What’s On | Round 02
West Coast Eagles v GWS Giants
Sunday, March 26 | 3.20pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk
Gates open 1.15pm (Gate D open at 12.40pm for curtain raiser)

We’re gearing up for our first home match of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, when we take on the GWS Giants at Optus Stadium from 3.20pm (AWST) on Sunday, March 26.  

From 12.40pm a special curtain raiser featuring some of your favourite Eagles from yesteryear will get underway, with entry via Gate D.

Be in your seats from 2.50pm to see a Lap of Honour featuring Josh Kennedy and Jackson Nelson.

Tickets for Sunday’s match are on sale through Ticketmaster right now, and remember that more tickets will be released in the lead-up to Sunday’s bouncedown.

OWLS (past players) & Second Generation Academy curtain raiser

From 12.40pm see Premiership players Will Schofield, Darren Glass, Brett Heady and other stars from the club’s history, playing a scratch match against their children, who are a part of our Second Generation Academy.

New Fan Zone locations for 2023

Head to the western concourse on level 1 (inside Gate D) from 1.15pm for some great kids’ activities. We’ll have a roaming photobooth, along with mascots Rick and Rosie doing the rounds.

Player signings are back! From 2.20pm, join us on level 5 (section 543) and have a poster signed by a member of the team pre-match, along with face painting applied by the West Coast Eagles fairies.

Public Transport

Remember to plan your journey on Sunday ahead with Transperth’s Journey Planner, and please click here for further information.

Public Transport is included in the cost of your match day ticket, with free travel on Perth’s buses and trains three hours either side of the match. If asked, please show your ticket to the driver or inspector.

If you’re heading through Gates A or B from Perth Stadium train station, 96FM will provide the afternoon’s soundtrack with various games and giveaways on offer.

Contactless Payment

All food and beverage outlets at Optus Stadium now accept payment by credit or debit card only. If you do not have access to credit or debit card, cash can be exchanged for a complimentary ‘Cash Card’ via Cash Exchange points located around the Stadium. Optus Stadium event day staff will direct you to the nearest Cash Exchange point at the Stadium. For more information, please click here.

Mobile Ticketing

Tickets for Reserved Seat members are now available to download in the official West Coast Eagles App.

Avoid match day delays by downloading the official West Coast Eagles app and logging in to your West Coast Eagles account now, ahead of Sunday's match. We strongly recommend not to leave this until the last minute, in case you encounter problems, and to save your tickets to your phone wallet to ensure no delays.

Instructions on how to use mobile ticketing are available here, and instructions on how to forward your ticket to a family member or a friend are available here.

The West Coast Eagles Membership Services team will be available at the box offices B, C, and E from 1.15pm on Sunday to answer any questions; however, please arrive early if you think that you may require assistance with your tickets.

If you have any issues with your tickets, please attend the match and the Membership Services team will assist; there is no need to miss the match solely for this reason.

Seat Return Program

Can’t make it to the match? Our Seat Return Program is available for Sunday’s match. If your seat successfully sells, you’ll receive a credit towards your 2024 membership renewal.

For more information, including a step-by-step guide to returning your seats, please click here.

Credits will not apply if your seat does not sell, or if you do not attend and do not return your seat.

Auzzie’s Flight

Be sure to be in your seats from 2.55pm* to catch Auzzie’s pre-match flight around Optus Stadium. We’re on the lookout for one lucky member to release Auzzie the Eagle for our round four match against Melbourne. Enter here.

Hungry Jack’s Whopper Goal

If a West Coast Eagles player kicks a goal from outside 50m at a home qualifying match during the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season at Optus Stadium then supporters and fans will be offered a free “Whopper Goal” voucher. The voucher entitles a supporter or fan to one free Whopper. To claim the “Whopper Goal” voucher, a member or fan must download and register for the Hungry Jack’s App and opt-in to receive the voucher when prompted, up until 3 hours after the Whopper Goal is kicked. The voucher will be sent to the user on the Wednesday following the match. For more information, click here.

Why this cup?

When you return to Optus Stadium this weekend, you’re likely to notice a small change, with huge environmental benefits.

In October last year, the WA Government officially banned the use of plastic cups as part of its Plan for Plastics. That means that all drinks will now be served in a 100 per cent recoverable, plastic-free, paper cup.

The change will save between 50,000 and 80,000 plastic cups every AFL match day. Look out for the QR code on the cup so you can learn about the new cups, the impact on the environment and which bin you should put the cup in when you’re done (it’s the yellow one FYI)!

Learn more about the change here.

