Big-ticket AFL players like Nat Fyfe, Scott Pendlebury, Lachie Neale, Kiara Bowers and Moana Hope could all grace the turf in Mandurah in 2017.
Bendigo Bank Stadium will host of a pair of AFL standard games with both AFL Women’s and AFL pre-season matches scheduled to be held at the arena in March.
In a coup for football in the Peel region, Fremantle will take on Collingwood in round five of the inaugural AFL Women’s season and round three of the men’s pre-season.
Both games will be held on Saturday, March 4, with the women’s match to be played as a curtain raiser to the men’s.
Peel Thunderbirds president Ann Fenton said the games would be a huge boost for football in the region.
“It’s really encouraging, especially to have the region recognised as a strong spot for women’s football,” she said.
“To host Fremantle’s first regional match is huge for the area – the stands will be filled with supporters.”
The women’s game will be a homecoming for Dockers Tayla Bresland, Demi Okely and Kira Phillips, who all played state level football for the Thunderbirds.
The trio were all drafted by Fremantle in October, with fellow ex-Thunderbirds Sabrina Frederick-Traub and Emma Swanson picked as marquee players by Brisbane and Melbourne respectively.
Fenton said the Peel faithful would be out in full force to support its former teammates.
“Our whole club will be at the ground supporting the girls – it will be a special day for us,” she said.
“Hopefully they can use the home turf advantage to claim a win.”
Fremantle is touted as an early premiership favourite for the inaugural AFL Women’s competition.
It will be the third year running that Bendigo Bank Stadium has played host to an AFL pre-season match including an elite Melbourne-based club after West Coast took on Carlton at the ground in 2015, while Fremantle thumped Richmond in 2016.
High-profile club Collingwood is expected to draw a huge crowd to the stadium in 2017.
“It’s amazing to host a club like Collingwood, who have such a huge supporter base throughout the country,” Fenton said.
“It’s a huge opportunity for people in the Peel region and South West to enjoy some elite level football in their own backyard.”
The Peel Thunderbirds kick off their pre-season training regime on Tuesday, December 13. For more information call Fenton on 0400 990 621.