WEST Australian football hit the big-time this week as West Coast and Sydney clashed in front of a record crowd in the final game of the AFL’s opening round. The Western Australian Football League (WAFL) season is also set to get underway, as preseason fixtures concluded this weekend.

Record Crowd for WA Football

Western Australia has a new highest attendance record for a football match after 53,553 people witnessed a Lance Franklin-inspired Sydney Swans defeat the West Coast Eagles at the brand new Optus Stadium.

Sunday evening’s crowd broke a 39-year record, previously held by the 52,781 people who crammed into Subiaco Oval to watch South Fremantle verse East Fremantle in the 1979 WAFL grand final.

The attendance also re-wrote the Eagles’ highest ever home crowd, smashing the previous record of 44,142 people who attended the 1991 qualifying final at Subiaco. Although the venue has already held a cricket One Day International between Australia and England, an AFLW clash, and more recently an Ed Sheeran concert, Sunday’s match provided WA footy fans with the first opportunity to watch AFL football at the 1.6-billion dollar facility. The 60,000 seat stadium is currently the third largest seated venue in Australia, sitting only behind the MCG and ANZ Stadium.

While the night was a historic occasion for WA football, the mood was dampened from a West Coast point of view by the Swans, who proved too strong for a brave Eagles side, recording the first win at Optus Stadium with a 29-point victory.

Round 3 WAFL Preseason Results

The final round of the WAFL preseason has come and gone, as clubs turn their attention to round one of the regular season.

Subiaco were too strong for a youthful East Fremantle, as the Lions ran away 20.15 (135) to 10.11 (71) winners, wrapping up their pre season with a 2-1 win-loss record.

In the battle of the AFL-aligned sides, Peel Thunder dominated East Perth winning 20.9 (129) to 3.7 (25). Forward Hugh Dixon had an outstanding night for the Thunder, finishing with six goals from 18 possessions, while Tom Sheridan did his chances of an AFL recall with Fremantle no harm, recording 25 possessions. Ex-Subiaco product Brayden Ainsworth was the Royals leading possession getter with 26 disposals.

Claremont continued its close losses in the preseason, succumbing to Swan Districts by six points. The Swans’ 9.12 (66) to 8.12 (60) win came on the back of three goals to former Brisbane Lions forward Todd Banfield and 24 possessions to Steven Payne. The Tigers’ favourite son and returning 2012 Sandover Medalist Kane Mitchell amassed a game-high 34 possessions, while former St Kilda and West Coast forward Beau Maister slotted three goals.

Meanwhile, in the final preseason game South Fremantle had a comfortable 20.12 (132) to 8.4 (52) victory over Perth at Lathlain Park. Captain Dylain Main was the leading possession getter and goal scorer for the Bulldogs with 28 touches and four goals. Former Claremont midfielder and new Demons recruit Corey Yeo gathered 26 possessions, while former North Melbourne rookie Matthew Taylor had 24 possessions.