New WA Football chief executive Brad Wira says coy on if he supports prospect of third AFL team out of Perth

New WA Football chief executive Brad Wira says they’re “eyes wide open” on the potential for a third AFL team in the state but will not reveal if he supports it until after he gathers more evidence. However, Wira indicated he would fight to keep the WAFL strong as the looming introduction of the AFL reserves competition at the end of 2028 threatens to hinder the state league. Wira was announced as the new chief executive of the biggest sporting body in the state on Wednesday, succeeding Michael Roberts who stood down last month after five years. He will depart his role on the WA Football board and officially take his new position on May 4, having spent more than 35 years in the football industry as a player for Claremont, Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs as well as a coach and administrator. Wira will face several big issues in the high-profile position, including whether WA Football backs any potential bids for the 20th license which is almost certain to be available once the Tasmanian team settles. The soon to be former financial adviser said his first day in the role was not one to reveal his position on whether WA should have a third AFL team. “If I come back to values of Brad Wira of collaboration, communication — I’ve spent 20 years in the finance world, I’m an evidence based analyst but I will be fair,” Wira said. “If I come back to those on every question of the 20th team there’s a lot of evidence and fact finding and stakeholder engagement that on day one that’s probably not a question for Brad Wira, but it’s certainly a plan to talk to people and to understand the lay of the land — especially the AFL. “I lived Fremantle coming in. I was an inaugural Docker, I understand the challenges of a new club ... I am close with (Tasmania Devils chief executive) Brendon Gale, I understand the challenges he is going through with Tasmania and the license that he is successfully in charge of. The 20th license is something we’re eyes wide open but probably not for day one.” A potential AFL reserves competition is also on the cards, but not until at least the end of 2028 after the league announced the VFL would continue in it’s current format for the next three seasons. There are widespread fears that this competition would put the financia viability of the WAFL under threat, but Wira said there was a place for the league “in our ecosystem”. “It’s an item on our agenda for sure. I am a life member at Claremont, I spent 16 years at Tigerland as a youngster to at the back end of my career. I love the WAFL, I’m as passionate and romantic as the next person,” he said. “There’s a place for the WAFL and there’s a place for it in our ecosystem. We understand where the AFL fits. “I want to listen to the AFL clubs, I want to listen to the stakeholders, I want to listen to the WAFL clubs. “We’ve got clubs that are over 100 years old. That tradition and that weight or value is not lost on me ... we will work closely with the stakeholders. The AFL reserves, we know where it is so we’ll learn to understand it and work forward.”