Historic First Home Final For Perth

Perth will host its first Sullivan Logistics WAFL Final in the First Semi Final against East Perth on Saturday at Mineral Resources Park.

The Demons will face the Royals with the winner to advance to next week’s Preliminary Final.

Perth Chief Executive Jared Bell has declared the match a huge occasion.

“It’s incredibly exciting and a really significant moment for the Perth Football Club,” Bell said.

“To be hosting our first ever WAFL final at Lathlain is something we’re proud of, particularly given the history of this club and how long Lathlain has been our home.

“There has been a huge amount of work put in to get us into this position, both on and off the field.

“To now play a home final in front of our members, sponsors and supporters is a great reward for everyone involved.

“It’s also fantastic that our Reserves who are still alive and will play West Perth later in the day.

“To have two Perth teams involved in finals on our own home ground makes the occasion even more significant and gives our supporters a full day of football to get behind.

“There is plenty planned around the ground, and it should be a fantastic day for Perth.

“Hopefully, it’s one that our players, members, sponsors and supporters remember for a long time.”

Perth called the WACA home from 1899 through to 1958 before moving to Lathlain Park in 1959.

The club then briefly returned to the WACA for the 1987 and 1988 seasons before coming back to Lathlain in 1989, where it has remained ever since.

Historically, the WAFL finals system was very different to what it is today, with finals generally played at Subiaco Oval rather than the higher-ranked team earning the right to host at its home ground.

“That’s why Saturday is such a unique moment for the club,” he said.

“We’ve been based at Lathlain for most of the past 67 years, yet we’ve never had the opportunity to play a WAFL final here.

“For our long-time supporters, many of whom have followed Perth through some lean periods, it’s a significant occasion.

“Hopefully we can get a huge Demons crowd through the gates and make it a day that becomes another important part of the club’s history.”

The club has put in a significant amount of effort to plan for the big day.

“Our supporters have been fantastic, and we saw last year just how much they embraced finals football,” Bell said.

“We’ll have a bar set up on the hill with CUB furniture for the East Perth supporters, while the Sullivan Logistics truck will also be set up on the hill and open to the public.

“We’ll also have Hungry Jack’s, additional food trucks, activities for the kids and additional amenities, including toilets, to cater for the larger crowd we’re expecting.

“We want people to come down early and make a full day of it.

“Lathlain can create a fantastic atmosphere when there is a big crowd in, and hopefully our supporters can make it feel like a genuine home final and give both of our teams a real lift.”

While creating the right atmosphere is essential to a successful day, Bell admits it’s up to the players to get the result and put the Demons one win away from reaching a Grand Final.

“It’s obviously massive and the double chance was something the players earned through their performances across the home and away season, and while last weekend didn’t go our way, we now get another opportunity,” he said.

“Finals football is ultimately about taking your opportunities when they present themselves.

“We know East Perth will be a very strong opponent and there is a great rivalry between the two clubs, so we’re expecting a tough contest.

“For us, the equation is simple.

“Win and we move into a Preliminary Final, lose and the season is over.

“There is plenty of belief within the group and across the club.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to get ourselves into this position, and now it’s about making the most of the opportunity in front of us.”