Finals Footy Takes Over Subiaco

By Jack Delfs

Subiaco is feeling finals fever as the city heads into this weekend’s AFL preliminary finals.

Rokeby Road has been painted blue and gold and many of the local businesses are showing support for the two WA sides by displaying flags and posters for the teams within their shopfronts.

For some, like shop owner Paul Dorotic from Little Tastings on Rokeby Road, that means becoming the enemy.

A North Melbourne fan from birth, Paul says serving the people of Subiaco while wearing his team’s colours this week has made for a bit of banter between customers.

He says the city has been buzzing with football talk all month, far ahead of years gone by.

“I get a little bit of grief from the Eagles fans but it’s all in good fun.

“Usually you get a bit of footy talk during the finals but I think with both WA teams having done so well we’ve gone above and beyond that this season,” said Mr Dorotic.

The city is expected to be flooded with football fans watching their teams play this weekend meaning business is booming for local pubs.

Sandra Cummings from The Vic Hotel on Hay St expects their bar to be flat out all weekend and has had to roster in extra staff to cope.

“We’re expecting to be at capacity almost all weekend so we’ve got about 7 extra workers on to deal with the crazy numbers.

“Fremantle on Friday, Eagles on Saturday and then the WAFL final Sunday arvo, this weekend is all about football!” said Ms Cummings.

Fremantle will play Hawthorn at 6:10pm Friday night at Domain stadium with West Coast facing off against North Melbourne the following evening at 5:45pm.

With a Western Derby grand final fast approaching reality, it seems there has never been a better time to be a football fan in WA.