Fixtures for the 2018 WAFL Premiership Season have been confirmed, with traditional rivalry clashes, feature rounds and a more even draw expected to deliver a highly competitive and exciting season for Australia’s premier State League competition.
A shorter season will commence two weeks later than 2017, with round 1 to kick off on Good Friday, March 30.
The Grand Final will still be played the weekend prior to the AFL Grand Final in September.
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READ NOWWAFC chief executive Gavin Taylor said that the shorter season of 18 games across 21 rounds had allowed for a more even fixture that would still retain important historical clashes.
“By reducing the length of the season by two rounds, we have been able to achieve a more even fixture whilst still ensuring we have traditional feature games such as the Fremantle derby on WA Day,” he said.
“All clubs will play each other twice and their other two games will be against teams that finished in the same third of the ladder last season or for a traditional feature game.
“We have also been able to schedule the vast majority of games on Saturday, with 14 of 21 rounds featuring all four games in the traditional Saturday afternoon timeslot in response to feedback from clubs and fans.”
Each club will have three byes during the season.
Season highlights:
Round 1 – Easter Round including Subiaco v East Perth and Peel v East Fremantle on Good Friday Round 4 – ANZAC Round including Thursday night Subiaco v Claremont and Sunday East Fremantle v South Fremantle derby Round 5 – East Perth v Peel Thunder leading into the AFL Western Derby and South Fremantle v Claremont in Albany Round 7 – Grand Final replay Peel Thunder v Subiaco