WAFL RAC Derby: South and East Fremantle partner with RAC to promote road safety on WA Day

West Australian

15-05-2025

A sombre message on the importance of road safety will accompany this year's inter-Fremantle WAFL clash, with traditional rivals South and East Fremantle joining forces with RAC.
The Fremantle clubs' traditional WA Day clash at Fremantle Community Bank Oval will be known as the WAFL RAC Derby, with the automotive services giant coming on board to sponsor the event.
It comes after the tragic passing of South Fremantle colts player Nick Campo in a car accident in July 2024, which also resulted in the hospitalisation of two of his Bulldogs teammates.
The partnership between RAC and the two clubs will also deliver educational workshops on road safety to young players through mental health service Happiness Co.
South Fremantle chief executive Cam Britt said they were proud to be partnering with RAC and delivering their message to not just their own players but everyone associated with the club was vital.
'Here at South, we're a club that's unfortunately experienced the devastating impact of road trauma so when RAC reached out, we were delighted to receive some support, which includes some driver education and road safety training for our youngest footballers in our colts and Rogers Cup,' he said.
'The RAC, in conjunction with Happiness Co. are meeting with our Rogers Cup players and our colts players, and providing driver education and self-awareness training, which we think is incredibly important, given what we've been through as a club and a community.
'The messaging and the awareness around road safety is absolutely paramount, and we're only too happy to help establish that program going forward.'
There were 188 road fatalities in WA in 2024, marking the state's deadliest year since 2016.
An RAC survey in November of 150 drivers aged from 17-21 found 77 per cent were confident they understood road rules — but 22 per cent believed it was safe to use a mobile phone without a hands-free connection, and 12 per cent thought it safe to drive when over the blood alcohol limit.
Britt said education for all drivers was important, but especially for the younger demographic.
'We know the issues of road safety in our West Australian community, and as football clubs, we are just a subset of our community,' he said.
'So any ability that we have to provide reinforcement of education and road safety messaging with our youngest and most vulnerable groups, being our under-18 and early 20s cohorts, it's incredibly important, and we want to provide as much support as we can.'
With both clubs hoping to match last year's turnout of 7500 fans to the derby, East Fremantle commercial manager and West Coast Eagles great Brad Sheppard said it was vital they spread the message far and wide.
'It's well-documented what's happened in the last 12 months and beyond that as well. Decisions have lasting impacts on not only individuals, but families and the community as well,' he said.
'South Fremantle have experienced some heartbreak last 12 months, and I know there are certain players and individuals from our club who have had trauma in this space over a number of years.
'To be able to raise awareness about the decision-making and the impact of what road safety has on the community is really important for the club.
'It's a lot bigger than footy, what we're going to be tackling on June 2.
'To be able to have RAC involved with what we're doing is really important for the community and for the state as well, because we want to try and reduce deaths on roads as much as we can.'