Fevola sets AFL precedent

Peel Football League chairman Paul Campaner believes Brendan Fevola’s special guest appearance for the Rockingham Rams on Sunday will open the floodgates for similar appearances from former AFL marquee players.

The ex-Carlton and Brisbane spearhead will line out for the Rams against bitter rivals Waroona, in a repeat of the last two grand finals.

The Dees have bragging rights, after taking out the last two premierships, and struck an early body blow this season securing a narrow win in Rockingham.

“It just further enhances our stature as a country league and to have someone of the calibre of Brendan Fevola playing here is a positive,” Campaner said.

“If he goes back and tells the like of (Jason) Akermanis and other retired AFL players that do this kind of thing, it could be a good option for other clubs to look at.

“It may lead to another blockbuster game down the track where you may have the likes of Cameron Mooney and Barry Hall and either end of the ground.”

The blockbuster clash is one of the most hotly-anticipated affairs in the PFL’s recent history, with a bumper crowd expected to flock to Anniversary Park.

The clubs will gain more exposure with the highlights from Fev’s one-off game to be aired on WIN’s Off the Boot country footy show.

Campaner says these blockbuster gamers are in-line with the PFL’s grand plans to cement itself as one of the State’s top leagues.

“It’s our vision for the league to be the best community football league under the WAFL,” he said.

“We’ve got to continue to build our league to be sustainable and attract players, some leagues are happy where they are but we want to strive further and grow.

“We’d like to look at adding further clubs down the track, in the next few years, I would love to have a 10 team competition.”

Rams coach Craig Otto said his charges were itching to line up alongside the dual Coleman medallist.

“I think we’ve got half a dozen Carlton supporters on our team, I’ve never seen a bunch of blokes so excited,” he said.

“I imagine on the day there will be a bit of excitement because it’s not very often these guys play in front of a couple of thousand people, fingers crossed.

“We’re trying to keep things as normal as we can during training this week, he’ll join us at the weekend, so for us it will be business as usual.

“I joined Rockingham back in 1994, after coming back from a bit of travelling, and this is the biggest thing that has probably happened to the Peel League.”

Otto praised the preparations for the game by club volunteers and reserved special praise for Rebecca Boyd.

The game gets underway at 2.30pm, admission costs $8.

In other PFL fixtures, Pinjarra will be in action against South Mandurah at 4.30pm on Saturday.

Baldivis will host Mandurah at 2.30pm this Sunday and Halls Head will meet Centrals.