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Western Australia Eyes Third AFL Team as Tasmania Prepares for 2028 Entry
Western Australia has long been the heartland of Australian rules football, yet the sport’s national landscape is shifting. With Tasmania slated to become the 19th club in 2028, the conversation has turned to whether the West Coast could host a third team.
On the latest episode of The Outer Wing, the discussion was led by Mark Stevens and Digby Beacham, with TAB Touch providing sponsorship. Beacham opened the debate by arguing that a third franchise would give Western Australians the guarantee of a home game each weekend, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a “football‑mad” region that deserves broader representation.
The two candidates he spotlighted are Joondalup and Bunbury. Joondalup, a northern Perth suburb roughly 30 kilometres from the city, is described as a “huge growth area” with a thriving local football culture. Its proximity to Perth would allow a club to play home matches at Optus Stadium, the current venue for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. The suburb’s expanding population, coupled with existing football infrastructure, makes it a realistic prospect for a new franchise.
Bunbury presents a contrasting profile. The city’s population sits at about 80,000, and its Hands Memorial Oval has recently undergone a $25 million redevelopment, including a $5 million upgrade to bring the venue closer to AFL standards. The 14,000‑seat ground hosted a North Melbourne match against Fremantle in Round 13 of the current season. Beacham highlighted the South West’s talent pipeline, citing AFL players such as Adam Hunter, Connor Blakely and Lewis Jetta as evidence that the region can supply elite talent.
A key question the panel raised was whether a smaller venue like Hands Oval would attract players from the eastern states. Beacham asked whether athletes would be willing to play before 12–13 000 spectators when Optus Stadium can accommodate over 60 000. Stevens added that the stadium would likely need upgrades and that the club might play some smaller games in Bunbury and larger ones at Optus Stadium.
The debate sits within a broader context of AFL expansion. The league currently fields 18 teams and awarded the 19th licence to Tasmania in 2023, with the club expected to debut in 2028. The next expansion licence would bring the competition to 20 teams. Recent reports from the AFL Commission and media outlets indicate that Western Australian stakeholders are now open to considering a third club, a shift from the league’s previous focus on the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
While no formal application has been filed, the discussion signals that the AFL’s expansion plans remain fluid. The league’s decision‑making process involves multiple stakeholders, including state governments, local football bodies and potential investors. If Western Australia pursues a third team, the next steps would include feasibility studies, venue assessments and negotiations with the AFL Commission.
At present, the AFL has not announced a timeline for a third Western Australian club. The league’s next major expansion decision is expected in the coming months, as it weighs the Tasmania entry and the potential 20th team. For now, Western Australian football fans and clubs continue to advocate for a larger share of the national competition.
In short, the conversation has moved from speculation to tangible possibilities, with Joondalup and Bunbury standing as the most likely candidates. The outcome will hinge on a mix of population growth, infrastructure readiness and the AFL’s willingness to spread the game further across the continent.
On the latest episode of The Outer Wing, the discussion was led by Mark Stevens and Digby Beacham, with TAB Touch providing sponsorship. Beacham opened the debate by arguing that a third franchise would give Western Australians the guarantee of a home game each weekend, reinforcing the state’s reputation as a “football‑mad” region that deserves broader representation.
The two candidates he spotlighted are Joondalup and Bunbury. Joondalup, a northern Perth suburb roughly 30 kilometres from the city, is described as a “huge growth area” with a thriving local football culture. Its proximity to Perth would allow a club to play home matches at Optus Stadium, the current venue for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers. The suburb’s expanding population, coupled with existing football infrastructure, makes it a realistic prospect for a new franchise.
Bunbury presents a contrasting profile. The city’s population sits at about 80,000, and its Hands Memorial Oval has recently undergone a $25 million redevelopment, including a $5 million upgrade to bring the venue closer to AFL standards. The 14,000‑seat ground hosted a North Melbourne match against Fremantle in Round 13 of the current season. Beacham highlighted the South West’s talent pipeline, citing AFL players such as Adam Hunter, Connor Blakely and Lewis Jetta as evidence that the region can supply elite talent.
A key question the panel raised was whether a smaller venue like Hands Oval would attract players from the eastern states. Beacham asked whether athletes would be willing to play before 12–13 000 spectators when Optus Stadium can accommodate over 60 000. Stevens added that the stadium would likely need upgrades and that the club might play some smaller games in Bunbury and larger ones at Optus Stadium.
The debate sits within a broader context of AFL expansion. The league currently fields 18 teams and awarded the 19th licence to Tasmania in 2023, with the club expected to debut in 2028. The next expansion licence would bring the competition to 20 teams. Recent reports from the AFL Commission and media outlets indicate that Western Australian stakeholders are now open to considering a third club, a shift from the league’s previous focus on the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.
While no formal application has been filed, the discussion signals that the AFL’s expansion plans remain fluid. The league’s decision‑making process involves multiple stakeholders, including state governments, local football bodies and potential investors. If Western Australia pursues a third team, the next steps would include feasibility studies, venue assessments and negotiations with the AFL Commission.
At present, the AFL has not announced a timeline for a third Western Australian club. The league’s next major expansion decision is expected in the coming months, as it weighs the Tasmania entry and the potential 20th team. For now, Western Australian football fans and clubs continue to advocate for a larger share of the national competition.
In short, the conversation has moved from speculation to tangible possibilities, with Joondalup and Bunbury standing as the most likely candidates. The outcome will hinge on a mix of population growth, infrastructure readiness and the AFL’s willingness to spread the game further across the continent.
