What’s On | Round 1
West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns
Sunday, March 16 | 3.10pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk
Gates open 1.30pm | 90 minutes before bouncedown each match day

The stage is set for our return to Optus Stadium in round 1 of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, when we take on the Gold Coast Suns this Sunday. 

The results are in. This match day, we’ll be revealing which club song won the vote – new or old? Be in your seats from 2.45pm to watch Auzzie the Eagle in her pre-match flight and hear the chosen song as the team runs through the banner! 

For our next chapter, we want you to bring the energy – and your scarf – and wave it before the bounce and after every Eagles goal!  

Show your love for West Coast Eagles Life Member and club legend Andrew Gaff, as he completes a Lap of Honour at 2.40pm, following his retirement in 2024. 

This season, Karl Langdon celebrates a remarkable milestone—his 30th year as the on-ground MC for the club. Over the past three decades, Langdon has become a beloved figure, energizing the crowd with his infectious enthusiasm and connecting with fans like no other. The club wishes Karl all the best as he heads into his 30th season. Keep an eye out for him on game day, we're sure you won't miss him!

Match Day Timeline

1.30pm | Gates and Fan Zone opens 

2.40pm | Andrew Gaff Lap of Honour 

2.45pm | Auzzie’s flight around the stadium 

2.59pm | Club song reveal as the team enters the ground 

3.10pm | Bouncedown 

Quarter-time | Race the LED plane competition 

Half-time | Jim Beam Karaoke Cam and AGL Dance Cam  

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

Post-match | Player giveaways to lucky fans around the ground 

Fan Zone

The Fan Zone is back with more fun and excitement this match day!

Head to the western concourse on level 1 (inside Gate D) from 1.40pm for activities the whole family will love. 

• Meet and greet selected members of our AFL squad from 2.10pm to 2.30pm. 
• New to the Fan Zone this season, compare how you measure up next to life-size height charts of our players! 
• Leave your favourite player or coach a message on our Well Wishes Wall. 
• Back by popular demand from this year’s Fan Day, free airbrush tattoos! 
• Test your footy skills on the handball targets and create a sign to cheer on the team.

Curtain Raiser

Gate D will open from 12.45pm for the OWLS and Second Generation Academy curtain raiser at 12.55pm. Please note, all patrons must hold a valid ticket to the West Coast Eagles v Gold Coast Suns 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. 

Whopper Goal

Whopper Goal is back again this season! For your chance to claim a FREE Whopper, download and register on the Hungry Jack’s App and enable location services before the match. Then, when an Eagles player kicks a goal from outside 50m, claim your “Whopper Goal” voucher on the app when promoted on the big screen. The voucher will be sent to you on the Wednesday following the match.

Don’t miss these player appearances at Hungry Jack’s stores next week!  

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. 

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, available from the time gates open until bouncedown.  

Round 1 special: $6 stadium cheeseburger.  

Grab yours from Level 1 and 5 outlets.

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. 

Gold Coast was ruthless from the outset, dominating West Coast all over the ground before going on to win by 87 points at Optus Stadium on Sunday.

In a disappointing beginning to the Andrew McQualter era, the Eagles were outclassed and outhunted in the 20.16 (136) to 7.7 (49) defeat. 

It was Gold Coast's largest win in the club’s 15-year history and the victory was set up by a star-studded engine room.

New skipper Noah Anderson (36 disposals, nine clearances, three goal assists), Matt Rowell (30, 10 clearances, eight tackles) and Touk Miller (26, 10 clearances, two goals) feasted off the ruck work of Jarrod Witts.

West Coast's midfield was badly outplayed and the back seven was constantly under pressure.

The Suns hunted in packs, owning the clearances (50-33) and winning more than their share of contests to camp the ball in the front half of the ground where they were able to either score or turn the ball over and pump it back in.

Ben King kicked a career-best six goals and pulled down a towering third-quarter grab, while Ben Long (four goals) and youngsters Jake Rogers (three) and Read (two) also cashed in on their team’s dominance.

Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen were the only multiple goalkickers for West Coast with two apiece. 

Although leading by just 16 points at quarter-time, the engine room is where the Suns laid the foundation for victory.

They extended to 45 at the half and 60 at the final change as West Coast’s damn wall eventually broke.

Daniel Rioli and John Noble showed all the dash and class they were recruited for, with Rioli pocketing two goals in his first game for his new club.

Ex-Richmond recruits Jack Graham and Liam Baker battled well in their first games for the Eagles, while Brady Hough and Reuben Ginbey can hold their heads high

Waterman left the field during the third quarter as a precautionary measure with a calf injury, with co-captain Liam Duggan (ankle) and midfielder Jack Hutchinson (hamstring awareness) also finishing the game on the bench.

West Coast travel to face reigning premier Brisbane at the Gabba in round two next Sunday.

WEST COAST 2.1 2.4 5.5 7.7 (49)
GOLD COAST 4.5 9.7 14.11 20.16 (136)

GOALS
West Coast: Waterman 2, Allen 2, H.Reid, Flynn, Owies
Gold Coast: King 6, Long 4, Rogers 3, Read 2, Miller 2, Rioli 2, Graham

BEST
West Coast: Graham, Baker, Hough, Ginbey
Gold Coast: Anderson, Miller, Rowell, King, Rioli, Humphrey, Witts 

INJURIES
West Coast: Waterman (calf), Duggan (ankle), Hutchinson (hamstring awareness)
Gold Coast: Ballard (knee)

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Ryan Maric (replaced Jake Waterman in the third quarter)
Gold Coast: Alex Sexton (replaced Charlie Ballard at half-time)

Crowd: 46,532 at Optus Stadium