04-08-2025
Footy goes on despite ankle-deep water
Wild storms turn Aussie Rules into a water sport
Perth's wild weekend weather left Aussie rules player battling in ankle-deep water at one suburban oval.
The city was lashed with rain through Saturday morning as a cold front passed through the south-western part of WA.
It wreaked havoc as floodwaters trapped people inside their cars and inundated houses.
It also left Perth Football League players facing an oval that was half underwater.
One entire wing of Ferndale Oval and a goal-scoring end was covered in puddles that resembled lakes and looked to be ankle-deep in places.
The ball often disappeared in clouds of spray as players slipped and tumbled while trying to get a grasp on it.
Unsurprisingly it made for low scorelines, with no team in the three matches played there on Saturday scoring more than four goals.
In the West Coast colts match, Swan View defeated Lynwood Ferndale 3.6 to 2.7. Bayswater defeated Lynwood Ferndale in the C5 reserves 4.9 to 2.6, but Lynwood Ferndale turned it around in the C5 men's for Phil Okely's 300th game to claim a 4.10 to 2.4 victory. Ferndale waterpark? No, Ferndale Oval. Credit: Michael Palmer Diving for the ball took on a whole new meaning. Credit: Michael Palmer There were no bouncedowns during the game. Credit: Michael Palmer A bedraggled Bayswater player watches the game. Credit: Michael Palmer A Lynwood Ferndale player wades his way to the interchange. Credit: Michael Palmer
