since 1994 after being voted upon by all WAFL clubs.

KEY ROUNDS

Rd 1 – March 19 (4 games including South Fremantle v West Perth at Fremantle Oval, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 2 – Easter (Subiaco v East Perth at Medibank Stadium on Good Friday, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 3 – Grand Final re-match and West Perth International Round (West Perth v Subiaco at HBF Arena, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 5 – Count Me In Round (Swan Districts v Subiaco at Steel Blue Oval, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 6 – ANZAC Day (4 games including East Fremantle v South Fremantle at ATOM Stadium, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 8 – One Life Round 

Rd 12 – WA Day (3 Monday games including Swan Districts v Perth at Steel Blue Oval, live on the 7 Network)

June 11 – WA v Tasmania State Game at Steel Blue Oval

Rd 14 – Men’s Health Round (Perth v East Fremantle at Lathlain Park, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 16 – NAIDOC Round (South Fremantle v Claremont at Fremantle Oval, live on the 7 Network)

Rd 23 – The Fathering Project Round (Game and 7 Network coverage TBA)

Grand Final – Sunday, September 25

* Three Country Sports Enrichment games are also scheduled for the 2016 McDonald’s WAFL season.

The West Australia Football League continues to grow its reputation as the premier state league competition in Australia by providing an elite competition for our players to aspire to.

WAFL General Manager Steve Hargrave said the 2016 fixturing process had endeavoured to achieve greater equalisation, a home and away flow for each WAFL club wherever possible, maximise attendance and focus on the key rounds.

“All necessary steps were taken during the fixturing process to ensure as many club requests as possible were met and exciting clashes scheduled for the featured rounds,” Mr Hargrave said. 

“The Top 5 finals format, which makes way for an additional round of finals, will return for a second year after proving to be a great success during the 2015 McDonald’s WAFL Season.

“The 2016 WAFL season enters into a second year of partnership with major broadcast and naming rights sponsor McDonald’s and the Seven Network to ensure WAFL games continue to be broadcast on free to air TV across the state.

McDonald’s WA Market Director Rob Sexton said its WA licensees are excited about the prospects of the 2016 season, coming off the back of a very successful 2015 campaign.

“2015 was a landmark year for the McDonald’s WAFL partnership and as we plan for the season ahead, our licensees are excited and looking to engage even further with their local WAFL Clubs as we support and grow this fantastic state league to even greater heights,” Mr Sexton said.

WAFL General Manager Steve Hargrave said the WAFC is delighted 18 WAFL games and three rounds of finals will be broadcast on the Seven Network for a second year and thanked major sponsor McDonald’s and supporting partners AHG, Kennards Hire, Reiwa.com and the WAFL Clubs for making this possible.

“On average 31,836 people tuned into each WAFL game broadcast on the Seven Network this season, a 55% increase on last year,” Mr Hargrave said.

“The Seven Network broadcast of the McDonald’s WAFL Premiership Season will open with a Saturday night blockbuster clash between South Fremantle and West Perth at Fremantle Oval.’

“We have worked to minimise changes to traditional start times for games where possible, while also trying to maximise viewership opportunities by avoiding direct clashes with AFL games and leading into and out of live AFL games on the Seven Network,” Mr Hargrave said.
 

Download 2016 WAFL Fixtures
Download 2016 WAFL TV Guide