West Coast Eagles to broaden regional connections with exclusive Bunbury panel event

West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett is heading to Bunbury for an exclusive panel luncheon as part of the club’s initiative to expand into regional Western Australia.

Collaborating with major sponsors Edith Cowan University, the Eagles are set to host the Connect to Sport, Connect to Community event next Tuesday, featuring the CEO of 24 years, alongside former AFL national manager Jan Cooper, Olympic gold medallist Liane Tooth and ECU Professor Anthony Blazevich.

Hosted by AFL writer, television and radio personality Samantha Lane, the event will discuss how the “power of sport” drives connections in regional communities.

WCE South West community coordinator Josh Cassidy said it comes as part of a Statewide initiative to “broaden” the club’s reach into regional areas.

“Over the last 12 months, we’ve launched our regional programs strategy ... the club is really looking to broaden our reach from the metro into regional WA to connect the community more,” he said.

“For the club to be involved in regional WA it gives us a chance to reach those people who don’t necessarily have a lot of access to a lot of the things that they do in the city.

“The club has an aim to be the most community connected AFL club.”

Mr Cassidy said the club hoped to “spread the love” to people of all ages and make AFL more “accessible” throughout the State.

“We have a big focus on the Naitanui Academy (which is) focused on indigenous and multicultural kids in the area, we’ve got the female academywhich is focused on junior females and we’ve got All Stars working with kids with disabilities, football programs in schools and walking footy to get the older people to get involved as well,” he said.

The event will kick off from 11am at ECU South West, with guests required to register via trybooking.