THE MATCH ball from the Fremantle Football Club's first AFL game has been returned to the club on a loan basis by the mayor of Fremantle, Peter Tagliaferri.

Mr Tagliaferri, who bought the ball when it first became available at an auction, presented the piece of history to Fremantle president Rick Hart at the club's Carlton Mid Derby Luncheon on Friday.

The ball was used in Fremantle's five-point loss to Richmond in round one of the 1995 season and will be kept in the club's boardroom.      

Mr Tagliaferri, a long time Fremantle supporter, said the idea to return the ball to the club was conceived a few years ago with then chief executive Cameron Schwab. 

He said the timing was right to return the ball ahead of the 29th western derby and captain Matthew Pavlich's 200th game.

Fremantle president Rick Hart accepted the piece of history in front of 200 guests at the annual function.  

"Thankyou very much Peter for that wonderful gesture," Mr Hart said.

"Peter Tagliaferi is a wonderful supporter of the Fremantle Football Club and the Fremantle area.

"It's a marvellous piece of history and we will treasure it.

"We were talking earlier, wondering how many clubs would actually have the first ball that their team played with. I don't think there'd be too many in the AFL."

Club heroes Peter Bell and Shaun McManus were part of a panel discussion at the luncheon with former captain and current football manager Chris Bond.

Aaron Sandilands, Ryan Crowley and coach Mark Harvey were also on hand to preview the 29th Western Derby for the club's corporate partners.