Saturday Night WAFL Comes To Life in 2025Friday, December 20, 2024 - 7:34 AM

The Sullivan Logistics WAFL competition will enter a new era with the introduction of several Saturday night matches in the 2025 fixture.

The West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) has confirmed the season will begin with five matches played on Saturday, April 5.

The opening round will feature Peel Thunder unfurling their 2024 premiership flag when they host Claremont at Lane Group Stadium. Elsewhere, co-tenants Subiaco and East Perth will begin their season under lights at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday night, Swan Districts host West Perth, Perth and South Fremantle will unveil their new full-time coaches in Mark Stone and Craig White retrospectively, while the West Coast Eagles will face East Fremantle at Mineral Resources Park.

The Sullivan Logistics WAFL will again be the local focus in Round 2 on April 12 and 13 when the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers travel to Adelaide for the AFL’s Gather Round. 

Easter Saturday will feature a full round of matches. Peel Thunder plays East Fremantle, East Perth meets Claremont, South Fremantle is at home to Swan Districts, Perth faces co-tenants West Coast, while Subiaco is set down to host West Perth under lights. 

The 2024 Grand Final re-match will take place in Round 5 when East Perth seeks redemption against Peel Thunder at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

A focus on traditional rivalries will continue next year with ANZAC Day and WA Day matches. Matches will be staged on Saturday, April 26 as part of the ANZAC Day long weekend, as clubs honour our service men and women.

Supporters will get their first taste of Derby action on the public holiday Monday as part of the Round 8 WA Day weekend. East Fremantle will play a home game against South Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, while East Perth hosts West Perth.

On a bye weekend for the competition, WA is scheduled to play South Australia in a State Game at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, May 17.

The 20-round home-and-away season will be followed by a four-week finals series, culminating with the Sullivan Logistics WAFL Grand Final on Sunday 21st of September at Optus Stadium. 

Head of WAFL Competitions at the West Australian Football Commission Luke Sanders believes Saturday night matches will help expose the competition to more fans. 

“WAFL clubs work hard to create a fantastic atmosphere for fans and families, providing a unique chance to listen to coaches and enjoy a kick on the ground at breaks,” Sanders said. 

The 20-round home-and-away season aims to provide the fairest fixture for the most exciting state league competition in Australia. 

While the traditional timeslot of Saturday afternoon will continue, the addition of several Saturday night games provides fans with opportunities to see their favourite clubs. 

“Playing games across the weekend creates opportunities for the WAFL, including attracting a larger audience and supporting initiatives such as WA Day and NAIDOC week,” Sanders said.

2025 WAFL fixtures can be found here.