List of WAFL grounds explained

The West Australian Football League (WAFL) has utilised a number of different grounds since its formation in 1885. This list comprises grounds currently in use (that is, used in the 2011 season, grounds formerly in use and defunct grounds. Under the laws of Australian football, a ground must be grassed, have a minimum length of 135m (443feet) and a minimum width of 110m (360feet).[1]

Most current WAFL grounds were originally constructed for the sole purpose of serving as a home ground for Australian rules football clubs, either by the clubs or local government authorities. Some grounds have also hosted other sports, including rugby league, rugby union, soccer and cricket. Two WAFL venues, the WACA Ground and Subiaco Oval, have also hosted matches in the Australian Football League (AFL).

The competition's grand final was previously held every year at Subiaco Oval (Domain Stadium), but is now played at the newly constructed Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium) in Burswood, it is the largest stadium in Western Australia, with a maximum capacity of 60,000 people. The WAFL's attendance record was set at Subiaco Oval, with 52,781 people attending the 1979 Grand Final.

Grounds

Major grounds

Ground name
(sponsored name)
Location Capacity Record capacity
(year)
Matches Tenant(s)
former tenants
First used Notes
Anniversary Park
(2009)
5 ? Hosted five matches between Peel and South Fremantle.
Arena Joondalup
(Pentanet Stadium)
16 000 15 082
(1994)
336 1994 The complex around it is still sponsored by HBF.
Bassendean Oval
(Steel Blue Oval)
22 000 22 350
(1980)
757 1934
Claremont Oval
(Revo Fitness Stadium)[2]
10 000 18 268
(1983)
796 1927
Claremont Showground[3] 10 000 ? 30 1907 Neutral venue 1907–08, 1922.
Claremont home ground 1926–27; 2014–2015.
East Fremantle Oval
(New Choice Homes Park)
20 000 21 317
(1979)
602 1953
Fremantle Oval
(Fremantle Community Bank Oval)[4]
17 500 23 109
(1979)
1464 South Fremantle
East Fremantle (1898–1952)
North Fremantle (1912–15)
1898
Fremantle Park ? ? ? Fremantle/Unions 1890
Geraldton Recreation Ground
(1985)
7 1985
Gosnells Recreation Ground
(1996)
1 1996
Lathlain Park
(Mineral Resources Park)[5]
20 000 19 541
(1967)
505 1928
18 000 24 567
(1978)
916 East Perth
Subiaco
West Perth (1915–93)
1915 Shared between East Perth and Subiaco since 1999.
North Fremantle Oval
currently known as Gilbert Fraser Reserve
131 North Fremantle
East Fremantle (1901–12)
South Fremantle (1901–12)

1901
Perth Stadium
(Optus Stadium)
Burswood60 00025 064
(2018)
2neutral2018Hosted the WAFL Grand Final in 2018 and 2019.
Perth Oval
(HBF Park)[6]
20 500 26 760
(1969)
834 1997 Hosted six WAFL Grand Finals between 1912 and 1935.

(1986)
5 1986
Rushton Park (Kelmscott)
(1989)
3 1989
Rushton Park (Mandurah)
(lane Group Stadium)
10 000
(1986)
132 1986
? ? 8 1900
Subiaco Oval43 500 52 781
(1979)
1411 neutral
Subiaco (1908-2004)
Claremont (1945–46)
1908 Used for the WAFL Grand Final until 2018.
Hosted occasional Subiaco home games, the last of which was in 2016.[7]
Wanneroo Showgrounds
(1989)
3 1989
24 500 11 835
(1994)
681 1898 Hosted eight WAFL Grand Finals between 1906 and 1926.

