WAFL return on the cards for Geraldton with East Fremantle and Peel on board

AFL Rams founder Andrew Lockyer has confirmed talks are progressing with the WAFL and East Fremantle for a game to be played in Geraldton.

The WAFL came to Northampton last year for a festival of footy weekend which was organised to help raise funds for the impact of cyclone Seroja.

East Fremantle have already committed to one country clash this year went they take on Claremont in Broome in round seven.

Lockyer said East Fremantle has already expressed their support with a monster clash against Peel the potential opponent.

“We have a window of opportunity on the 15-16 of July obviously the GNFL play their games on a Saturday so the Sunday is more likely at this stage,” he said.

“East Fremantle has expressed their desire to come up and they’ve spoken to Peel Thunder, their fixtured opponents for that time who were on board along with Fremantle Football Club.

“They said they would make as many players available, injuries and AFL selection permitting.”

Lockyer said Wonthella would be the likely host as it was the only other venue up to WAFL standard, with funding currently the biggest hurdle.

“We’ve got the teams but we need the funding, we’re in discussions with the State Government and City of Greater Geraldton to get around it and help out as well as major sponsor Rio Tinto,” he said.

“Lara Dalton has been a great help in this regard and expressed her support.”

“We’re also waiting for feedback from the WA Country Football Commission to sign off on the plan.”

Lockyer said the game will be a huge fundraising opportunity with proceeds from the match to go towards junior footy.

“We want to base the day around the idea of partially or fully funding junior registrations for the entire Great Northern League,” he said.

“Last year the AFL Rams group funded all junior registrations for Northampton and we went from four teams to seven.

“We think it will help younger kids come through to footy and build that strong base.”

Hopes for a WAFL return to the regions were complemented by calls from West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett to take preseason fixtures out to wider communities.

“We’ve played in Gero, Albany, Bunbury. We’ve been around the place and I don’t see why we wouldn’t experience that again,” Nisbett told The West Australian.

“I don’t think it’s over. I think there’s still an opportunity for us to take the game regionally. I’m certainly in favour of that.”

“You’d think a major regional centre should have a game.”

West Coast and Fremantle’s preseason games have been split among WAFL venues in recent seasons, but they took a derby practice game to Geraldton in 2017 and West Coast won by 55 points.

Nearly 9000 people attended the game at Wonthella Oval and while it is unlikely Geraldton would be the first regional centre chosen given they hosted the last country match a return to the regions would be welcomed.