West Coast Melbourne Preliminary Final – The Biggest Ever AFL Game in Perth
The biggest ever AFL game in WA history is set for 1.20pm, Saturday 22nd of September 2018 at Perth’s Optus Stadium – the historic West Coast Melbourne Preliminary Final.
Tickets to the blockbuster will go on sale 9am Monday for members. 2pm for the public if there are any left.
Thousands of Melbourne Demons fans are flying to Perth to witness one of the biggest and most anticipated AFL games in recent history.
The Melbourne Demons faithful have been rewarded for years of pain, finally, in their first Preliminary final since the year 2000.
Meanwhile, West Coast fans are still on a high after an incredible victory over Collingwood, to secure a home Prelim final.
This is the fist time a Prelim final will be held during the daytime since 2011, when West Coast played Geelong at the MCG. The AFL wants to ensure early travel for the Victorian teams on Saturday night.
59,585 spectators set the WA event record at Optus Stadium last week. It’ll be interesting to see if that will be broken one last time in 2018.
#AFLEaglesPies gotta love the @Cristiano Ronaldo celebration from Lewis Jetta @AFLcomau pic.twitter.com/jCCodRKE0C
— James George-Kennedy (@JamesGK66) September 8, 2018
Although Eagles fans won’t be impressed with the ticket price jump for the game. In week 1 of the AFL finals, tickets were going from $35. This week, the Melbourne West Coast Preliminary Final tickets start at $65.
Travelling Dees fans will be facing even a great financial hit, with AFL travel packages for flights, tickets and a hotel room around $2,000 per person. A small sacrifice, perhaps, in the grand scheme of seeing your team fight for a spot in the Grand Final.
The Melbourne coach, Simon Goodwin, told media he wants as many fans to travel to Perth as possible. He has called on Virgin Australia to place extra flights on market ahead of the West Coast Melbourne Preliminary Final showdown.
“We’re in the midst of our supporters really getting in behind our footy team and giving us great belief, inspiring us to new heights,” Goodwin said.
“You can see the joy that our supporters are getting from this journey….so Virgin, put some flights on and enable our supporters to get over there.”
Comedian and Melbourne Demons tragic Titus O’Reily is ready for the West Coast Melbourne Preliminary Final.
Flights and hotel booked for Perth. Who knew September could be so busy?
— Titus O’Reily (@TitusOReily) September 15, 2018
Meanwhile, WA and Victorian sports media are starting to stir each other up ahead of the big game.
Ten Sports presenter Tim Gossage has a message for his colleagues in Melbourne around the Demons hype.
Don’t get me wrong I think Demons will be hard to beat next week but this may be a moment to reflect on how my Victorian counterparts claim WA media bias when it comes to their coverage of the Eagles. #Tips #CleanSweep #8daysaway pic.twitter.com/rC037RAQ5S
— Tim Gossage ??? (@TimGossage) September 14, 2018
The @WestCoastEagles must be worried about the @melbournefc ‘s fast and furious football inferno – which has overwhelmed the Cats and the Hawks https://t.co/48MdJc5UDh @AFL #AFLHawksDees #AFL pic.twitter.com/7z1xCsoO6I
— Matthew Rimmer (@DrRimmer) September 15, 2018
More coverage soon.
Watch Auzzie’s latest cruise around Optus Stadium
What a flight!
Watch Auzzie’s latest cruise around @optusstadium thanks to @aglenergy pic.twitter.com/sGWpCm44aV
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) September 15, 2018
#AFLEaglesDees on Twitter
Related: So Perth Sports News, So Perth West Coast News