When either of the Western Australia teams make the AFL grand final, Perth threatens to collapse in on itself.
MORE AFL FINALS:
>> WHO WILL WIN THE SEMI FINALS?
>> HAWKS V CROWS PREVIEW & PREDICTION
>> SWANS V NORTH PREVIEW & PREDICTION
>> FINALS FORECAST: HAWKS V CROWS
>> THE X-FACTOR FINALS PLAYERS
>> EXPERT TIPS
>> HOW TO WATCH THE SEMI-FINALS
The deluge of publicity, debate, bragging, and cross-town jealousy can overwhelm even the most ardent footy fan.
The local newspapers print supplements so ludicrously comprehensive and heavy they must be delivered by steroid-swollen postmen.
To get a berth on the nightly TV news, non-AFL items must contain the phrases “approaching tsunami” or “Tony Abbott UFC debut”.
Radio stations get so caught up in the hype you fear they may just play a 24-hour loop of a man bellowing “Foooooty!!!”
You’ll think I’m exaggerating if you weren’t in Perth in the Septembers of 1991, 1992, 1994, 2005, 2006, or 2013.
The smothering presence of football is only slightly less in the lead-up to the Western Derbies each season.
Fremantle fans tend not to like West Coast or their followers. They have never forgotten nor forgiven the club’s fledgling days when the Eagles were AFL heavyweights and the Dockers would have battled to snare a D-grade amateurs’ flag.
Eagles fans, meanwhile, have a grating tendency to try end any argument with a Dockers barracker by asking them how many premierships Freo have won.
It’s all good-natured ribbing until it’s not.
Until a Freo-mad father cracks it with his Eagles-keen wife and dyes their children purple.
Until a West Coast fan wears a Dockers flag like a mankini.
Until a footballer who represented both teams like Daniel Metropolis is asked by an Eagles thug, “Which half of you played for Freo?”, before having the offending side of his body whooped.
You might say I’m being alarmist, preposterous or plainly unfunny. But these are the kinds of wild incidents with which WA Police will have to deal if Fremantle and West Coast win their respective preliminary finals next weekend.
I’m not qualified to comment on most subjects, but as a footy fanatic who grew up in Perth, trust me on this one thing: an all-WA grand final would be both glorious and atrocious.
As a founding member of West Coast with a hefty soft spot for the Dockers, I couldn’t lose (or completely win either).
I miss my home city but on that weekend I’d be chuffed that I’m on the other side of the world, quarantined from the ceaseless bickering, banter and boisterous barracking.
It could, however, be quite literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience I’d be missing.
Medical science should hopefully allow me to watch another 50 to 60 grand finals. There are no guarantees that any of them would feature both WA teams though.
So if it eventuates this year, Western Australia footy fans, embrace the madness.
Barry
Guest
Spot on, the AFL should have its own stadium. They should build it in Waverley.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Well obviously! What kind of question is that? Nah, everybody loves losing prelim finals, especially home ones.
justinr
Guest
As a Sydneysider and part-time NRL watcher, I say this: DO NOT MESS WITH THE GRAND FINAL! League bosses have tinkered with the starting time for over a decade now, with a ridiculous 5pm slot used in recent years. Just leave one thing in its place.
Sam
Guest
And New Zealand as well.
Sam
Guest
Buy a Rebels membership, we got a couple of the Reds good players players; Harris, Hanson, Shipperley, Placid, could still be more!
Full Purple Jacket
Guest
Ummm only lived here for a couple of years, observations go back 20 years, 80% of which were in Perth. Merely used this example to explain my circle jerk comment, but I've seen the same behaviour in the city also. Where are all these cordial wce supporters you speak off, I've never met one outside my own family
Don Freo
Guest
Good ol'JB. Missed the point?
JB
Guest
A group of anyone in the middle of nowhere in WA will troll other people for just about anything. They're bored out of their minds, what else are they going to do? Your observation is terribly biased and can't be used as a case that reflects the standard goings on in WA in any way, shape or form. As much as it feels relevant to you, it's not. As for the discussions about West Coast fans being rabid well... seems pretty tactless to go painting everyone with the same brush based on a very small but vocal minority. Same with everything really. The fun bit is that nobody recognises the OBVIOUS discrimination that is occurring and instead simply agrees that Eagles fans are a horrible lot, because everyone else thinks so. Unless they're an Eagles supporter. Because that's how you form a logical argument. If everyone thinks something about a group of people then it must be true. Genius. Never in the history of the world has that ever been proven incorrect.
JB
Guest
That one must have hurt you Don. Way to ignore the content and focus on the grammar that you clearly understood despite its flaws.
JB
Guest
Don't have to. I know more than a few people who just can't take a serious rooting interest in a Freo v WC GF. A few jumpers are being cut in half and sewn back together as we speak.
JB
Guest
Just one more thing you can rub in Victoria's face when they lose. Always with the crying when Vic teams don't make it. Wah wah, travel travel blah blah. As if they have to travel more than teams from the west. The airline gouging is pretty brutal though. $1000 to fly to Melbourne. Makes sense. It'd be kind of nice if Victorians had to cop that to come over here for a GF once in a while.
13th Man
Guest
Having lived in Perth in the 90s and 2000s i also despise West Coast. There's a common trend, anyone that doesn't support them hates them.
13th Man
Guest
How does Freo need any extra motivation. A chance to win a first flag and send off a couple of club legends with the flag they deserve. When your in a prelim you never need any extra motivation other than a chance to play in a GF.
jax
Guest
Yep
jax
Guest
WC's home is Subiaco Oval, the home of WA football. You can have the quaint little purple city of Freo while we have the rest of the state. I used to live in Freo so I know full well what it's like down there. Not everyone hates the other side but knock yourself out this week as it might be your last chance seeing that the Hawks are coming to town.
Full Purple Jacket
Guest
No not at all, just pointing out to puzzled that not all of us followed wc before 1995. I quite enjoy the family banter as its more light hearted than what I encounter out and about
joe b
Guest
Don't half the Melbourne teams host their games in Tassie? And some games in Darwin, and FNQ? You really ought to refer to the teams that you call 'interstate' teams as non-vic teams... this would provide clarity as to what teams you are referring to.
jax
Guest
Freo might need some extra motivation but WC don't.
jax
Guest
So what if the G is empty next weekend? I've been to the G on GF day, and Anzac Day and it's a great spectacle but I'd still support having the GF rotated and played across the country every few years. "there’s enough tradition lost already." You mean VFL tradition obviously! We need to lose a lot more of it, we haven't scratched the surface yet.
jax
Guest
"WAFL grand finals always played at Subi, same with SANFL I dare say." Not sure about the SANFL but for the WAFL it was so that fans of both clubs could attend the game and play the GF on a neutral ground - only one WAFL club played its home matches at Subi and the clubs are in same State, there is a difference. I like the GF at the G, even though it gives the Vic teams an advantage but in saying that I'd like to see it move around the country. When the Perth stadium is built I can't see any reason why they couldn't play a GF in WA say every 5 years or so. Most of the people attending the GF are neutrals and corporates anyway.