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, March 26, 3.20pm

TV: Live on Ch7 in WA, Fox Footy and streaming on Kayo

Last time we met: GWS Giants 21.12 (138) def. West Coast 13.8 (86) at Giants Stadium, round 10, 2022

The efficient Giants were under stand-in coach Mark McVeigh for the first time and put the game to bed by half-time, taking a commanding 53-point lead into the main break after kicking 14 goals to five. West Coast fought back in an even second half but never made any inroads. Tim Kelly picked up a team-high 23 disposals with 10 clearances, while young forward Isiah Winder kicked three goals.

What it means for the Eagles: The opportunity to respond after a second quarter fadeout proved costly in the season-opening loss to North Melbourne. After being beaten up in the contest and around stoppages, expect West Coast to play a fiercer brand of football in the first home game of 2023.

The stat: The Eagles have won all three encounters with the Giants at Optus Stadium by 11, 52 and 12 points. West Coast holds a 5-1 win-loss record overall against GWS in Perth.

The match-up: Tom Cole v Toby Greene

The Giants’ new standalone captain – and his namesake Tom Green – were the differences as Greater Western Sydney launched a successful comeback mission from 31 points down against Adelaide in the opening round, and both shape as dangermen on Sunday. While Green racked up 37 disposals and added a goal, Greene kicked four majors (and four behinds) from 19 disposals to lead his side to a 16-point victory. Without natural match-up Elliot Yeo in the Eagles line-up, the task of curbing Greene’s influence could fall to dogged back pocket Tom Cole, but he’ll rely on those around him for plenty of assistance.

It’s a big week for: Jack Darling and Andrew Gaff

They were born just three days apart, were drafted to the club as part of the 2010 intake and have been great mates ever since, so it will be a special moment when they become the two Eagles to play the most games together on Sunday. In their 235^th appearance as teammates, Darling and Gaff will move past club greats Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn, and could set an unbreakable record by the time their blue and gold careers come to an end.

Big call: Debutant Elijah Hewett to make an impact as the sub by kicking two second-half goals. 

Positive reinforcement that hard work reaps rewards came when the West Coast Eagles secured their first victory over the season courtesy of a 19-point triumph over GWS at Optus Stadium today.

The Eagles broke the game open with a pulsating eight-goal second term before securing four precious premiership points – 14.16 (100) to 11.15 (81).

The bold Giants clawed their way back into the contest late, their effort after playing in energy sapping heat last week, commendable.

But the Eagles found verification that a game plan that has been the subject of a lot of work in the last 12 months, is coming together. It may not yet be the finished product and there will undoubtedly be some blips along the way, but this game provided affirmation they are heading in the right direction.

They were brave their ball movement worked hard as a unit with every individual contributing to the end result.

There were some heart-warming individual stories too, with recalled forwards Jake Waterman (four goals) and Samo Petrevski-Seton (20 possessions) among them. Rebounding half-back Jamaine Jones, able to swing back to defence with the return of Petrevski-Seton, provided strong rebound run.

Tim Kelly was brilliant through the midfield in conjunction with Dom Sheed and Luke Shuey while vice-captain Jeremy McGovern was a tower in the back half.

Wingman Jayden Hunt also excited the crowd of almost 45,000 with his dash and dare and thrilled them with a clever left foot snap in the final term, for the second of his goals in the game.

The forward half chemistry in the second quarter was something to behold for West Coast fans as Waterman provided an aerial target while Liam Ryan, Noah Long and Jamie Cripps were lively at ground level.

Throw in Petrevski-Seton and the Giants defence was constantly under pressure as the Eagles rattled on eight goals for the term.

With the midfield also doing well led by Kelly, Andrew Gaff, Shuey and Sheed the supply was strong as the Eagles went inside the attacking arc 31 times in the half. They finished with 58 forward half entries to 52 but more importantly won the contested possession count 125-119.

Waterman, playing as the second ruck, had one of the most influential matches of his career, teaming with Bailey Williams and winning a couple of important centre bounces.

The defensive run was also important from Jamaine Jones while Liam Duggan provided the physical edge.

After trailing by seven points at the first change the Eagles took solid 31-point advantage into the main break.

The victory means GWS has not won in four outings against the club at Optus Stadium.

Details
West Coast Eagles           2.3         10.6       13.10    14.16    (100)
GWS Giants                      3.4         5.5          8.10     11.15      (81)
Goals – West Coast Eagles: Waterman 4, Cripps 3; Allen, Hunt 2; Ryan, Kelly, Darling. GWS Giants– Greene 4; Hogan 3; Hamilton, Himmelberg, Daniels, Lloyd.
Best – West Coast Eagles: Kelly, Waterman, McGovern, Jones, Cripps, Hunt, Ryan.  GWS Giants: Greene, Coniglio, Hogan, Ward, Green, Hamilton.
Injuries – West Coast Eagles: Nil               GWS Giants: Wehr (shoulder)
At Optus Stadium                   
Attendance: 44, 649