THE West Australian Football League is celebrating another exceptional home and away season, with more than 200,000 spectators attending games in 2010 for the second consecutive year.
Last year was the first time since before WA became a two-team AFL state in 1995 that the WAFL had attracted more than 200,000 spectators for a season of home and away fixtures – a feat that has been repeated this year.
The attendance total reached 201,266 after the final round of fixtures at the weekend, which is only 3.2% down on last year’s record-breaking season, when attendance peaked at 207,924.
That was the highest since the completion of the 1994 season when attendance totalled 241,338. That plummeted to 160,367 when Fremantle joined the AFL the following year and did not return to above 180,000 until 2008 when 180,532 attended WAFL games.
WAFL Operations Manager Clint Roberts said it was great to see support for the competition returning to the heights of past years and thought the quality of football, family atmosphere and hard work of the nine clubs had all played a major role in the resurgence.
“I think we can put it down to the quality of the competition and enjoyable family environment, as well as the great work the clubs have been doing to promote their fixtures,” Mr Roberts said.
It is likely that the finals crowds will also be large given the tightness of the competition and the expected fine conditions for the weekend. Last year 8796 people attended WAFL semi finals but with East Fremantle, East Perth, Swans and Claremont still in the mix, this could easily be broken.
WAFL SEMI FINALS FIXTURES
Saturday 4th September
East Fremantle Oval
9.15am - COLTS 2nd Semi Final - East Fremantle v Claremont
11.45am - COLTS 1st Semi Final - Peel Thunder v Swan Districts
Sunday 5th September
East Fremantle Oval
11.45am - RESERVES 1st Semi Final - East Perth v West Perth
2.15pm - LEAGUE 1st Semi Final - East Fremantle v East Perth (ABC TV & 990AM Information Radio)
Claremont Oval
11.45am - RESERVES 2nd Semi Final - Claremont v East Fremantle
2.15pm - LEAGUE 2nd Semi Final - Claremont v Swan Districts (720 6WF ABC Radio & 91.3FM Sport FM)
