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South Fremantle CEO Cameron Britt says the club is still hopeful of Friday night fixtures at Fremantle Oval in 2020, after the season was given the green light to commence on August 1st.
The Bulldogs had initially scheduled to play two games in April under lights against West Perth and Subiaco, having upgraded their lighting facilities earlier this year. That plan was initially halted by the delay of the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Britt maintains it is still a possibility under the re-worked fixture model.
“That’s still certainly still an intent of ours, and a desire to see that strategy through to fulfillment,” Britt told Sports Drive on Monday.
“However, we also know that with this new fixturing which is yet to be released, we are going to have to be reasonably flexible as a competition and as clubs. We will play when and where advised, but if it’s Friday night at Fremantle Oval it’s happy days.”
With channel 7 to broadcast at least one match per round of the 2020 season on television, with night games an appealing option to the network.
Britt acknowledged that could work in his side’s favour.
“Looking at trying to preserve the broadcast, the commission have since come out and said that there will be one broadcast game per week for this abbreviated season. We would love to be in the mix for that at Fremantle Oval,” He said.
“I recognise that Lathlain has the superior lighting of all WAFL grounds, so that probably has them with their noses in front venue wise. It’s perfect timing of getting our lighting enhanced, the great disappointment of not being able to deliver a game like product with the season postponement, yet perhaps that swings it back around for us as some level of advantage from August onwards.”
With the best part of ten weeks still until the WAFL returns, Britt confirmed the prospect of practice matches against other clubs was on the table in the lead in to the round one.
“That August 1 return date would clearly be round one of bona fide WAFL, but there will probably be a fortnight of practice matches properly endorsed in the lead up,” he said.
“When we say return to footy, return to fair dinkum premiership points footy in August, but I think we will see a return to some game simulation through practice matches maybe two weeks before that.”
The WAFL Grand Final is no certainty to be played at Optus Stadium this year, with other venues being discussed should the ground not be available to host this year’s decider.
IMAGES: Perth Now, Cameron Britt Twitter.