As the 2021 AFL Grand Final draws near, my thoughts go to my native Western Australia and how the optimum game of the year is going to get the Sandgroper treatment.

In an act of sheer self indulgence, I’d like to put forward an alternative option to what is likely to be fairly predictable and cliché pre-match entertainment. It consists of a few of WA’s finest independent musical exports and a tribute to the WAFL players of the 60’s and 70’s that I adored.

Act 1 – Simple. If you’ve ever been to Optus Stadium, it’s capable of ear bleeding sound so in order to wake everyone up from another picture perfect, run of the mill, blue sky day in Perth, enter The Scientists playing ‘Swampland’. Maybe accompany them with some psychedelic collage on the big screens and that blinding Optus light show and we’re off to an exhilarating, intoxicating start, guaranteed to snatch the locals from their late arvo slumber.

(The Scientists 1978-1987, led gallantly by Kim Salmon and recently reformed for some rare shows. Pioneers of “swamp rock”, their album ‘Blood Red River’ was voted number 76 in Australia’s top 110 albums as judged by music journalists Toby Cresswell, Craig Matheson & John O’Donnell)

Act 2 – The Stems appear playing ‘At First Sight’ as the cavalcade of past WA champions enters the arena on vintage cars. My choice by club would be :

Claremont – Graham Moss & Ken Hunter

Subiaco – Austin Robertson & Mike Fitzpatrick

East Fremantle – Brian Peake & Graham Melrose

South Fremantle – Don Haddow & Stephen Michael

East Perth – Ross Glendinning & Phil Kelly

West Perth – Bill Dempsey & Mel Whinnen

Swan Districts – Bill Walker & Phil Narkle

Perth – Barry Cable & Rob Wiley

The deeds of these guys are too numerous to mention. They were an inspiration to us black footy short wearing, skinny, barefooted kids of yesteryear.

( The Stems 1983-1987. Led by Dom Mariani, a power pop, 60’s garage band style and great live band. This song, ‘ At First Sight’ was used in the movie Young Einstein and their album ‘At First Sight, Violets Are Blue’, made Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Australian albums)

Act 3 – As the legends roll off the ground, the start of what in my mind, is the definitive Western Australian anthem, ‘Wide Open Road’ by the Triffids starts up. Sadly without their lead singer/songwriter the late David McComb, the lead singer/songwriter of The Church, Steve Kilby has vocal duties and nails it. On the big screens are extraordinary, breathtaking scenes of the WA landscape interspersed with intimate, slow motion action of AFL players in 2021.

(The Triffids 1978-1989. Inspired by their charismatic front man and songwriter, the late David McComb, The Triffids were one of the most original post punk bands in the world with a huge following to this day. A documentary on David McComb has just been released, but for Melbourne fans where it was meant to be launched, it got cancelled due to lockdown. The Triffids album, ‘Born Sandy Devotional’ is ranked number 5 in Australia’s top 110 albums as judged by music journalists Toby Cresswell, Craig Matheson & John O’Donnell)

Good luck to WA next week. The stadium is a ripper and the noise seems to struggle exiting  the arena even with 20,000 in attendance. Two fast flowing teams, 60,000 salivating Sandgropers and we could be in for a “grannie” we’ll be discussing years down the track. Can’t wait.