What’s On | Round 21
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns
Friday, August 2 | 6.30pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk
Gates open 4.30pm

Our round 21 match against the Gold Coast Suns marks Retro Round, and the team will be wearing the '95 retro guernsey for the first time on our home turf at Optus Stadium!

Don your flashiest retro attire and join us for an unforgettable night of nostalgia and excitement as Friday night footy returns. Don’t have any retro gear? Shop the ‘95 range here.

Celebrate Brady Hough on his 50-game milestone achievement, with our AFLW squad forming this week’s Guard of Honour, as we approach the 2024 NAB AFLW season!

4.30pm: Gates open
4.30pm to 6.30pm: Fan Zone
From 6.00pm: Auzzie’s pre-match flight
From 6.15pm: AFLW squad Guard of Honour
6.30pm: Bounce down
Quarter time: Mascot Moment
Half time: WA All Abilities Football Association inclusion match
Post-match: Players to give away footballs to lucky fans around the ground!

Curtain Raiser

Gate C will open from 3.55pm for the Naitanui Academy Curtain Raiser. Please note, all patrons must hold a valid ticket to the West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast match to enter Optus Stadium.

Fan Zone

Head to the western concourse on level 1 (inside Gate D) from 4.30pm for some great kids’ and family activities.

Here are some of the things in store:

• Meet and greet our AFLW squad from 5.30pm ahead of the 2024 NAB AFLW season
• Flex your creative muscles and make your own friendship bracelet and sign to cheer on the team
• Snap a photo in our roaming photobooth!
• Test your footy skills on the handball targets and reaction games
• Enjoy free face painting, bubble workshop, and a roaming magician

Public Transport

Please note, direct trains and the Suburban Event Bus Network will not operate before the match due to the clash with afternoon peak. Instead, plan your journey using the Transperth Journey Planner and please click here for further information. Allow plenty of extra time to make sure you make it in time for bounce. Event buses will operate post-match.

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.

Please note, the Armadale/Thornlie train line is closed until mid-2025. Suburban Event Buses will run from Optus Stadium (post-match only for this week’s match), and trains will continue to operate between Victoria Park and Perth Stations, including Stadium Station. Information on changes to Optus Stadium special event services can be found here.

Vaping and Smoking

Vaping and smoking are not permitted anywhere in Optus Stadium or on concourses. Offending patrons risk immediate eviction.

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 Friday’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.

Click here for troubleshooting tips if you experience issues accessing your tickets.

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 4.30pm on Friday to answer any questions; however, please arrive early if you may need help 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 for anyone to miss the match solely because of a ticket issue – we are committed to resolving match day issues at the stadium.

Seat Return Program

Can’t make it to the match? Our Seat Return Program is available for all remaining home matches of the 2024 season. If your seat successfully sells, you’ll receive a credit towards your 2025 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

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Friday, August 2, 6:30pm

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

Last time we met: West Coast 12.3 (75) defeated by Gold Coast 17.10 (112) at People First Stadium, round seven, 2024.

These two teams last met in round seven earlier this season, with the Suns securing a 37-point victory at People First Stadium. Gold Coast controlled the game for most of the day, especially around the stoppages, winning both the clearances and centre clearances convincingly, and consistently pumping the ball forward. Down by 34 points at three-quarter time, the Eagles made a late surge and edged within three goals with five minutes to play in the final term, before two late goals from the Suns ensured their victory. Jake Waterman kicked four majors for West Coast, while Jeremy McGovern, Liam Duggan and Brady Hough were crucial down back.

What it means for the Eagles: West Coast will be looking to finally get reward for effort after some of the competitive performances the team has produced over the past month. The Eagles have lost their past nine games, the club’s equal second-longest losing streak, an unfortunate record the players will be keen to put an end to. There has been a number of team changes this week, including young Peel Thunder local Clay Hall making his highly-anticipated debut, and it will be exciting to see what he will bring to the side. Star defender Jeremy McGovern also returns to the team and will be a welcome inclusion after missing the past two games due to a rib and lung injury.

The stat: Jake Waterman booted a game-high four goals against the Suns in round seven, also finishing with 15 disposals and seven marks. 

