What’s On | Week 8 
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle Dockers 
Saturday, October 19 | 4.05pm (AWST) | Sullivan Logistics Stadium, Leederville / Whadjuk  
Gates open 2.30pm 

This Saturday, we go head-to-head with our WA rivals in the 2024 AFLW RAC Derby. Played on neutral turf at Leederville’s Sullivan Logistics Stadium, help us take over the ground with a sea of blue and gold.  

It is also Telethon weekend and we’ll be partnering with the Fremantle Dockers to support WA’s best-known and most successful charitable event. Be on the lookout for different ways to participate and donate on the day. 

This year’s RAC Derby is set to bring a full house, so grab your tickets before they’re gone and avoid long queues on the day! 

Your match day timeline 

2.30pm: Gates and Fan Zone open 
3.57pm: Team entry 
4.05pm: Bouncedown 
¼ Time: RAC memory card challenge 
Half-Time: Player interviews and signings, and an interview with RAC on their rescue experience 
¾ time: West Coast Eagles v Fremantle Dockers mascot relay race 
Post-match: RAC Derby match MVP and trophy presentation, as well as kick-to-kick 

Fan Zone 

This RAC Derby day, there will be something for the whole family! From 2.30pm in the Fan Zone: 

• Meet our real-life mascot, Auzzie the Eagle. 
• Have your face painted or get an airbrush tattoo. 
• Flex your creative muscles and make your own friendship bracelet and sign to cheer on the team. 
• Put your footy skills to the test on the inflatable handball targets. 
• Thanks to RAC, try out the interactive RAC rescue experience and handball game.  
• The West Coast Eagles SuperStore marquee will be open until the final siren, full of match day bargains. 

Food and Beverage 

We’ve got you sorted for food and drink this match day – please refer to the map to find the food locations.

• El Aleman Loco –  German/Spanish fusion 
• CUB bar  
• Burgers and skewers van 
• Ice cream van  
• Coffee van 
• Subiaco Football Club canteen 

Getting to Sullivan Logistics Stadium 

With limited parking available in the streets surrounding the venue, we recommend using public transport. Leederville train station is only a short, 10-minute walk to Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

Entry to the ground is via the entrances at Vincent Street and the Loftus Recreation Centre car park.

Mobile Ticketing  

Member tickets are now available in your West Coast Eagles Account, and in the official West Coast Eagles app.  

Due to capacity limits and expected queues at Sullivan Logistics Stadium, we recommend members redeem their free ticket early to avoid disappointment at the gate. Please refer to your recent ticketing email with your unique member barcode.  

Where possible, patrons are advised to avoid bringing a bag to the match, as most delays at the gates are due to bag checks. If you do need to bring a bag, please aim to bring a small bag only.

Wheelchair and Accessible Entry 

Those with accessibility needs may enter via the Vincent Street entrance. Limited ACROD parking is available via Vincent Street.

Where and when: Sullivan Logistics Stadium (Leederville Oval), Saturday, October 19, 4:05pm

TV: Live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, and streaming live on Kayo

Last time we met: West Coast 2.7 (19) def by Fremantle 4.3 (27) at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, round one, 2023.

It was heartbreak for the Eagles the last time these two teams met, the blue and gold falling agonisingly short in the sixth RAC Derby. It was a hard-fought and physical matchup, but the Dockers defence in the final term locked down their eight-point triumph. Young star Ella Roberts became the first Eagle to win the Derby Medal, even more impressive to do so in a losing side, after managing a game-high 24 touches, four marks, four tackles and five clearances. Kellie Gibson and Amy Franklin kept the Eagles in it with goals in the third term, while experienced duo Emma Swanson (24 disposals, 9 tackles) and Dana Hooker (18, 10) worked hard throughout.

What it means for the Eagles: The Eagles come into this game off a disappointing 66-point loss to the Hawks last round and will be looking to bounce back in a big way. The added significance of the cross-town rivalry between West Coast and Fremantle this week will no doubt be extra motivation for both sides, and the Eagles will be striving for their first RAC Derby victory. West Coast will have taken a lot of learnings out of the Hawks game and their main focus will be implementing those learnings against a tough Fremantle outfit. The Eagles currently sit in 10^th spot on the AFLW ladder, and a win this week will be a boost towards a potential finals berth.

