He’s no Pelican! City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel’s bold vision for an AFL side in Bunbury

City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel believes Bunbury would be an “ideal” place for a third potential AFL club in WA.

With talk of a Tasmania-based 19th team joining the AFL competition in coming seasons, discussion has quickly shifted about the potential for an another entity to join to balance the league at 20 teams, which would eliminate the need for a weekly bye.

Several movers and shakers from local and State government in WA — including Mr Miguel, City of Joondalup Mayor Albert Jacob, and Sport Minister David Templeman — feel a third WA club could be based in Bunbury, Joondalup or Mandurah respectively.

Other stakeholders, including WAFC chairman Wayne Martin and former West Coast Eagles chairman Murray McHenry, have publicly voiced concern over the long-term financial viability a third AFL club could bring into the WA football system.

Mr Miguel said the 200,000-strong population of the greater South West area, bolstered by an upcoming $13.6 million upgrade of Bunbury’s footy centre at Hands Oval, would help press the region’s case.

“The idea was that we are in a position to showcase games, whether they are WAFL games or (AFL) pre-season games,” he said.

“There was every possibility we could have been a hub during AFL COVID. The ground is top-class, but the facilities themselves are lacking behind.”

There have already been feasibility studies about having a South West side in the WAFL.

“There are 85,000 people down here. The Bunbury and South West region have a history of producing some pretty good AFL players,” he said.

“There has been a lot of work done previously about grassroots footy and cricket. The AFL keeps talking about grassroots, so why don’t they actually (look) at setting up some of their bases in grassroots areas?

“We have all of that. We are a city, but we still have a country feel and that’s what makes us what we are — and why we have been so successful and why we have been able to produce so many talented athletes in all codes.”

And a potential name and colours for a South West AFL venture? Well, Mr Miguel appeared to have those details covered as well.

“I go for the New Orleans Pelicans over in the US in the NBA. The South-West Pelicans has a nice feel to it,” he said.

Mr Miguel took to social media on Tuesday morning to speak about his passion for the concept, with a logo and motto embedded within the statement.

The nickname “Pelicans” received some mixed feedback from football fans on social media, but the mayor’s passion for the concept of bringing an AFL club to Bunbury was warmly embraced.

Later in the day, Mr Miguel reclarified his stance.

“Thank you to everyone who has commented or provided constructive feedback on my ‘hard work’ in this space … It is, however, just a bit of tongue in cheek in response to an editorial from the West Australian,” he said.

“You’ve got to dream big, right? And start the conversation somewhere

“We’ll probably start a little smaller though and keep working on attracting an AFL level game to Bunbury, and I don’t think we’ll be far off achieving that.

“Then when the AFL is ready to chat, I’ll be ready!

“I guarantee any further advances I make for a Bunbury-based AFL team will involve a comprehensive consultation process around the name.”