FIFO Workers Keep Outback Football Alive in Western Australia

When Cody Rodgers accepted a mining job 1,200 kilometers north of Perth, he didn't expect to chase two championship trophies in one season. The 24-year-old now plays for both his hometown Augusta-Margaret River Hawks and the Karratha Falcons during his work rotations, thanks to a creative solution keeping remote Australian sports alive.

Football leagues across Western Australia's Pilbara mining region offer special FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) permits that allow workers to play local games during their shifts. About 60 to 70 players now split their seasons between mining town teams and their home clubs, creating a unique double life that benefits everyone involved.

"I thought it would make being away from home doing FIFO a bit more enjoyable," Rodgers said. "Play some footy and make some new mates."

Jesse Mason experienced the same quick welcome when he started work in Newman, a remote iron ore town of 7,000 people. A coworker dropped a Tigers polo shirt on his desk within days of learning Mason played football. The 26-year-old construction manager now stays match-fit during work rotations, ready to play for his Perth team when he returns home.

The arrangement costs less too, with clubs reducing fees for FIFO players. "It sometimes feels like you're not just trapped at work," Mason said. "You actually get to do stuff and enjoy another little life while you're away."

The Ripple Effect

Without FIFO players, many Pilbara leagues couldn't field enough teams to keep competitions running. An estimated 25,000 fly-in workers rotate through the region at any given time, and their participation has become essential for local sports survival.

Newman's local league runs four senior men's teams, a number impossible without the transient workforce. "You probably just about turn over half your list every year," said league president Kallan Hutchinson. "It's just the way the community is."

The impact reaches beyond filling roster spots. Regular training gives workers breaks from grueling 12-hour shifts in scorching heat while building genuine friendships. Football WA executive Brent Hedley emphasized the mental health benefits: "Participation from a mental health and wellbeing perspective is enormous."

The permits work best in mining regions like the Pilbara and Goldfields, where transient populations need structure and community connection. Friday night games have become social anchors in towns where isolation could otherwise dominate, creating camaraderie that extends far beyond the field.

Now workers flying into remote mining sites don't just clock hours—they score goals, celebrate wins, and build communities that thrive despite the constant turnover.