Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, July 27, 6:10pm

TV: Live on 7mate in WA, Fox Sports and streaming on Kayo

Last time we met: West Coast 16.9 (105) defeated Fremantle 10.8 (68) at Optus Stadium, round six, 2024.

West Coast delivered one of the great upsets last time these two teams met, defeating Fremantle by 37 points earlier in the season. It was one of the Eagles’ best performances in years, with young recruit Harley Reid starring with 19 disposals, seven clearances and a career-high three goals. Elliot Yeo produced a best-on-ground performance of 26 disposals, six clearances and a goal to be awarded the Glendinning-Allan Medal, defenders Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass were outstanding in the air with a combined 20 marks, and Jake Waterman finished with five goals.

What it means for the Eagles: While West Coast produced a spirited showing in the round 18 loss to Brisbane at Optus Stadium, what followed was a performance they would be wanting to forget, falling to St Kilda by 72 points at Marvel Stadium last Saturday. In what has been a season of inconsistencies for a young and developing West Coast side, they tasted success in the last RAC Derby and will hopefully draw inspiration from that win and put on an exciting display on Saturday.

The stat: Tom Barrass has taken 40 intercept marks in the defensive 50 this season so far, ranked No. 1 in the AFL.

The match-up: Elliot Yeo v Caleb Serong

While it may not be a direct head-to-head match-up, the welcome return of experienced midfield bull Elliot Yeo will definitely play a pivotal part in keeping Fremantle star Caleb Serong under control around the ground. Serong is averaging an elite 30.4 disposals and 7.7 clearances for the season and the 23-year-old All-Australian was dominant against the Eagles last time these two teams met, managing 27 touches, six marks and six tackles in a losing side.  

It’s a big week for: The whole team

The Eagles need to make amends for last weekend’s disappointing loss to the Saints, and the whole team will be required to lift and play their roles to the best of their ability. Last round was the first time on record that West Coast failed to lay a forward 50 tackle during the match, and the team needs to come out firing against Fremantle and show some improvements across the board.

Big call: Tom Barrass will kick a goal in his 150^th game, the star defender having kicked just one goal (round 1, 2022) in his 149 games to date.

Milestone: Tom Barrass 150 games, Jake Waterman 100 games.

It was a story of two halves for the cross-town rivals in Derby 59, with Fremantle finding another gear in the third term to defeat West Coast by 35 points at Optus Stadium.

After the Eagles took a 13-point lead into the long break following a ferocious first half, a withering five-goal burst proved the difference as the Dockers avenged West Coast’s stunning Derby win in round six.

Fremantle star midfielder Caleb Serong was awarded the Glendinning-Allan medal for his outstanding performance, finishing with 32 disposals and a goal.

The 17.8 (110) to 11.9 (75) victory sees Fremantle secure third place on the ladder, recording their 12^th win of the season in front of a record-breaking crowd for a Dockers home Derby.

Eagles’ milestone men Tom Barrass (150 games) and Jake Waterman (100) didn’t get the fairy tale finish they would have been hoping for, though both delivered impressive performances for the blue and gold.

In what was a physical and hotly contested face-off, Tim Kelly stood tall for the Eagles, managing a team-high 32 touches and a goal, complimented by fellow midfielders Harley Reid (29 disposals) and Elliot Yeo (26) and seven tackles.

Josh Treacy (three goals), Michael Frederick (three) and Tom Emmett (three) were all damaging up forward for Fremantle, while acting captain Andrew Brayshaw was a standout with 36 disposals, seven tackles and a goal.

West Coast midfielder Zane Trew had his day ended early after colliding with the hip of teammate Bailey Williams in the opening minute of the game, with Jai Culley activated as the sub.

Liam Ryan opened the scoring for the game, kicking his first of two goals, before Jamie Cripps delivered an outstanding around-the-body snap to record back-to-back majors for the Eagles.

West Coast were off to a good start, Tim Kelly kicking the Eagles third-straight goal, before Michael Frederick put Fremantle on the board with his first of three majors.

Elliot Yeo impressed early for West Coast, leading all ball-winners heading into the second term with 12 touches and was a welcome return after missing last week’s game with soreness.

Eagles’ speedster Jack Petruccelle opened the second quarter for the visitors with a goal to extend West Coast’s lead, before Waterman kicked his first of three goals in his milestone match.

Star Eagles’ recruit Reid was finding a lot of the ball, leading all possession-getters in the second term, in a fierce midfield match-up with Fremantle’s Brayshaw.

Though Fremantle increased their pressure around the ground in the second quarter, West Coast took a 13-point lead into the main break.

Fremantle came out firing in the third term, kicking five unanswered majors through Sam Switkowski, Josh Treacy and Frederick, keeping West Coast to just one point for the quarter.

Waterman and Jack Williams provided some solace on the scoreboard in the fourth for the Eagles, but Fremantle continued to surge and piled on another five goals to push the margin out to 35 at the final siren.

FREMANTLE        3.0   7.3   12.8   17.8 (110)

WEST COAST      5.1    9.4    9.5   11.9 (75)

GOALS

Fremantle: Frederick, Treacy, Emmett 3; O’Meara, Switkowski 2; Brayshaw, Amiss, Serong

West Coast: Waterman 3; Ryan 2; Cripps, Kelly, Culley, Allen, Petruccelle, Williams

BEST

Fremantle: Serong, Brayshaw, Young, O’Meara, Darcy

West Coast: Yeo, Reid, Waterman, Kelly, Cole, Hunt, Ginbey

INJURIES

Fremantle: Nil

West Coast: Trew (neck)

SUBSTITUTES

Fremantle: James Aish

West Coast: Jai Culley

Crowd: 56,536 at Optus Stadium