What’s On | Round 3
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle Dockers
Sunday, March 30 | 3.10pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk
Gates open 1.30pm | 90 minutes before bouncedown each match day

Don’t miss this Sunday at Optus Stadium, as we go head-to-head with our WA rivals, the Fremantle Dockers, in RAC Derby 60!

We’re in for a warm Perth afternoon, so remember to slip, slop, slap and stay hydrated so you don’t miss a moment of the action.

On the hunt for the best drink specials before bouncedown?

Join us for $8 beer and wine and gourmet bites from 1.30pm to 2.30pm in the Level 5 Eastern Scoreboard Terrace. You’ll also have the opportunity to mingle with selected players in attendance.

This RAC Derby, be sure to visit the Fan Zone on the Western Concourse on Level 1 (inside Gate D) to fly inside an RAC Rescue helicopter in an immersive virtual reality experience!

Match Day Timeline

1.30pm | Gates and Fan Zone opens

2.50pm | Auzzie’s flight around the stadium

2.59pm | Team entry

3.10pm | Bouncedown

Quarter-time | The Eagles and Freo Dockers mascots face-off in the RAC Mascot Quiz, followed by the Jim Beam Karaoke Cam

Half-time | AGL Dance Cam

Three-quarter time | Crown 50m Kick to Win competition – be in your seats at half-time for your chance to be selected!

Post-match | Presentation of the RAC Derby trophy to the winning team and the Glendinning-Allan Medal (for the player adjudged best on ground), and player giveaways to lucky fans around the ground

Eagle Eats – Exclusive food and beverage deals

We’re making match day even better! Thanks to our partnership with Optus Stadium, enjoy a special food and beverage deal each round, available from the time gates open until bouncedown.

Round 3 special: $4 Mrs Mac’s beef pie or giant sausage roll – usually $6.70! 

Grab yours from Level 1 and 5 outlets.

Fan Zone

Don’t miss the Fan Zone this Sunday, packed with new activations for the RAC Derby – head to the Western Concourse on Level 1 (inside Gate D) from 1.30pm.

• Fly inside an RAC Rescue helicopter in an immersive virtual reality experience.
• Visit Triple M for giveaways and more! You can catch their live radio broadcast from the Eastern Precinct (next to the merchandise van).
• Player signing session from 2.10pm to 2.30pm.
• A special addition to Fan Zone this Sunday, snap a photo sitting amongst the players in the 2025 Team Photo – to take home!
• Compare how you measure up next to life-size height charts of our players.
• Leave a message for your favourite player or coach on our Well Wishes Wall.
• Back by popular demand from this year’s Fan Day, free airbrush tattoos!
• Try out our new reaction game: simply press the buttons when they light up to try get the fastest time –  prizes to be won!

Curtain Raiser

Gate C will open from 12.50pm for the Naitanui Academy and Fremantle Next Academy curtain raiser at 12.50pm. Please note, all patrons must hold a valid ticket to the West Coast Eagles v Fremantle match to enter Optus Stadium for the curtain raiser. Early arrivals for curtain raiser matches will be restricted to a small viewing area until general seating opens at 1.30pm.

Mobile Ticketing | Reserved Seat Members

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.

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

Please note that our phone lines are not staffed on weekends; however, we will monitor emails leading into match day and respond to any time-sensitive queries. If all else fails, we can assist you at the match – there is no reason to miss a match due to a ticketing issue.

The West Coast Eagles Membership Services team will be available at the box offices B, C, and E from 1.30pm on Sunday to answer any questions.

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

Seat Return Program | Reserved Seat Members

Can’t make it to the match? Our Seat Return Program is available now for the first seven fixtured home matches of the 2025 season. If your seat successfully sells, you’ll receive a credit towards your 2026 membership renewal.

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

Public Transport

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

With the opening of the Ellenbrook line, direct trains from Fremantle to Perth Stadium Station will not be operating before AFL matches.

Bus route 652 (Mirrabooka Bus Station) and route 653 (Galleria Bus Station) will now arrive and depart from Bus Hub. Patrons will no longer need to walk across Matagarup Bridge.

The Armadale/Thornlie train line is closed until mid-2025. Suburban Event Buses will run to and from Optus Stadium, 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.

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, March 30, 3:10pm (WST)

TV: Live on 7 and 7plus in WA, nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo (see broadcast guide here)

Last time we met: West Coast 11.9 (75) defeated by Fremantle Dockers 17.8 (110) at Optus Stadium, round 20, 2024.

The last time these two teams met, the Eagles fell to the Dockers by 35 points in what was a story of two halves. The Eagles were up at the half time break following a ferocious start, before Fremantle produced an unanswered five-goal burst to take the lead and the bragging rights. As always, it was a physical and hotly-contested face-off, with Tim Kelly, Elliot Yeo and Harley Reid all impressing through the middle. Fremantle’s star midfielder Caleb Serong was awarded the Glendinning-Allan medal, managing 32 touches and a goal.

