For years, Western Australia has been one of the AFL's strongest football states. It produces elite talent, contains passionate supporters, and consistently delivers strong crowds at Optus Stadium.
With Tasmania preparing to enter the competition in the 2028 season, attention has already shifted to who could be next, and the question is hard to ignore: is it finally time for a third AFL team in Western Australia?
Speaking on this week's episode of The Outer Wing, hosted by Mark Stevens and Digby Beacham, presented by TAB Touch, Beacham presented his ideas if a third team were to enter.
"We'd love it because it would mean we're guaranteed to get a game or two games here in Perth or in WA (Western Australia) every weekend," Beacham said.
"And we are a football-mad state, so we can't get enough of that."
He then proposed two regions where a realistically viable third AFL club could be based.
The first is Joondalup, a northern suburb approximately 30 kilometres from Perth.
"It's a huge growth area here in WA, it's a strong Australian rules football place."
He added that basing a club in Joondalup would still allow players to play home games at Optus Stadium.
Bunbury was the second location proposed.
Located around two hours south-west of Perth, Bunbury has a population of approximately 80,000 and has emerged as a potential home for a third Western Australian AFL club.
The city's Hands Oval recently underwent a $25 million redevelopment, with $5 million invested to bring the venue closer to AFL standards. The ground has a capacity of 14,000 and earlier this season hosted North Melbourne's Round 13 clash against Fremantle.
Beacham also highlighted the South West's reputation for producing elite football talent with AFL players such as Adam Hunter, Connor Blakely and Lewis Jetta.
“It's a really, really strong football heartland there as well,” he said.
However, he questioned whether the venue would be attractive enough for AFL players if it became the club's primary home.
“If you played there (at Hands Oval), do you get to play at Optus Stadium?” he asked.
“Are you luring players across from the East Coast to be playing in front of 12 or 13 thousand?"
Stevens then had his say on the idea.
"They'd have to upgrade the stadium down south. Probably play some smaller games down there and then the big ones at the Perth stadium."
Beacham confirmed Bunbury was tipped as his favourite for the location.
Western Australia continues to grow, football remains the state's number one sport, and supporter demand has never disappeared. If the AFL truly wants to reward football hearts while continuing to grow the game, WA deserves to be part of that conversation.
Tasmania's arrival shouldn't mark the end of expansion planning.
A third Western Australian club may not arrive tomorrow, or even this decade. But if the AFL is serious about the future of the competition, it's a conversation that deserves far more attention than it's currently receiving.
The question is no longer whether Western Australia could support another AFL club.
It's whether the AFL is prepared to give it the chance.
