Sunday 07 May 2017. Photos.
Highlights: AFL Match – Fremantle v Essendon
Today was the main event of the trip a visit to Subiaco Oval to watch my team Essendon play the local boys the Fremantle Dockers. But first I wanted to see a little more of Perth before the match, unfortunately it turns out that pretty much everything doesn’t open on a Sunday until 11 am. This meant a walk around the CBD, including to the historic Australia Post building and then a chance to catch up on some overdue work caused by recent sickness absences.
Today’s match started at 2.40 pm so around noon Jason and myself walked down to the Watershed Factory Outlet for lunch (which was finally open). After a leisurely lunch it was another 30 minutes and I had arrived at my 14th VFL/AFL venue for my first AFL match in Western Australia. It was a hot day (around 29 degrees) and I didn’t have high hopes for my team but as long as they played well and I had a few chances to cheer I’d be happy.
(Essendon run out onto the Ground)
We were sitting at the city end behind the goals and the Essendon Cheer Squad. Still a few Fremantle supporters around but majority Essendon. As we entered the ground about 60 minutes before the start we walked down to the other end to watch the Essendon players do some early practise.
Essendon started the match well and at one point lead by around 26 points in the second quarter but the heat and the 3 match over 13 days meant Essendon faded badly in the end and lost by 37 points. Over 33,000 attended this match. Joe Danaher kicked three goals but Nat Fyfe dominated at key moments for 26 possessions. Any enjoyable match even if my team listed (as I expected). Glad I got to experience at match at Subiaco Oval before they move AFL matches in Perth to a new venue next year.