WA Football CEO Brad Wira believes Fremantle and West Coast will become the major beneficiaries of a record number of participants playing footy this season, saying the game is thriving throughout the entire state.

More than 93,000 people are now playing the game in WA and Wira is confident that figure will reach 95,000 by the end of the year.

With the newly introduced Super Kick program for children in Year two and three nearly doubling this year, Wira said the future is extremely bright. And he believes the increase in participation will lead to Fremantle and West Coast having more local players to choose from at the draft into the future.

“WA footy are absolutely conscious of that,” he told The West Australian.

“And both Freo and West Coast understand where their royalties are going to be paid and how that will benefit WA football. The importance juniors and community footy, along with the Pathways is huge. And because the state is so big, the regional pathways are a really important part. We need to make sure the regional boys and girls are getting the same opportunities as those in the city.”

WA Football’s Executive Manager of Participation and Programs Strategy, Chris Bandy, said the constant increase in players competing in the Perth Football League, Masters footy and all-abilities competitions had also been a key to the record.

But Wira said nobody could afford to relax because there are so many options for families to choose for their kids to play.

“We have our eyes wide open with the challenges of other sports,” he said.

“We have to, because there’s the Perth Bears, the basketball, the soccer with the World Cup and other sports, and technology which is another challenge. The new initiatives like Super Kick are important. Community footy is thriving and our female participation continues to thrive.”

Fans throughout the state will be firmly focused on both the Dockers and Eagles this week ahead of Friday night’s western derby at Optus Stadium.

Fremantle star Shai Bolton will return from injury after being rested last week with a hand injury, but Jaeger O’Meara has been ruled out for several weeks after damaging his ankle last week.

West Coast superstar Harley Reid will play after overcoming the ankle injury he suffered against Brisbane on Saturday.

The Dockers are raging hot favourites and have won nine of the last 10 derbies but West Coast are in better form than their ladder position suggests and coach Andrew McQualter has made it clear that his team is chasing a scalp.

A massive crowd is expected to attend the clash, especially given it is the first time a derby has been played on a Friday night for more than 20 years.