West Australian Football

South Fremantle and Claremont will head this weekend’s AFL-free weekend in Perth when they play for the Jimmy Melbourne Cup at Fremantle Oval this Saturday.

Four games of WAFL will be played at the traditional time slot of 2.15pm this Saturday afternoon. There is expected to be an influx of AFL talent back to the WAFL this weekend, including Jeff Farmer who is hopeful of being part of this tribute game at the Port.

The Jimmy Melbourne Cup is in honour of the first aboriginal to play senior football in Australia and to acknowledge the wonderful contribution Indigenous players have made to our WAFL competition. The event will help kick off NAIDOC Week celebrations which will be held from July 6 to 13.

Jimmy Melbourne started his WAFL career with West Perth in 1900 and was a member of their 1901 premiership side. He joined South Fremantle in 1902 and finished with Subiaco in 1903-04.

South Fremantle CEO Brian Ciccotosto said the occasion would also be used to pay tribute to the role Indigenous mothers play.

“We want to acknowledge the role Indigenous mothers have played in nurturing and fostering the development of their boys and the encouragement given to enable them to realise their full potential,” Mr Ciccotosto said.

“A delicious meal including kangaroo, emu and damper will be served with a special commemorative gift presented to the mothers.”

For the second year in a row, as part of this NAIDOC tribute game, both teams will wear jumpers designed by Indigenous artist Richard Walley.

The match awards will honour champions from both clubs. Best on Ground will receive the Chris Lewis/ Stephen Michael Award; Goal-of-the-Day is the Jim Krakouer/Brad Hardie Award; Tackle-of-the-Day is the Basil Campbell/Dale Kickett Award and the Mark-of-the-Day is the John Gerovich/ Michael Mitchell Award.

Pre-match on the oval an Indigenous dance group will perform then hand over the match ball to the umpires. Both teams will assemble in the Griff John Function Centre for the after game presentations.

Also this weekend, Subiaco midfielder and premiership player Mark Haynes will play his 100th WAFL game against West Perth at Arena Joondalup. Haynes was recruited from Sandringham, Victoria in 2004 and was the Lions best and fairest in 2006.

So far this season 115,925 people have attended WAFL games, including a season-high 13,176 across the Foundation Day long weekend. If these crowd trends continue the WAFL is again on target to attract almost 210,000 to the football in a season.

The WAFL also represents great value for money. The cost for an adult is just $10, while the concession price is $7, RAC members are admitted for $7 and children under the age of 15 are free. All paying patrons receive a free copy of the Football Budget.