What it means for the Eagles: The Eagles will be looking to secure their first win of the season when they come face-to-face with crosstown rivals Fremantle. West Coast produced an enthusiastic showing last weekend against reigning premiers Brisbane, and displayed significant improvement from their round one loss to the Suns. Andrew McQualter’s new game plan is starting to gel, and the Eagles will be hoping they can piece it all together and get over the line on Sunday.

The stat: The Eagles were plus-18 in groundball gets in the first half against Brisbane in round two, their best first half since 2015.

The match-up: Bailey Williams v Luke Jackson

In this weekend’s battle of the bigs, Bailey Williams will come face to face with Fremantle’s versatile ruckman Luke Jackson. With Williams holding a one-centimetre height advantage over Jackson, it will be an exciting matchup between the two athletic and high-leaping talls. Williams contributed well in last weekend’s spirited performance against the Lions, and will be backing himself in to make an impact this weekend.  

It’s a big week for: Jack Williams

Emerging tall forward Jack Williams will suit up for his first game of 2025 on Sunday after working hard on the training track to break back into the 23. He kicked 16 goals from 18 games in 2024, booting three majors on two separate occasions, and has shown promising signs while developing his forward craft.

Big call: The West Coast Eagles will win the 60^th RAC Derby with a nail-biting four-point victory.

West Coast has fallen to Fremantle in RAC Derby No.60, paying the price for some sloppy turnovers in a 38-point loss on Sunday at Optus Stadium.

Coming off a spirited effort in Brisbane, the Eagles were unable to bring the same pressure and presence in the contest, with Fremantle’s midfield taking hold.

Fremantle dominated the inside 50 count (65-37) and clearances (40-25) to put West Coast’s backline under immense pressure throughout the four quarters.

Rubbing salt into the wounds for West Coast was a groin injury suffered by champion defender Jeremy McGovern ahead of a tough trip to face Greater Western Sydney.

The Dockers' midfield stars set up the 15.16 (106) to 10.8 (68) win, with the team winning its seventh Derby out of the past eight to get on the board for 2025. 

Caleb Serong was outstanding again, finishing with 35 disposals and 10 clearances to claim his record-equalling fourth Glendinning-Allan Medal.

He partnered with fellow vice-captain Andrew Brayshaw (29 and six) to drive the Dockers' response to a 0-2 start. 

The Dockers' midfielders were well-served by ruckman Luke Jackson, who has stood up in Darcy's absence, while key forwards Jye Amiss (four goals) and Josh Treacy (three) cashed in on a weight of supply. 

They passed 100 points for the first time since their last win, against West Coast in round 21 last season. 

It was an armwrestle early and there were repeated errors from both teams as the pressure grew, but the Dockers were able to lean on their clearance strength and get the game on their terms. 

Key forward Treacy took over in the second term to kick all three of the Dockers' goals, with Brayshaw setting up his third after the siren with an outstanding defensive effort in the midfield and pinpoint inside 50.

With Serong fighting through attention from Jack Graham and starring, the Dockers looked to have their game in order and took a 26-point lead into the main break. 

It took less than a minute for the Eagles to eat into it after half-time, however, as recruits Liam Baker and Jack Graham combined at the first centre bounce to set up Jack Williams. 

It was a rare flourish, however, as the Dockers turned the screws in a quarter that was largely played in their front half, with Jackson, Jordan Clark, Michael Frederick and Pat Voss converting to extend the margin to 36 points at the last change.  

After a quiet first half that netted seven disposals and no clearances, Harley Reid briefly brought the crowd to life with a soaring mark over Neil Erasmus and a much-needed goal.

The young star was quickly shifted to the backline, however, as the Eagles tried to find a spark.

Reid was joined in defence by co-captain Oscar Allen in a rarely sighted combination that was brought on by the tactical substitution of key defender Harry Edwards and a groin injury for Jeremy McGovern.

The Eagles were pushed to their limit but continued to fight in the fourth quarter.

Archer Reid kicked his first career in the third term and added his second late in the contest to build on his impressive start to the season playing as a forward-ruck.

Brady Hough had the better of his match-up with Dockers big-name signing Shai Bolton, while Ryan Maric was arguably the Eagles’ best player with a quality 28-disposal, eight-mark display down back.

The Eagles face the Giants at Engie Stadium on Sunday in round four.

WEST COAST          3.1     4.4       7.5         10.8 (68)
FREMANTLE            5.4     8.6     12.11     15.16 (106)  

GOALS
West Coast: A.Reid 2, Cripps 2, J.Williams, Ryan, H.Reid, Owies, Hunt, Brockman
Fremantle: Amiss 4, Treacy 3, Dudley 2, Voss, O'Driscoll, Johnson, Jackson, Frederick, Clark

BEST
West Coast: Hough, Maric, Ginbey, Baker, Dewar, A.Reid
Fremantle: Serong, Brayshaw, Jackson, Treacy, Pearce, Amiss

INJURIES
West Coast: McGovern (groin)
Fremantle: Nil

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Nil
Fremantle: Jaeger O'Meara (illness) and Corey Wagner (injured) replaced by James Aish and Karl Worner

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Elijah Hewett (replaced Harry Edwards in the third quarter)
Fremantle: James Aish (replaced Jeremy Sharp in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 53,289 at Optus Stadium