WAFL 2004 Fixtures - General Information

Introduction

The introduction of Saturday afternoon AFL games in Perth over the last three has had a huge impact upon the WAFL competition. Our statistics show that in 2003 when the WAFL played in direct opposition to the AFL the average crowd decrease was 40%. Even an AFL Saturday night game affected WAFL crowds where the crowd reduction was 24%.

This impacts the ability of the WAFL clubs to generate income to adequately compensate players for their services. These decreases were despite a 2001 survey that overwhelmingly confirmed that our supporters wanted Saturday afternoon WAFL games.

The 2003 season did show that attendance at other times was good and that our fixturing for 2004 should look further at these alternatives.

The WAFL had an aggregate attendance of 185,589 for the 2003 season despite a Grand Final Crowd of 17,750 people. Home games and attendance are very important to each WAFL Club because they depend on this income in order to survive.

The impact of the TV coverage by ABC TV is huge with the metropolitan audience in excess of 1.2 million viewers over the year. This service also enables many country areas to watch WAFL games that they would otherwise rarely be able to view and while no statistics are taken for country viewers we would conservatively estimate 800,000 viewers. Many WAFL players are from the country and this is a valuable service for their family and friends. Because this service can only continue on a Saturday afternoon the competition must always play one game at this time.

In fixturing for 2004 a list of conditions have been decided upon by the WAFL Management group following discussion at the regular meetings.

• Grand Final on AFL Preliminary Final Weekend. This will become the WAFL Grand Final date for the future. We believe in the hierarchical structure of Football and that the season should finish with the best competition in the land. Other local competitions should finish prior to the WAFL Grand Final.

• For Season 2004 the WAFL will have 23 rounds of fixtures. This gives all clubs a better set of fixtures, but it lengthens the season. To compensate a little we have chosen to play the 1^st and 2^nd semi finals on the one week-end.

• A general bye for the State Game against Victoria on June 19.

• All teams have 10 home, 10 away and 3 byes.

• All teams play two full rounds plus four games. The four opponents who are played three times in a season are rotated as best as possible so that over a period of time all teams play equally.

• All teams have a home game in the first three weeks.

• The Home and Away sequence is optimal for all teams.

• Opposition sequence is maintained.

• Derbies on the Foundation Day long week end.

• Maximising the exposure of the WAFL by having full rounds whenever there are no AFL games being played.

The following were also able to be achieved without compromising the above.

•  Subiaco and East Perth not playing at home on the same round.

• Fremantle teams never play at home on the same day.

• A game in Fremantle for 19 out of 23 rounds

Days, dates and times

The starting time of our day games will remain at 2.15pm however when there is an evening AFL game the start time will change to 1.45pm. This is to allow supporters, staff and media time to attend both games should they wish to.

This season we will have 6 Friday night games, 62 Saturday afternoon games, 4 Saturday Night games, 14 Sunday games and 4 Monday Games.

Despite the introduction of more Saturday afternoon AFL games in 2004 the majority (72%) of WAFL games will still be played on Saturday afternoons.

The starting times for the Colts will be 9.25am and 11.45am for the reserves.

Country Sports Enrichment Scheme

Four country games are scheduled for next season. Games in Cunderdin, Katanning, Albany and Port Hedland are being negotiated through the Country Sports Enrichment Scheme.

Theme Rounds

The WAFL has also adopted a number of theme rounds for the season ahead. The each theme will run over two weeks to enable each team to celebrate the theme. Rounds 1 and 2 will celebrate the State’s 175^th birthday and this will also be celebrated in other ways throughout the season. Easter, Foundation Day and Mothers day will be recognised with special fixtures and Educators/Juniors Day will feature over rounds 19 and 20. Educators/Juniors day will recognise the strong links that Football has developed with the school system.

Acknowledgement

The WAFL would also like to acknowledge Dr George Christos from the Curtin University of Technology Department of Mathematics and Statistics for his assistance in developing these fixtures over the years.

Telephone: 08 93815599 | Facsimile: 08 93817743 | Email: wafl@wafc.com.au
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