Sounness succeeds in WAFL test

The redeveloped Sounness Park and the organisation of the WAFL fixture between Claremont and Swan Districts drew plenty of praise from both clubs who hailed the country clash a success on Saturday.

More than 2000 spectators streamed into the new oval for the first WAFL match in the region in six years.

The Tigers won narrowly by 11 points in front of their adopted home crowd, with the spectacle and the playing surface passing the test with flying colours.

Claremont chief executive Dean Horsington labelled the organisation and hosting by the Mt Barker Football Club, Great Southern Football League and Shire of Plantagenet as the best of the club's past six country fixtures after proposing the opportunity to host the game in mid-February.

"In that short amount of time and to get it to that standard, it's by far the best we have been involved in and it's a credit to the Great Southern, in particular the Mt Barker footy club, GSFL and the Shire of Plantagenet," he said.

"The support was overwhelming and the community really got behind it."

With WAFL fixtures in regional areas on a rotational basis as part of the State Government's Country Sports Enrichment Scheme, Horsington said the Tigers would not be allocated another country fixture in either their Kimberley or Great Southern zones until at least 2019.

He said the club would look into the potential of bringing another match down to the region.

"What I would love to do is get the game sponsored so we can get down there a lot sooner," he said.

"If we want to bring a game down there earlier we have to be totally self-sufficient."

The match is the only country WAFL fixture this season and coincided with the official opening of the multimillion-dollar facility at a lunch before bouncedown.

The return to the region brought back fond memories for Swan Districts coach Greg Harding, who remembered playing at Sounness Park during his time playing with Royals.

"The surface was one of the best surfaces that we will play on this year," Harding said. "It was a great crowd. The redevelopment has been fantastic. The Shire of Plantagenet and Mt Barker footy club have done an amazing job."

Counterpart Michael Broadbridge said the match continued the Tigers' affection for their country zone.

"It was a great initiative, the locals should be really proud of the facility that they have got," he said.

"It was a really good day and great for Claremont to come down to the Great Southern region. We love the Great Southern and what it has done for Claremont."

Mt Barker Football Club president Brad Hook said he was pleased the day was "flawless" and well received by both clubs: "It just goes to show how much work has been put in by everyone including the club, Shire and GSFL to get it all set up and the day just flowed."