West Australian Football

The WAFL experienced its greatest crowds since 1997 this season, with an increase of 4422 on last year’s attendances – before the three weeks of the finals series kick off this weekend.

Over the course of 23 rounds of the home-and-away season, 179,452 fans headed to a WAFL game in one of the closest seasons in recent times, with six teams still in the running to make the top four only weeks out from the finals series.

Back in 1997 184,646 people were treated to a finals series that resulted in South Fremantle beating arch-rivals East Fremantle by just six points in the WAFL grand final.

Over the past five years there has been a steady rise in WAFL crowds as fans continue to get treated to quality football that all of the family can enjoy.

A total of 25,025 people went through the gates during last year’s finals and with the preliminary final being held away from Subiaco Oval this year, it is expected that crowd figures will again soar.

The first and second semi-finals and the preliminary final are all being played at suburban grounds, with the loser of the second semi-final hosting the winner of the first semi-final at their home ground.

“The semi finals were played at suburban grounds last year and crowds showed their support for having finals at those venues,” said WAFL operations manager Clint Roberts.

“So we are confident that crowds will be appreciative of having the preliminary final played at either Arena Joondalup or Medibank Stadium.

“Then the home of football, Subiaco Oval, will host the grand final teams on the biggest day on the WA football calendar, WAFL grand final day, Sunday, September 21.”

Finals fixtures:

First semi-final:
South Fremantle v Swan Districts
Fremantle Oval

Second semi-final:
Subiaco v West Perth
Medibank Stadium

Preliminary final: Saturday, September 13

Grand final: Sunday, September 21