The AFL’s decision to schedule the western derby on a Friday night for just the second time in history is the start of what should become the biggest game in WA holding a permanent marquee spot on the fixture according to WA Football CEO Brad Wira.
The Dockers and Eagles will take centre stage at Optus Stadium for the first time ever on a Friday night. The only other Friday night derby occurred in 2005 at Subiaco Oval.
Wira said the game deserves to be in a prominent position on the fixture and he hopes the clubs continue to get rewarded into the future.
“I’m extremely happy. It is the signature night from a player perspective and from the number of eyeballs that will be on it. To have our two local teams playing Friday night footy is awesome,” Wira told The West Australian.
“You are judged by your performances and Freo are going fantastically well. We’re also seeing the significant improvement of West Coast. And then there’s the overall experience. It’s such an awesome experience being at the ground. The lure of Wharfie Time might help. But Fremantle’s performances justify this being on a Friday night.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon travelled to Perth earlier this year for the derby that was played on a Sunday afternoon and saw the passion of the 54,000 people in attendance.
Friday night’s game won’t be broadcast nationally on free to air TV, but it will be shown across WA on Channel 7. Other states will see the game in Victoria between Melbourne and Geelong at the MCG.
But Wira said playing the derby at night provided the state, the clubs and the stadium with the best opportunity to showcase the rivalry and he believes Friday night will make the occasion even greater.
“I think so. The broadcast teams do a wonderful job so why wouldn’t you leverage off that? The better our two clubs go, we as the licence holders benefit from that so I’d like to see it more,” he said.
Wira had been appointed as CEO before the derby earlier in the season but he hadn’t officially started the job. This will be his first derby in charge.
He played 35 games for the Dockers during a 96-game career and admitted not barracking for either team will make it a unique experience.
“It will be a little bit different so i am looking forward to football being the winner,” he laughed.
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