Will a match be called off for lightning, heat or other bad weather?

Weather does not usually stop a match, but in extreme conditions (very strong winds, flooding, extreme fire danger or fires nearby, lightning, hail, extreme heat) all parties must consult and decide on the safest outcome. The field umpire or League official decides whether a match starts, is delayed or resumes.

Lightning (30/30 guideline): if the gap between a lightning flash and thunder is under 30 seconds, the match or training must be suspended and everyone must shelter. It cannot resume until 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder. Blue sky and no rain are not reasons to restart earlier.

• Safe shelter: a large, fully enclosed building, or failing that a fully enclosed vehicle with a metal roof and windows closed.
• Unsafe: open fields, trees, light poles and goalposts, small shelters, tents and Coaches Boxes, umbrellas, and electrical items such as scoreboards.

After a delay the remaining quarters are shortened equally so the match still finishes on time. An abandoned match's result is decided by WA Football: abandoned before half time is a draw; after half time the scores at the time of the stoppage stand.