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Lucky readers first to win The West Australian’s AFL grand final golden tickets

The West Australian
Geraldton man Brett Wilkinson has won five tickets to the AFL grand final in Perth next weekend.
Camera IconGeraldton man Brett Wilkinson has won five tickets to the AFL grand final in Perth next weekend. Credit: Phoebe Pin/Geraldton Guardian

For Brett Wilkinson and Geoff Walker, all of their football Christmases came at once when they opened their copies of The West Australian on Friday.

The pair are the first of 16 West Aussies to win family passes to the AFL grand final courtesy of The West and The Sunday Times after finding a golden ticket inside their newspapers.

Both have never been to a sporting event at Optus Stadium and said they were beyond excited to get their first taste at such a historic game.

Mr Wilkinson, from Geraldton, said he had fortunately gone for the second paper on the stack because the one on top was a bit crinkled. He added he was not 100 per cent sure what he had actually won at first.

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“I thought initially it was just a ticket to enter for a draw but when I rang the number I was told I’d won and I was just so shocked,” he said.

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“I’ve never been to anything at Optus Stadium — me and my wife went on a tour once ... but we have never experienced the atmosphere that comes with a full crowd.” Mr Wilkinson, whose daughter also gave birth to his granddaughter on Friday, said he planned on taking his son-in-law as a thank you, along with his youngest son and two mates.

Golden Ticket Winner. Bronwyn Mollett and Geoff Walker with their winning golden ticket. 
Picture Jackson Flindell The West Australian
Camera IconGolden Ticket Winner. Bronwyn Mollett and Geoff Walker with their winning golden ticket. Picture Jackson Flindell The West Australian Credit: The West Australian

He said he was a fanatical West Coast Eagles supporter but was jumping on the Melbourne bandwagon for the game.

Mr Walker, from Perth, said he had missed out on a ticket to the game the day before unearthing the golden ticket in The West.

“I’ve never really won anything in my life,” he said.

“I tried for the general admission tickets online but I was about 59,000 in the queue so I turned the computer off and gave up. There was only 10,000 of those tickets so I was never going to get in from that deep.

“I’ve never been inside the stadium before but I have heard it is world-class.”

Mr Walker, pictured left with Bronwyn Mollett, said he would take his partner to the game and was leaning towards supporting Melbourne. WA’s biggest grand final giveaway, thanks to The West Australian and The Sunday Times, runs until Wednesday.

All you have to do is pick up a copy of the paper and look inside.

Plus, to be part of a second chance draw for any unclaimed tickets, go to thewest.com.au/goldenticket and register by 4pm on Wednesday.

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