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whatever way it's a race against time and the surface won't have time to bed in properly - I can see great clods of turf being strewn around
the worst areas of the ground are the centre spreading to the interchange in a vast area
big parts leading to the goal squares of both ends are poor as well

Apparently the first stage is the goal to goal area will be stripped top dressed and re-turfed, then they need to concentrate on the other heavy use area you mentioned, the interchange out to the centre. if all games and training are moved off the surface, it will have 5 + weeks to bed in and knit. They wouldn't want to delay work any longer.

What makes the announcement of the GF venue more strange is the mega amount of works that needs doing before bouncedown!
The bad condition of leederville oval has been known by everybody for many many years. It's not only the playing surface needs attention. The playing surface is only a small part of the issue. From what I hear, the playing surface from goal square to goal square is being done. What of everything else that needs attention????? How is the ground capacity going to be increased for the big day?
Why oh why oh why couldn't all these works be done years ago, or done during the off season!!!!!!?????????. Why wait until the Grand Final is just around the corner to try and bring the facility up to scratch? Everyone should have known or should have seen burswood is not interested holding Wafl matches there!!! That has been made plainly obvious!
I have never seen a game of footy at the Arena. Have heard it is a good modern facility. Why not hold the Grand Final there? Already has a good playing surface that doesn't need a mountain of works.
 

I know the reason for the GF venue shift this year is due to timing for cricket pitches to be dropped in, or so we are told. But in 2020 the excuse was Optus stadium would lose money based on previous years attendance which was possibly around 18,000. So they were saying the break even was about 25,000. So it was played at Fremantle oval in front of a packed house with a maximum capacity of 10,000. 

So how the fuck is it ok to play AFLW currently playing where is lucky to be 10,000 there??? Couldn’t believe my eyes when I turned it on and thought this must be at Lathlain when all I could see was the surface, then the camera’s panned up and I saw the fence. What a bunch of lying hypocrites the WAFC are. Don’t ever use the excuse about attendance again you lying bastards.

So six and a half thousand was the “great crowd” as the commentator said. And they were probably free admission or $10 bucks a head. I guess for a Thursday afternoon it’s not bad turnout but doesn’t change the fact a game of football was played at Optus with such a low attendance and we won’t hear boo about Optus Stadium losing money. 

DD wrote:

So six and a half thousand was the “great crowd” as the commentator said. And they were probably free admission or $10 bucks a head. I guess for a Thursday afternoon it’s not bad turnout but doesn’t change the fact a game of football was played at Optus with such a low attendance and we won’t hear boo about Optus Stadium losing money. 

Mate, do you understand how these things work? Optus does not lose a cent with AFLW games, they are all subsidised underwritten by the AFL, its the AFL that loses money, they pay the full venue fee to Optus regardless of the crowd and then recoup it on ticket sales, or in the case of AFLW lose money.

The same applies to the WAFL , they book the venue , then must recoup on ticket sales, in the case of the WAFL GF is the sales do not come up to budget the WAFL (WAFC) loses money, that's where the loss is. 

So how is the surface looking? Anyone seen it lately?

It looks great - but it wont at the start of the League. The prior games of Colts and Ressies will have it all torn up I reckon. Even with the fantastic weather this week

This will probably be a battle of the two midfields because both are pretty strong
I lean toward West Perth winning because they have forwards who might trouble Claremont if supply is given and that West Perth have had good rest between games
Hutchings may not play which will tighten things a bit and Claremont have had 3 finals games of preparation on the other side as well
West Perth - but it would not surprise if Claremont did get up , the talent is present

mkhannah wrote:

So how is the surface looking? Anyone seen it lately?

John Townsend posted a photo on the WAFL FB page showing it looking the best it has for decades.
Some have questioned if it will stand up to 3 games on the day. The last couple of games were played there with partially relaid areas of turf that were just a week old and the players had no issues with shifting turf, so with a number of weeks with no use it should be fine and have the normal wear and tear that any oval has on a normal WAFL match day.