Hedland WAFL game in doubt

The first Hedland WAFL game in five years could be in jeopardy after Swan Districts confirmed a previously earmarked June fixture at Kevin Scott Oval would no longer be played in the Pilbara.

In January, Swans chief executive Tom Bottrell told the North West Telegraph the club planned to bring a game to South Hedland to coincide with the opening of the new Multi-Purpose Recreation Centre.

But that June 23 match against East Perth will remain in Perth after what Mr Bottrell described as scheduling conflicts.

He said the club, the WA Football Commission and the Town of Port Hedland were scrambling to find a make-up date, with a July 28 fixture against Subiaco a possibility.

But the Telegraph understands July 28 could create problems for the WAFL because it is not a Swans’ home game.

When contacted by the newspaper, Port Hedland mayor Kelly Howlett said she was “totally unaware” the June 23 game had been shifted and was “very disappointed”.

She said she was hopeful a rescheduled fixture could be arranged and reaffirmed that the new recreation centre was on track to open on time.

A WAFL game this year would mark the first State league contest in Hedland for five years, with the previous game held on July 21, 2007 when Claremont outlasted Swans by five points at the old Kevin Scott Oval.

A 2008 game between Swans and South Fremantle scheduled for Hedland was switched to Newman’s Capricorn Oval. Windy Ridge at Dampier played host to the 2010 fixture while last year’s was held at Karratha’s Kevin Richards Memorial Oval.