The Fremantle Dockers recorded their biggest win in AFL history on Saturday at Hands Oval, but it was the WA city of Bunbury that made the most of its moment in the spotlight.
For the second year in a row, North Melbourne hosted a home game in the state capital, while Bunbury put on a great day for football.
Fans arrived early to secure the best seats at Hands Oval, the home of the South Bunbury Football Club and the traditional venue for the South West Football League grand final, with a long line reaching half way before 10am.
With the match scheduled to start at noon, it was obvious that the event had attracted not only the locals, but a strong team from Perth and even from the other side of the country.
North Melbourne fan Ben Creagh made the trip from the capital city of Victoria, catching one of the flights to Busselton on the Friday morning before the match.
Although clearly disappointed with the result, Creagh said he was pleased with the indoor facilities and the quality of the pitch.
“They’ve done a good job with the round, everything looks in good shape and it doesn’t look right for an AFL match,” he said.
“It’s a bit disappointing to go on a 100-point trip, but I can’t complain about the condition of the pitch and it was a good day for football.
“The flight was packed with North Melbourne fans, so it looks like a good deal for tourism in the South West.”
Member for North Melbourne, Creagh said he was unsure about the wisdom of playing “home” interstate games, but recognized the money from the deal was a benefit to the club.
The Kangaroos decided to sell their two home games from 2025 to 2027 in a deal that is understood to net the club $2.5 million a year as part of an agreement with the AFL, Tourism WA and the state government.
North Melbourne will play one game in Bunbury, before the next home game at Optus Stadium the following week, with the first game played in 2025 under a deal that is expected to be completed next year.
Hands Oval underwent a major makeover ahead of the first match against the Eagles in 2025, with temporary grandstands and event infrastructure turning the community stadium into the AFL’s national broadcast venue.
The improvements were funded through a three-year partnership supported by $5.7 million in State Government investment in the area – complementing the $19.5 million already invested in an agreement between the state government, the City of Bunbury, the federal government’s Better Regions Building fund, the South West Football League and the WA Football Commission.
The Hands Oval match features the Bunbury Big Weekender – a three-day program of community activation, entertainment and local events running over three days from Friday to Sunday in the city centre, Hands Oval and the Bunbury waterfront.
Ahead of this year’s match, Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said the event represented an important moment for the city and the greater South West region.
“This is not just an AFL match, it’s a statement about what regional cities can offer,” he said.
“When the broadcast goes out to millions of viewers on Saturday they will see a city that is invested in the future, a visible community, and a region that punches above its weight.
“We are proud to host this for the second year running, and we are already looking forward to doing it again in 2027.”
Following the match, with Fremantle clear winners by 124 points, crowds descended on the city, with the Highway Hotel, the bar closest to Hands Oval, doing brisk business.
Along Bunbury’s main entertainment strip of Victoria Street, bars, restaurants and cafes were also benefiting from the AFL crowd, with many places already booked ahead of Saturday’s match.
While North Melbourne may be questioning its choice to play home games in WA after the weekend’s thrashing, it’s certain that the people of Bunbury hope the deal will continue to bring business and tourism benefits to the South West city.
