Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, August 13, 5.40pm

TV: Live on 7mate in WA, Fox Footy, Kayo and the AFL Live Official app.

Last time we met: West Coast 7.5 (47) def. by Fremantle 15.12 (102) at Optus Stadium, round three, 2022

In the midst of an availability crisis, the Eagles made 12 changes from the previous week – five of those being omitted Covid Contingency List players who had been called up for the loss to North Melbourne – and couldn’t keep up with the Dockers, despite toiling hard against their crosstown rivals. The 55-point defeat was West Coast’s second-straight RAC Derby loss following an 11-game winning streak over the Dockers. Defensive stalwarts Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn were immense, while Andrew Gaff (25 disposals) and Jack Redden (21) did everything in their power to stop the engine room being overrun. Fremantle small forward Lachie Schultz claimed the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield.

What it means for the Eagles: It’s an RAC Derby, but there’s more than just bragging rights on the line for both sides. The availability-challenged Eagles get to test themselves against a finals-bound side and have the chance to avoid the wooden spoon, while potentially spoiling the Dockers’ hopes of earning a double-chance in September. It’s a massive ask, but one the players are up for.

The stat: West Coast has not lost both RAC Derbies in the same season since suffering 19 and seven-point defeats in 2014.

The match-up: Nic Naitanui v Sean Darcy

Naitanui was a colossus against Adelaide last round, lifting the Eagles with his presence around stoppages (nine clearances, eight score involvements) and almost helping eight-goal hero Josh Kennedy and star defender Tom Barrass inspire what would have been a famous victory. For the Eagles to upset Fremantle against the odds it will take another massive effort from West Coast’s talisman against the Dockers’ hulking 203cm big man, especially given West Coast will be missing gun midfielder Tim Kelly due to suspension.

It’s a big week for: Jack Darling

Life as the main man in West Coast’s forward line – admittedly a role Darling has played many times before – begins in the wake of superstar spearhead Josh Kennedy’s stunning eight-goal farewell performance. Darling booted six-straight majors against the Suns two rounds ago when Kennedy was absent, so his formline is encouraging, and the All-Australian key forward’s ability to impact the game against a resolute Dockers defence will be crucial for West Coast.

Big call: Eagles skipper Luke Shuey to turn back the clock with 30 disposals for the first time this season, plus a couple of goals, to lead an understrength midfield brigade.

HEART and spirit was not enough for the West Coast Eagles to endure in a combative RAC Derby at Optus Stadium tonight.

While the Eagles were up for the contest Fremantle withstood the brunt of the Eagles challenge and won 9.17 (71) to 7.5 (47) in what was an engrossing match played at finals-like intensity.   

After a see-sawing first half where first one team and then the other assumed thew ascendancy, the Dockers had superior belief and run thereafter.

The Eagles never gave up on the contest but with so many first choice players unavailable in the end they could give no more.

The attitude of the Eagles was probably best exemplified by the way the defensive lines held up when once again they were confronted with a wave of football going inside the defensive arc. Tom Barrass was again outstanding, holding Rory Lobb goalless and in conjunction with Shannon Hurn and Liam Duggan held back the assaults.

Barrass took 12 marks and had 20 possessions to continue his remarkable season while Hurn 28 disposals (six marks) and Duggan racked up 30 possessions (10 marks).

Unfortunately that indicated the ball was in the Eagles defensive half too often and the statistics supported that with 56% of the game backward of centre.

Fremantle led the inside 50 count 57-44, but the Eagles held up and remained in the contest under the final siren.

Through the midfield Jackson Nelson was assigned the challenge of shadowing Andrew Brayshaw and he held the key Dockers play-maker to just 22 touches, while Xavier O’Neill enjoyed good exposure in the engine room and Luke Shuey and Jack Redden rolled up their sleeves and fought hard.

But finding a target up forward in the absence of retired star Josh Kennedy proved problematic and the Eagles had to toil for their goals.

Jake Waterman finished with two goals and Jack Darling kicked one after an absorbing one-on-one match-up with Alex Pearce.

Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy, who won the Glendinning-Allan Medal as best afield was highly influential while Caleb Serong had 25 possessions and Blake Acres racked up 29.

Generally, though, those touches were under pressure as the Eagles as collective committed to the game plan.

Details
Fremantle                        3.4         5.6         7.14       9.17       71
West Coast Eagles          4.0         5.2         6.3         7.5         47
Goals – Fremantle: Frederick, Walters 2; Acres, Schultz, Darcy, Serong, Brayshaw. West Coast Eagles: Waterman 2; Darling, Dixon, Langdon, O’Neill, Redden.
Best – Fremantle: Darcy, Acres, Walters, Mundy, Pearce. West Coast Eagles: Barrass, Nelson, Hurn, Duggan, Shuey, O’Neill.

Injuries – R Lobb (Fremantle - shoulder) replaced by B Banfield in the last quarter. J Jones (West Coast Eagles – back) replaced b y G Clark in the third quarter. Attendance: 53,816
Glendinning-Allan Medal: S Darcy (Fremantle)