2010 season Bouncedown

THE 2010 AAMI WAFL Premiership Season was officially launched at Subiaco Oval today, with club coaches, captains and CEOs joined by sponsors, members of the media and other special guests for a breakfast function.

The Bouncedown Breakfast was also an opportunity for the WAFL to officially announce new naming rights partner, leading national insurer AAMI, which has committed to naming rights sponsorship of the competition in a long term agreement that will deliver significant support for grass roots football in Western Australia.

Speaking at the Bouncedown event, AAMI’s Executive Manager - Sponsorship, John Bennetts, said the WAFL would be an important component of AAMI’s marketing strategy in WA.

“We are delighted to be entering into this partnership with the WAFL, Western Australia’s iconic state based football league. This is AAMI’s first sponsorship investment in the West Australian market, and we could not think of a more appropriate entity than the WAFL to connect the AAMI brand with West Australian communities, right throughout the state.

“AAMI looks forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with the WAFL and in particular, supporting grass roots football in Western Australia,” he added.

The AAMI naming rights sponsorship will see the competition referred to as the AAMI WAFL Premiership Season and include the use of a new league logo. AAMI branding will also appear on club jumpers, game balls, ground signage, posters, tickets and fixtures.

An AAMI WAFL Player of the Week Award will be featured in the Football Budget and promoted on Nova FM and Network Ten News. AAMI will distribute $250 each week to the Player of The Week, and $250 to the player’s Western Australian club/district of origin.

An AAMI WAFL Player of the Year will also be awarded on Network 10, with a prize of $5000 up for grabs.

The 2010 Bouncedown Breakfast also featured a panel interview with WAFL league coaches and umpire Stuart Parry, who each discussed the season ahead and the strength of the competition again this year.

Parry also touched on new Laws to be introduced to the WAFL this season in line with changes made at AFL level last year to law 15.10 – Free Kicks after Disposal, which was introduced to protect ball carriers and maintain the flow of play

Considerable debate surrounding the rushed behind rule resulted in the decision that the incidence of ‘rushed’ behinds was so low in the WAFL that it required no ‘remedy’.”

Umpires will also pay closer attention to players encroaching on the mark or failing to return the ball promptly to an opponent after a free kick or mark this season. Free kicks will continue to be awarded for holding the ball where a player has no prior opportunity but makes no real effort to dispose of the ball.

Recognition was also made of new Little League sponsor The Movie Masters.

The 2010 WAFL season kicks off this Friday night with South Fremantle hosting East Perth at Fremantle Oval.

PICTURE: South Fremantle premiership captain Toby McGrath presents an AAMI WAFL football to AAMI Executive Manager - Sponsorship, John Bennetts.

AAMI WAFL PREMIERSHIP SEASON – ROUND 1

Friday, March 19

Fremantle Oval

South Fremantle v East Perth

League 6.40pm

720 6WF ABC Radio 91.3FM Sport FM

Saturday, March 20

Fremantle Oval

South Fremantle v East Perth