Any South West AFL or WAFL venture should be based on Bushrangers’ experience

I am a big fan of City of Bunbury mayor Jaysen Miguel as a person and athlete. His enthusiasm and desire to bring success to Bunbury across the board cannot be questioned. However, I do believe the name and concept of a future “South West Pelicans” AFL or WAFL side could be refined a little bit. Football fans and stakeholders do not need to look far for inspiration and education on how to make any future bid for a South West side a fruitful one, as it is all on full display at Hands Oval inside SWFL headquarters. Prior to the 1999 Westar Rules season, the SWFL helped back a team — the South West Bushrangers — in a pre-season competition dubbed the “Governor’s Challenge”, which involved matches against rival WAFL clubs. Coached by the legendary Darrell Panizza, the Bushrangers failed to win a game during the competition, although the experience gave younger players a taste of football at State league level. The Bushrangers concept was abandoned after one season, with a combined WA Country side taking their spot in 2000. Since then, the region has competed in a series of WAFL underaged talent competitions but nothing at senior level. While having an AFL side based out of Hands Oval would be a dream for many, I feel it is important the region gets the base of its house laid down first before putting a roof on it. The operational costs of running an AFL club, let alone a WAFL one, are eye-watering. Unless there is substantial financial backing year-in, year-out from big business and key stakeholders, the club will suffocate under a pillow of debt. This also applies to other local State sporting clubs — including the South West Slammers and South West Phoenix — who at times have found it tough matching money offered to players by bigger clubs in Perth. Talk over the past few months of a South West side either entering the WAFLW-based Rogers Cup or colts competition one day have been heartening, as sustained success at this level could lead to an AFL licence in future. Let us not let the ghosts of the forefounding South West Bushrangers be forgotten — or better still, could we bring them back?