Bunbury has a rare opportunity to host an AFL club and with the AFL’s record, there is such little downside

I was 11 the last time an AFL club came to Bunbury. Running around in a South Bunbury jumper on the day was good fun, but the real highlight was seeing the best of the best in my home town. This time around we need to be realistic about the circumstances under which a club would hub in our city. For the first two weeks, at least, they would be adhering to strict quarantine conditions and would be bound almost entirely to whatever accommodation they end up in — except to train at a selected venue. Our exposure to them might be limited, and for good reason, but nonetheless this would be an almost once in a lifetime opportunity to host one or more of the league’s best clubs at the pointy end of the season. And what an opportunity it would be for a place that has so long pushed to be considered the State’s second city to showcase itself on a national stage. The AFL has fallen back on the golf-resort hub model throughout its experience in managing quarantine restrictions, with resorts used in Adelaide, Perth and on the Gold Coast already during the last two seasons. It would mean that Sanctuary Golf Resort, with its 18-hole golf course and decent-sized accommodation facilities, would be the frontrunner for the task. There have been no issues so far with clubs living in hubs outside of capital cities. St Kilda and Essendon have spent extended periods of time in a hub in Noosa — a two-hour drive from Brisbane and nearly three hours to the Gold Coast, where most games were played last season. There is just such little risk and downside to this proposal. According to WA Police, the AFL has an exemplary record and reputation in working with them to ensure quarantine measures are adhered to, and players and staff from all 18 clubs have been living under stricter conditions than you and I for almost the whole length of the season. The spanner in the works in recent days is that the league has informed clubs it will do away with the pre-finals bye, which could mean the first two weeks of the finals are played on the east coast before the four remaining clubs quarantine and play in Perth. It goes without saying that with no restrictions on crowds, Perth and Optus Stadium are the perfect venues for the league’s flagship event and Sunday’s edge-of-your-seat derby was the perfect audition. It was pleasing to see two levels of government and our local league throw their support behind the push this week, because if clubs were to come to Perth, Bunbury is the perfect candidate for a hub, and the people of the South West would welcome any club with open arms.