The property developer, billionaire and premier who built an AFL club
by Lucy Slade · Australian Financial ReviewLucy SladeProperty reporter
Sep 24, 2026 – 5.00am
In 1986, a young Perth-based property developer asked Australia’s first billionaire for some cash to create a West Australian footy team in the hopes of beating the Victorians in their own league.
Just six years later, the West Coast Eagles became the first club outside Victoria to win a premiership in the newly named Australian Football League.
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- BOSS
- Property investment
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Lucy SladeProperty reporterLucy Slade covers real estate for The Australian Financial Review, based in the Sydney newsroom. She was previously the breaking news reporter. Email Lucy at lslade@afr.com
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