The stat: The last time the Eagles played at Leederville Oval they recorded their first-ever win, a four-point victory over the Western Bulldogs.

Oppo in focus: Mim Strom

Imposing ruck Mim Strom will be one to keep an eye on this weekend. Standing at 182cm tall, Strom is currently leading the league in hitouts (280) and will be a tough task for West Coast’s talls. The 22-year-old is also known for her strong marking skills and continues to improve from week to week.

It’s a big week for: Courtney Rowley

Courtney Rowley will make her highly anticipated return on Saturday, successfully completing her ACL rehabilitation, after suffering the injury in the final game of the 2023 season. The 21-year-old midfielder is an exciting and tough young player, known for her incredible tackling ability, and she will be a welcome return to the lineup this weekend to take on Fremantle.  

Big call: The Eagles will break their Derby drought and record their first victory against the Dockers.

Milestone: Emma Swanson 50 Eagles games

A spirited second half from the West Coast Eagles couldn’t get them over the line in the seventh RAC Derby, falling to the Fremantle Dockers by 23 points at Sullivan Logistics Stadium.

The Eagles were held goalless in the opening half for the second time this season and couldn't take their chances thereafter as the Dockers prevailed 5.5 (35) to 1.6 (12), keeping touch with the top four while all but ending their opponents' finals chances.

It was an entertaining Derby 7 marked by pressure and bursts of skill, and it could have been closer if the Eagles capitalised on chances through the middle stages of the game.

They were ultimately outclassed, however, by an even Fremantle team that is now 7-0 in AFLW Derbies and still in the hunt this season after steadying its season at 6-3 following back-to-back defeats at home. 

Ruck Mim Strom was outstanding in a dominant performance, finishing with a massive 48 hitouts and 15 disposals to win the Derby Medal, while star recruit Aisling McCarthy (20 and a goal) was terrific against her former team.

West Coast midfielder Bella Lewis (26 and seven clearances) was the Eagles' driving force but ultimately lacked enough sidekicks as the Dockers' weight of numbers won out.

Both teams played with an early intensity that reflected the importance of the match, but the Dockers were cleaner and more switched on when they had the ball as McCarthy and Gabby Biedenweg-Webster kicked excellent early goals.

Dana East made it three straight when she took advantage inside 50, giving the Dockers their best first quarter of the season and a 16-point lead at the first break.

The Eagles had chances, with Ella Roberts missing two set shots after strong contested marks, while Mikayla Western was unable to capitalise when streaming towards goal after some slick play.

Biedenweg-Webster, who signed as a replacement player for injured Fremantle captain Ange Stannett, kicked her second goal late in the quarter to make it a 23-point lead at half time, with a big task ahead of the Eagles.

West Coast chipped away in the third, holding the Dockers at bay when they had momentum before pushing forward and striking through Amy Franklin, with Lewis elevating through the quarter to keep her team in the game.

Trailing by 16 at the final change, the Eagles needed to act quickly but couldn't break through the Dockers' defence, with Freo midfielder Orlagh Lally settling things late when she snapped accurately.

WEST COAST   0.2 0.4 1.5 1.6 (12) 
FREMANTLE     3.0 4.3 4.3 5.5 (35) 

GOALS 
West Coast: Franklin 
Fremantle: Biedenweg-Webster 2, East, Lally, McCarthy 

BEST 
West Coast: Lewis, Drennan, Wakfer, Thomas, Swanson, Roberts
Fremantle: Strom, McCarthy, Newton, O'Driscoll, Biedenweg-Webster, East, Scanlon 

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil 
Fremantle: Nil 

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Nil 
Fremantle: Hayley Miller (calf) replaced in the selected side by Jae Flynn 

Crowd: 6,047 at Sullivan Logistics Stadium