The match-up: Harley Reid v Noah Anderson

Two young up-and-coming midfielders of the competition will be going head-to-head this weekend and should be an entertaining matchup. Reid comes into this game on the back of a feisty RAC Derby performance, finishing with 29 disposals and 10 clearances, while Anderson managed 23 touches and four marks against the Lions.

It’s a big week for: Clay Hall

Second-generation Eagle Clay Hall will make his AFL debut against Gold Coast in front of the blue and gold faithful at Optus Stadium on Friday night. After an interrupted start to his AFL journey with an ankle injury, Hall has impressed for the Eagles’ WAFL side this season, producing best-on-ground performances on a number of occasions. The 19-year-old is averaging 19 disposals at WAFL level and has been recently trialled in a role on the wing.

Big call: Elite defender Brady Hough, who made his debut against the Suns in 2022, will kick his first goal of his career in his 50^th AFL game on Friday night.

Milestone: Brady Hough 50 games

In an exhilarating contest under Friday night lights, the West Coast Eagles have come from behind and claimed a nail-biting 10-point victory over the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium.

Securing their first win since round 10, the Eagles produced a high-pressure and high-intensity final term to edge ahead and hold on for the 15.7 (97) to 13.9 (87) triumph.

Trailing by 17 points at half-time, West Coast looked up against it but dug deep to secure a maiden victory for interim coach Jarrad Schofield in front of a raucous home crowd.

The Eagles kicked nine goals to five in the second half, with co-captain Liam Duggan booting the go-ahead major before Jamie Cripps slotted an incredible checkside on the run to clinch the victory.

West Coast’s fourth victory for the season lifted them two wins clear of bottom-two teams Richmond and North Melbourne – who face off in round 21 – and consigned the Suns to their 10^th road loss for the campaign as they remain in search of a victory away from home.

Exciting second-generation Eagle Clay Hall made his highly anticipated AFL debut and showed a lot of promise at the elite level, while milestone-man Brady Hough impressed with 19 disposals and six marks in his 50^th game.

Jake Waterman continued his dominant form up forward and finished with four goals, while Tim Kelly was a ball-magnet, managing a game-high 31 touches.

Suns’ midfielder Matt Rowell starred around the ground, finishing with 30 disposals and a game-high nine tackles, while Ben King, Mac Andrew and Ben Long were damaging with three majors each.

A first-quarter head clash saw West Coast defender Harry Edwards subbed out of the game after failing a concussion test, with Hall entering the game for the first time in the blue and gold.

A slippery surface made for some scrappy football at times, but Gold Coast found the ball in their forward line, kicking five goals to the Eagles four in the second term.

While West Coast managed to bring the margin back to within five points with goals through Waterman, Zane Trew, Oscar Allen and Ryan Maric, the visitors responded and took a 17-point lead into the main break.

Emerging forward Tyrell Dewar stepped up in the second half, kicking two goal in the third quarter, with West Coast working hard to reduce the margin, and taking a two point lead half-way through the term.

Gold Coast weren’t letting up, locking the ball in their forward fifty and responding through King, Long and Brayden Fiorini, before a three-quarter-time buzzer-beater from Waterman brought the Eagles back within nine points heading into the final term.

The Eagles upped the pressure gauge as the clock ticked down, edging within two points with eight minutes left to play in the game.

Co-captain Duggan opened his account on the scoreboard with an outstanding goal pulled out of the contest, before Cripps sealed the deal for the Eagles with his first goal of the game, extending the margin to 10 points in the dying minutes.

WEST COAST       2.2     6.2    11.4    15.7 (97)

GOLD COAST       3.3     8.7    12.7    13.9 (87)

GOALS

West Coast: Waterman 4; Allen, Dewar 2; Darling, Trew, Maric, Williams, Ryan, Duggan, Cripps. Gold Coast: Andrew, Long, King 3; Graham, Witts, Anderson, Fiorini.

BEST

West Coast: Darling, Duggan, Yeo, Allen, Kelly, Waterman, Williams. Gold Coast: Anderson, Witts, Rowell, Andrew, Flanders, Powell.

INJURIES

West Coast: Harry Edwards (concussion)

Gold Coast:

SUBSTITUTES

West Coast: Clay Hall

Gold Coast: Malcolm Roses

Crowd: 38,671 at Optus Stadium