the combined membership of Fremantle and West Coast AFL clubs was a record 79,804 members. Participation In 2022 there were 94,318 registered players. This grew from 2007 when there were around 12,050 senior players and a total participation of 91,009, With a participation rate of around 4.2% per capita, Western Australia it the third most supported state (behind Victoria and South Australia). Audience Attendance Record 59,608 (2018). AFL Preliminary Final. West Coast Eagles v Melbourne. (Optus Stadium, Perth) Major Australian Rules Events in Western Australia Australian Football League Premiership Season (West Coast Eagles and Fremantle home games) Western Derby West Australian Football League Grand Final Notable Western Australian footballers Graham 'Polly' Farmer was the first West Australian to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame as a legend. He was also named as the ruckman in the AFL Team of the Century. Barry Cable (2012) and Merv McIntosh (2021) have also been elevated to legend status. Other great players from WA to have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame are Jack Clarke, George Doig, Ross Glendinning, Denis Marshall, Merv McIntosh, Stephen Michael, George Moloney, Graham Moss, Wayne Richardson, Jack Sheedy, William 'Nipper' Truscott and Bill Walker. In the 1980s and 90s players such as Brad Hardie, Nicky Winmar, Jim and Phil Krakouer, Mark Bairstow, Glen Jakovich, Guy McKenna, Dean Kemp and Peter Matera starred in the AFL. More recently high-profile Western Australian players in the AFL have included Ben Cousins, Lance Franklin, Simon Black, Patrick Ryder, Peter Bell, Jeff Farmer, Aaron Sandilands, Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Nic Naitanui and Nat Fyfe. Representative teams The Western Australian Australian football team is nicknamed alternatively the "Sandgropers" or the "Black Swans" and have played representative matches, either as State of Origin or as a state team representing the WAFL against all other Australian states. Governing Body The governing body for Australian rules football in WA is the West Australian Football Commission. Leagues & clubs Professional clubs West Coast Eagles (Australian Football League) Fremantle Football Club (Australian Football League) Open Perth metropolitan leagues West Australian Football League (semi-professional) Western Australian Amateur Football League Metro Football League (was Mercantile Football Association) Sunday Football League (defunct) Regional leagues West Australian Country Football League Avon Football Association Central Kimberley Football Association Central Midlands Coastal Football League Central Wheatbelt Football League East Kimberley Football Association Eastern Districts Football League Esperance District Football Association