PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JULY 14: Stephen Hill of the Dockers kicks the ball forward during the round 16 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Patersons Stadium on July 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia.  (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Camera IconPERTH, AUSTRALIA – JULY 14: Stephen Hill of the Dockers kicks the ball forward during the round 16 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers at Patersons Stadium on July 14, 2013 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

Joondalup to host pre-season derby

Justin Bianchini, Joondalup TimesNorth Coast Times

Anticipation will be high with Fremantle keen to go one step further in season 2014 and the Eagles out to impress new coach Adam Simpson.

It is also a coup for the Arena-based 2013 WAFL premier West Perth and its president Brett Raponi.

He said the growing club was looking forward to working with the AFL and WA Football Commission in bringing the game to the people and businesses in the club’s district on February 18 at 4.10pm.

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‘This is a great reward for our club,’ he said. ‘It presents a wonderful opportunity to present our club and ground on national television via the Foxtel network.

‘It also presents significant commercial benefits to the businesses within the City of Joondalup.’

February’s encounter is the second time Fremantle has played a pre-season fixture in Joondalup after more than 10,000 fans saw the Dockers beat Hawthorn at the Arena in 2005.

‘This fixture demonstrates the confidence that the AFL and the WAFC has in Joondalup to host AFL-standard football,’ Joondalup Mayor Troy Pickard said.

‘It is fantastic that the game will be broadcast live on Fox Footy, showcasing Joondalup to a national audience.’

The mayor said the City was proud of its association with West Perth as a major sponsor.

‘The redevelopment of Arena Joondalup (the council has committed $4 million to an upgrade) will provide an AFL centre for excellence in the northern corridor as well as provide an attractive venue for further AFL pre-season and practise matches,’ he said.