TOPIC:

Host clubs closer for Eagles, Dockers

Mark Duffield,
The West Australian
October 16, 2012, 6:31 am


West Coast and Fremantle could have formal alignments in place with East Perth and Peel for the 2014 WAFL season, with the WA Football Commission expected to pitch partnership proposals to the two WAFL clubs within the next week.

WAFC chairman Frank Cooper refused to name the clubs involved yesterday, but speculation remains that the WAFC regards an Eagles link with East Perth and a Fremantle alignment with Peel as its most achievable options in forming host-club arrangements.

Cooper was hopeful that the fresh proposal drafted by the WAFC would address concerns and issues expressed by WAFL clubs at the recent football summit held to thrash out the AFL reserves teams issue.

East Perth president Bronte Howson was overseas and could not be contacted yesterday.

Peel Thunder's John Ditchburn said he was well aware of the speculation about his club and the Royals but said Peel could not adopt any position on an alignment until they saw a firm proposal.

"We are waiting for the commission to put a proposal to us," Ditchburn said. "We have heard the rumours like everyone else has but all we can do is wait to see what line the commission takes on this."

A defiant Ditchburn said Peel remained confident they could succeed as a stand-alone club.

He believed the Thunder were better placed than several other WAFL clubs to survive and succeed in the longer term on its own.

"People say we would be the least affected by an alignment because of our short history but we would say that we have done all of the hard yards and we think we are a strong chance to make it our way," Ditchburn said.

Cooper was hopeful that a clearer picture on future alignments would emerge in the next two weeks.

He ruled out any permanent changes in 2013, declaring a short time frame would mean that only "transitional" arrangements to satisfy the AFL clubs' desire for reserves team structures would be possible next season.

"We are working on the proposal. It is getting towards its later stages," he said. "But it is just too hard to pre-empt things at this stage.

"But we do think it is going to meet the needs of both the WAFL and AFL clubs, as they expressed them to us when we held the football summit.

"We would hope that we would get a proposal that everyone is happy to sign off on within the next two weeks."

Cooper also confirmed the WAFC has had talks with both Channel 9 and Channel 7 about televising WAFL games post-2013, should the ABC drop its coverage.

The ABC holds the option of covering games next season but is yet to confirm that it will and appears unlikely to continue in 2014.

"We are looking at what we can do in regards to maintaining telecasts of the WAFL," Cooper said.

"It is uncertain as to what will happen post-2013."
"We are waiting for the commission to put a proposal to us. We have heard the rumours ..."" Peel president * John Ditchburn *

This is a disaster for the WAFL, but it will go ahead.

It is a sad day for WA Footy.

The eagles and dockers are determined to control and destroy the WAFL.

It is still all media speculation and hype mate driven by the likes of Hagdorn and Langdon. Those two blokes should be ashamed of themselves!

Swandog wrote: Those two blokes should be ashamed of themselves!

Yes very much so!
Heard the same story myself, those two so called sports commentators from a certain commercial radio station were actively pushing the barrow.

Swandog wrote: It is still all media speculation and hype mate driven by the likes of Hagdorn and Langdon. Those two blokes should be ashamed of themselves!

I think its a done deal Swandog, Haydn Raitt admitted on 6pr that there were 3 clubs vying for the host position in 2014.

No ceo or club president has been spoken to as yet. The two local afl clubs are working on a paper and thats it. The afl dont give a stuff about the wafl especially after they booked a game on Aussie day when its the best day for the wafl.

Eagles to hurt WAFL profits
Shayne Hope, The West Australian October 18, 2012, 6:51 am

WAFL clubs are up in arms over the prospect of losing around $100,000 in profit next year after it was confirmed West Coast would play a home game on the WA Day public holiday in June.

WA Day has traditionally been the biggest date on the WAFL home-and-away calendar, with East Fremantle playing arch rivals South Fremantle while West Perth tackle old foes East Perth.

The Fremantle derby has averaged crowds of 8206 on WA Day over the past seven years, with the Perth derby averaging 4869. Both are well above usual WAFL crowd figures, which are around 2000 a game.

South Fremantle's Haydn Raitt, the chairman of the WAFL council of presidents, said the bumper fixtures provided huge financial benefits worth around $50,000 net profit each game.

West Coast will host Richmond in a night game at Patersons Stadium on WA Day next year, with the game starting after the traditional WAFL fixtures have finished.

But the WAFL clubs felt they would take a huge financial hit due to reduced crowd numbers regardless of what time the Eagles game was played.

Raitt has asked the WA Football Commission to define its stance on the issue and will raise the issue with the commission at the next presidents meeting in a fortnight.

"A club would normally make around $50,000 on a day like that, so we'll send the bill to West Coast or the football commission," Raitt said.

West Perth president Brett Rap- oni said the WA Day derby against East Perth was "absolutely critical" to the Falcons' financial result each year and questioned West Coast's commitment to helping the nine WAFL clubs survive.

"West Coast constantly remind all and sundry about their concern for the welfare of the WAFL and its clubs and its development of players within the competition but a decision like this really makes you question their concerns and motives," Raponi said.

"I would have expected the WAFC to strongly support the WAFL, but it appears they have either been blindsided by the decision or simply have not batted hard enough for us. Certainly their role is to deliver the best outcome for football, not just the two AFL clubs.

"Frankly, I don't think they give a stuff about anyone else except themselves."

East Fremantle president Con Tripi claimed the Eagles had shown a lack of respect towards the WAFL clubs by scheduling a game on WA Day. He said smaller crowds would diminish exposure for sponsors and have a dramatic impact on the clubs' bottom lines.

"We've had some reasonable crowds for both derbies and put a lot of effort into promoting them," Tripi said.

"This is a bullet wound, really."

WAFL director Grant Dorrington said WA Day was an important fixture for the WAFL.
"After building this traditional event for WA footy, it would be great to see it remain a stand-alone fixture for the WAFL," he said.

Strong comments by WP,EF,SF what about Dorrington getting tough too and supporting these blokes and the WAFL

If you're relying on Dorrington for support for the WAFL, forget it...he's just a p!$$ weak AFL muppet...he was an EP player you know!

Best thing that could happen would be for the remaining clubs to simply refuse to play them and forfeit their matches.