Fremantle will play all three of its 2016 NAB Challenge matches in WA, including a trip to the Great Southern Region.
The club will open the pre-season competition on Friday 19 February at 4.10pm against Richmond at Bendigo Bank Stadium in Mandurah, just115 days from today’s announcement.
It will then head to Mount Barker, in the state’s Great Southern Region, on Sunday 28 February, to play Adelaide at Sounness Park at 1.40pm.
The final match on Saturday 12 March is against Geelong at Domain Stadium at 1.10pm.
Fremantle chief executive officer Steve Rosich said it was a pleasing fixture for the club’s local supporters.
“It is great to be play a NAB Challenge match at Bendigo Bank Stadium, the home of our WAFL partner club Peel Thunder,” he said.
“The ground and facilities are considered the best in the WAFL,” he said.
“It is a great opportunity for our fans in the Peel region to come along and only a short trip for our metro supporters.
“We will then head to the Great Southern Region to 2015 Doig Medallist Aaron Sandilands’ hometown of Mt Barker.
“Our final match will be on Domain Stadium, an ideal opportunity to get back onto our home ground before round one.
“We will not leave WA during the competition, which is great for our members and supporters across the state.”
In announcing the fixture on Tuesday, AFL general manager of broadcasting, scheduling and major projects Simon Lethlean said the AFL was delighted that all 27 matches in the pre-season would be exclusively broadcast on television live by Fox Footy, and in addition, every match will also be made available live to fans via the AFL Live App.
In a continuation of the initiative introduced for the 2015 NAB Challenge, AFL club members with game access will be entitled to attend next year's NAB Challenge matches free of charge.
"The NAB Challenge continues to take our game across the country to regional and suburban grounds that don't normally host AFL football during our regular premiership season," Lethlean said.
"The support of NAB, by taking our games in the pre-season away from the major metropolitan venues, enables our game to strengthen its roots in the community.
"The NAB Challenge is the first occasion the young players chosen in next month's NAB AFL Draft will have to showcase their wares for their new teams and the AFL is also greatly appreciative of the support of Foxtel and the Fox Footy Channel, who will be broadcasting every game live."
Lethlean said every match across the opening three weeks would be played at regional or suburban venues, while the fourth and final week would see matches staged at metropolitan AFL venues to optimise team preparations ahead of the Premiership Season.
Six matches will be played across each of the first three weekends of games - giving all clubs one bye - with every club playing on the final weekend, Mr Lethlean said.
“This structure will again be in place for the 2016 NAB Challenge as it accommodates the needs of our clubs in terms of managing player workloads and planning their preparations during a very important month before the premiership season gets underway,” he said.
2016 NAB Challenge fixture:
Fremantle vs. Richmond
Friday, 19 February
Bendigo Bank Stadium, Mandurah
4:10pm WST
Fremantle vs. Adelaide Crows
Sunday, 28 February
Sounness Park, Mount Barker (WA)
1:40pm WST
Fremantle vs. Geelong Cats
Saturday, 12 March
Domain Stadium
1:10pm WST
