Duff and Quarters: A sellout derby is Western Australia’s perfect ‘grand final audition’

With the AFL grand final a chance to be moved from Victoria due to the second wave of coronavirus, what better advertisement of Western Australia’s capability to host the event than a 60,000 person derby next weekend?

West Coast and Fremantle will fly to Perth on Saturday after a near six-week stay in the AFL’s Queensland hub, but after being promised a sellout homecoming for round seven the capacity showcase is in doubt.

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The state’s anticipated move to Phase 5 of coronavirus restrictions would allow 60,000 fans to attend the derby but a review by the WA government resulted in ticket sales being frozen for Eagles fans on Monday.

Speaking on The Duff and Quarters podcast today The West Australian’s chief footy writer Mark Duffield and The Sunday Times sports editor Glen Quartermain understand safety concerns but while Premier Mark McGowan is yet to make an official decision they see great opportunity from a sellout.

“Just a pitch to Mr. McGowan (WA Premier), if you play the derby in front of 60,000 people when no one else in Australia is getting crowds, you are a fair way down the Flemington straight in front of the rest of Australia,” Duffield said.

“Grand final audition,” Quartermain replied

“No one wants to be the one that oversees a 60,000 person crowd that ends up being a spike in coronavirus cases, so I get how the government is thinking about this,” Duffield continued.

“What I will say is it should be recorded as a blunder by Mark McGowan if he’s dangled this carrot in front of the clubs and they’ve gone off in good faith and tried to give us a 60,000 person derby and sold 40,000 so far and then you have to say to 10,000 people sorry, we’re gonna need your tickets back.”

The pair both believe AFL powerbrokers are leaning towards a New South Wales grand final if Victoria remains unavailable but still urged WA to be considered to “showcase” the game.

“If you’re looking at the AFL as a growing sport, their best case scenario is a successful grand final in Sydney, their worst case scenario is unsuccessful grand final in Sydney,” Duffield said.

“If they’re going to do it in Sydney there will have to be free interstate travel from other states because I don’t think you’re going to get 80,000 Sydney-siders going to the grand final.

“If I’m the AFL the temptation to play in Sydney is great, plant the flag in enemy territory.

“If you want a ‘show piece’ for the game, it has to be in Western Australia.”