Feature

Perth Stadium to host historic AFL Women’s match

The Fremantle Dockers Women’s AFL team will play a match at Perth Stadium on February 10 next year in what is set to be one of the first sporting events at the 60,000-seat venue.

The stadium confirmed the news earlier today (Tuesday) and the match is set to be the biggest standalone women’s sporting event to ever take place in Australia. Fremantle’s opponent for the game will be announced at a later date.

Tickets will be priced at just Aus$2, with all proceeds going to charity. Perth Stadium said more than 30,000 fans are expected at the match, which would break the attendance record for an AFL Women’s match.

The McGowan Government will provide locals with free public transport to and from the event.

Prior to the match, Fremantle’s men’s team will take to the field for a training session, with fans able to partake in a signing and photo session afterwards.

Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said: “The AFLW Fremantle match has the potential to be the biggest ever standalone women’s sport event in Australian history – and the first of many more at Perth Stadium.

“Having this major AFLW event so early on in Perth Stadium’s life sends a great message to young women, girls and the wider community about gender equity – and I hope it will inspire many to follow their sporting dreams.”

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti added: “Public transport will be the simplest and cheapest way to get to Perth Stadium, and I encourage as many attendees as possible to catch the train or bus to get to this historic event.

“The McGowan Government is proud to provide free public transport to what will be a great family day out when the Fremantle Dockers Women’s side take on an AFLW rival at Perth Stadium.”

Perth Stadium will officially open on January 21 with a free public open day. It is hoped that the stadium will be ready to stage a one-day international cricket match between Australia and England on January 28. If the match comes too soon for the venue, it will be played at Perth’s WACA Ground instead and the AFL Women’s clash would likely be the first sporting event at Perth Stadium.

Other major events scheduled for the stadium in 2018 include two Ed Sheeran concerts and an NRL rugby league double-header in March, as well as a friendly match between English Premier League football club Chelsea and Australian A-League team Perth Glory next summer.

Perth Stadium said construction work at the ground is more than 94 per cent complete.

Image: Perth Stadium