A list of reported requests from the WA clubs has been revealed following raging debate about the mass in-season travel undergone by West Coast and Fremantle.
It comes after Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger shed light on the resentment displayed by some Victorian clubs for the business class perks afforded to the WA clubs.
After a week of back-and-forth discourse, Landsberger, having gathered additional intel, provided an update on the state-versus-state tensions during Wednesday night’s edition of Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.
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“It’s turned into a bit of a war between the east and the west, isn’t it, over these business class flights, and now every club is putting forward their cases as to how the competition could be more even,” Landsberger started.
“I was fascinated today (by) Damien Hardwick — Richmond for so long, three premierships here (in Victoria), it’s only taken him 10 games at Gold Coast to go absolutely whack at the Victorians.”
Hardwick on Wednesday slammed the reported stance of Victorian clubs that business class seats made up for the WA clubs’ mass travel.
“For clubs in Victoria to sit there and say that the 12 business class flight seats help out the teams in Perth is a laughable statement,” the Suns senior coach scathed.
“(They) should be named and shamed, to be perfectly honest, because I find it downright disrespectful, to be honest. It is a challenge (for) the interstate sides, and every advantage we try to get, we try and fight hand over fist with the AFL to gain one.
“It is incredibly tough. I’m 10 games in, and I’m finding it challenging.”
Landsberger referenced fixturing suggestions recently made by Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir.
“What I can’t understand is that the AFL has said that this competitive balance review is the most complicated thing of all-time,” Landsberger said.
“Well, Justin Longmuir, in five seconds, has pointed out about three things they can do overnight to remove layers of inequity. That was the story from yesterday’s Herald Sun. It just makes total sense. I don’t think anyone could read what he said and disagree with it.
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“The first one — and I think the most relevant one this week — he said Fremantle’s preparation for Friday night’s game against Collingwood (is) unnecessarily compromised.
“Why didn’t they play an earlier game (last) Saturday against St Kilda? Fly home (and) get in their beds Saturday night. Instead, they have to play Saturday night, they fly home on Sunday, get home lunchtime, (followed by a) five-day preparation for the Magpies. Little things like that, they just seem like no-brainers.
“But Western Australia, Longmuir said they felt neglected as a heartland state. They are united about this, the Dockers and the Eagles. They think that the northern clubs, they’ve got their talent academies, they’ve got full access to them, they’ve got Opening Round, South Australia has Gather Round.
“WA has nothing, and they want something. They want something now.”
Quizzed about the specific items on the WA clubs’ wish list, Landsberger laid out a few of their asks.
“There are a few things on their wish list,” he began. “I think they wouldn’t mind full access to their academy prospects — we saw Fremantle miss out on (St Kilda forward) Lance Collard last year. I think West Coast missed out on (Geelong tall) Mitch Edwards. They can’t match bids inside (the first) 40 (picks).
“They want an extra home game to mitigate travelling for Gather Round. They don’t think it’s fair that they have to do an extra road trip.
“They want smarter fixturing implemented, like that Collingwood example this week. They don’t think they should be playing off six-day breaks and then travel early in the year. Basically, they want to minimise the (number) of nights they spend interstate, and I think that’s a fair request.”
Chimed in Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark: “Interesting you mention Damien Hardwick before — he didn’t like going from the MCG to Marvel Stadium, let alone from up north down to Victoria!”
The Dockers’ clash with the Magpies is scheduled for 8:10pm AEST (6:10pm AWST) this Friday night, while the Eagles travel to Adelaide Oval to play the Crows on Sunday afternoon.
Source Agencies
