Round 22 of the AAMI WAFL Premiership will see two league games played consecutively at Steel Blue Oval in Bassendean as part of a double-header event on Saturday, August 21.
The Swan Districts Football Club will host West Perth versus Claremont at 11.15am and then the home team will take on Perth at 2.15pm.
This will be the first double-header for the WAFL competition in more than 20 years, with three similar fixtures held in 1988 at Subiaco Oval and the WACA Ground.
The first ever WAFL Double Header was held in 1922 when Fremantle Oval was not available and a match between Souths and West Perth was transferred to the Show Grounds and played as a curtain raiser to an East Perth versus Perth match.
WAFL Double Headers:
- July 8, 1922 two matches were played at the Show Grounds on the same day. EP beat Perth immediately after the SF v WP match.
- April 25, 1988 at the WACA – WP beat Claremont at 1pm and then Perth beat South Fremantle at 3.30pm. The attendance was 9,000
- June 25, 1988 – Perth def Subiaco and EF def EP at WACA
- August 14, 1988 – SF d Claremont and Subiaco d WP at Subiaco Oval
The clubs involved with this year’s Double Header hope the rare opportunity will increase community involvement and help to grow the game. Normal ticketing will apply and West Perth club members will maintain their usual home-game benefits. There will also be an $8 entry special for SDFC, WP, Claremont, and Perth members.
Entertainment on the day will include performances from Clayton Bolger and plenty of fun for children including a junior parade, SciTech display, face painting and jumping castles.
West Australian Football Commission Director of Football Grant Dorrington congratulated the clubs involved with the initiative and encouraged a strong show of support for the concept.
“We are always exploring new ways of growing our game and engaging the community and I think the first WAFL double-header in over 20 years will be a great way to do this.
“The clubs involved are to be congratulated and I hope the event is a resounding success,” Mr Dorrington said.