Non-metropolitan grounds

Ground name
(sponsored name)
Location Capacity Record capacity
(year)
Matches First used Notes
Bruce Rock Sporting Complex
(2001)
1 2001
Capricorn Oval
(2008)
2 2002
Collie Recreation Ground
(2001)
1 2001

1989
5 1989
Corrigin Oval
(2009)
1 2009
Cunderdin Oval
(2004)
1 2004
Dampier Sports Club
(1985)
1 1985
Esperance Oval
(2005)
3 2000
Frost Park
(1987)
1 1987
Greater Sports Ground
(2004)
1 2004
Hands Oval
(1984)
5 1984
Jubilee Park
(1998)
1 1998
Jurien Oval
(2002)
1 2002
Kambalda Oval
(2006)
1 2006
Manjimup Recreation Gronud
(2006)
1 2006
McLean Oval
(2004)
1 2004
Millars Well Oval
currently known as Kevin Richards Memorial Oval

(2000)
1 2000
Moora Reserve 1 1999
Newdegate Showgrounds (2002) 1 2002
Northampton Community Oval
(2022)
1 2022
Ord River Sports Club (2000) 1 2000
Peter Haynes Oval
(2006)
1 2006
Pingelly Oval ?
(2021)
1 2021
)
(2003)
1 2003
Talanjee Oval ? ? 1 1999
Toodyay Showgrounds
(2000)
1 2000
Town Oval
(2007)
1 2007
VC Mitchell Park
(2005)
1 2005
Waldeck Street Oval
(2007)
1 2007
Wickepin Oval
(2002)
1 2002

Country venues

Various country towns in Western Australia have hosted WAFL games as a part of the competition's "Country Week", or for similar promotions. Towns which have at least one regular season WAFL game are listed below. The exact name of the ground can often not be determined, but is listed where possible.

Location Ground name Matches Home team(s) Notes
Collingwood Park
other venues unknown
4 Claremont has hosted four games in Albany, most recent in 2009 at Collingwood Park.[8]
N/A 1 Hosted one match between Claremont and Swan Districts.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Perth and West Perth in 2001.[9]
Hands Oval
other venues unknown
5 East Perth (2)
Swan Districts (3)
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between East Perth and Swan Districts.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between South Fremantle and West Perth.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Claremont and Swan Districts.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Peel and West Perth.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Perth and Subiaco.
N/A 3
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Claremont and South Fremantle.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between East Fremantle and Perth.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between East Perth and Peel.
N/A 2
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between East Perth and Subiaco.
N/A
possibly at Geraldton Recreation Ground
6
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Perth and Subiaco.
6 Most Recently hosted a game in 2022
N/A 1 Hosted one match between Perth and Subiaco in 2006.
N/A 1 N/A Hosted one match between Claremont and East Perth in 2000.
Mukinbudin Football Oval 1 N/A Hosted one match between West Perth and Perth in 2006.
Northampton Community Oval 1 Hosted the Seroja Cup between East Fremantle and East Perth, Round 3, 2022.
Pingelly Oval 1 Hosted one match between South Fremantle and Peel in 2021.[10]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://afl.com.au/Portals/0/afl_docs/Development/umpiring/Laws%20of%20Football_2008.pdf "Laws of Australian Football"
  2. Web site: Historic Claremont Oval secures naming rights partner . West Australian Football Commission . 23 August 2019.
  3. Officially the Bruce Campbell Arena
  4. Web site: SFFC announce Major Partnership with Fremantle Community Bank. South Fremantle Football Club. en-US. 12 March 2018.
  5. News: Mineral Resources Secure Naming Rights to Lathlain Park . 1 March 2019 . en.
  6. News: nib Stadium soon to be HBF Park . 24 January 2019 . en.
  7. Web site: Pike . Chris . Subiaco versus Peel Thunder WAFL postponed due to re-laid turf in the centre square of Medibank Stadium being deemed unsafe . PerthNow . 4 June 2016.
  8. http://www.claremontfc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=211:wafl-country-sport-enrichment-game-claremont-vs-south-fremantle-in-albany-saturday-18th-april&catid=1:news&Itemid=76 WAFL Country Sport Enrichment Game - Claremont vs South Fremantle in Albany - Saturday 18 April
  9. http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11999 BigFooty WAFL Forum
  10. Web site: 2021 FIXTURE RELEASED . South Fremantle Football Club . 29 January 2021.