Freo AFLW team scores Perth Stadium spot

The Fremantle Dockers women’s team will play the first football game of any code at Perth Stadium next year in what is tipped to be the biggest standalone women’s sport event held in Australia.

The match, against a yet-to-be-named opponent, will be played on Saturday February 10.

It will follow the official opening of the new stadium on January 21 and comes ahead of the National Rugby League’s double-header to be hosted on March 10.

In a statement on the AFL’s website, the league’s general manager of clubs and broadcasting, Travis Auld, said both the men’s and women’s fixtures were yet to be finalised, but the Perth Stadium debut would come in the second week of the women’s competition, and would be Fremantle’s first home game.

“We’ll have each of the seven other teams putting their hand up to be part of this experience, so I imagine, certainly the players of those teams and the clubs themselves will lobby to be part of this special day,” he said.

Sport and Recreation Minister Mick Murray said a crowd of more than 30,000 was expected for the Fremantle Dockers women’s game, breaking the attendance record of 24,500 spectators for an AFLW match.

“Women’s sport is growing at an incredible rate throughout WA, and this is a great opportunity to see some of the country’s best female footballers,” Mr Murray said.

Women’s Interests Minister Simone McGurk said holding a major AFLW event so early in the life of Perth Stadium sent a great message to young women, girls and the wider community about gender equality.

“I hope it will inspire many to follow their sporting dreams,” she said.

Tickets to the match will become available following the release of the 2018 AFLW fixtures.

It will be the first AFLW match to be ticketed, in order to allow attendees to access free public transport to and from the match, as provided by the state government.

The price of the tickets will be $2 and all proceeds will be donated to charity.

Other events announced for Perth Stadium include an Ed Sheeran concert in March, a Chelsea FC-Perth Glory soccer match, State of Origin Game II and a Bledisloe Cup rugby union Test.

Tourism Minister Paul Papalia has previously said the state government had committed $40 million to events funding.

“We are in the process of filling Perth Stadium’s events calendar with as much quality content as we can, to attract tourism dollars, create jobs and get the economy back on track,” he said.