What’s On | Round 12
West Coast Eagles v Geelong Cats
Sunday, June 1 | 5.20pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk 
Gates open 3.45pm 

Join us this long weekend to celebrate our first ever WA Day Round match! 

The team will be donning our specially designed WA Day Round guernsey, inspired by Western Australia’s state colours, black and gold.

We’ll also take a look back at the first State of Origin match against Victoria, in 1977, and celebrate three icons of WA footy – Ron Alexander, Ian Miller, and captain Graham Moss.

WA Day Round

We’ll be celebrating all things WA this match day.  Add the next unique footy cards to your West Coast Eagles match day collection, with the exclusive WA Day Jake Waterman and Liam Ryan personalised playing card – only available until bouncedown, so get there early! 

Tell us your favourite holiday destination in WA and you could win a limited-edition commemorative medallion created by Perth Mint, plus a Celebrate WA prize pack! 

Match Day Timeline

3.45pm | Gates/Fan Zone open

5.00pm | Auzzie’s flight around the stadium 

5.09pm | Team entry 

5.20pm | Bouncedown 

Quarter-time | WA’s most iconic mascots race around the ground 

Half-time | Get a photo with our real-life mascot, Auzzie the Eagle opposite Section 131 and catch local WA musicians on the Level 5 concourse 

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

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

Fan Zone 

Head to the Fan Zone on the western concourse on Level 1 (inside Gate D) from 3.45pm for all things WA Day! 

• Collect your Jake Waterman and Liam Ryan WA Day Round personalised footy card 
• Get creative with WA themed arts, crafts and games 
• Selected player signings from 4.20pm 
• Life-size height charts of our players – compare how you measure up. 
• Facepainting and airbrush tattoos 
• Triple M giveaways 
• Join the WA All Abilities Football Association in a game of wheelchair footy

Curtain Raiser

Please note, the Eagles Active Freestyle Footy curtain raiser has been cancelled.

Public Transport  

Remember to plan your journey ahead of Sunday with Transperth’s Journey Planner.  

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.

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Sunday, June 1, 5:20pm

TV: Live on 7 Network and 7plus nationally, and on Fox Sports and Kayo (see broadcast guide here)

Last time we met: West Coast 11.9 (75) defeated by Geelong 26.12 (168) at GMHBA, round 24, 2024.

Last time West Coast faced Geelong, it was a tough outing at GMHBA Stadium, with the Eagles falling to a red-hot Cats side in top form. Despite a dominant first half from Geelong, West Coast showed resilience and lifted after the break, matching the Cats in a much-improved second half. Harley Reid provided a spark with two impressive goals, while Elliot Yeo and Tim Kelly battled hard through the midfield. Jake Waterman and Jamie Cripps also hit the scoreboard, highlighting the fight and character the team carried through to the final siren.

What it means for the Eagles: As the club celebrates WA Day, it’s an opportunity for the Eagles to show resilience and growth against one of the league’s top sides. With several young players coming into the team, it offers another chance to showcase the next wave of talent in front of a passionate home crowd. While key players are sidelined, the Eagles will look to build on their recent form and continue developing their grit and spirit. A strong showing on home soil would befit the occasion and be another step forward in the team’s ongoing evolution.

The stat: Jack Hutchinson delivered the strongest performance of his 15-game career last time against Geelong collecting 24 touches.

The match-up: Jeremy Cameron v Harry Edwards

The spotlight will be on the key defensive match-up this week, as Eagles defender Harry Edwards takes on Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron. Cameron remains one of the most dangerous forwards in the game, having kicked an equal career-best nine goals the last time these two sides met. His elite leading patterns, accuracy, and ability to break open a game make him a constant threat inside 50. Edwards will have a huge task ahead of him, but his strength in one-on-one contests and improved intercept work will be vital in keeping Cameron contained. If Edwards can limit the influence of Geelong’s spearhead, it could go a long way toward helping the Eagles stay in the contest.

It’s a big week for: Archer Reid coming into the team to replace 2024 All Australian Jake Waterman. The young forward could also potentially chop out Matt Flynn in the ruck as Bailey Williams has been managed. Reid’s versatility and aerial ability will be key assets as the Eagles look to maintain their competitiveness against a strong Geelong side. It’s an opportunity for Reid to really make his mark on the big stage.

Big call: Sandy Brock reignites his streak holding his direct opponent goalless. 

West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen’s four goals played a pivotal role in keeping the West Coast Eagles in the contest, before falling to Geelong by 43 points at Optus Stadium.

The Cats led by just seven points early in the final quarter of Sunday night's match, and Eagles forward Noah Long had the chance to close the margin to one point with his 35m set shot.

But Long's miss proved costly, with Geelong kicking seven of the next eight goals to secure the 17.14 (116) to 11.7 (73) win.

Allen’s four goals got the crowd on their feet in his best match of the year, while Liam Baker was prolific with 29 disposals.

Cats superstar Jeremy Cameron was restricted to one goal across the first three quarters under the tight attention of Reuben Ginbey, but the left-footed spearhead exploded in the final term to finish with five majors.

Smith tallied five clearances, one goal and 834m gained to go with his 38 disposals.

He already had 25 disposals to his name by halftime before a tight tag from Brady Hough slowed him somewhat.

Max Holmes (27 disposals, seven clearances) was also influential for Geelong, who improved their season record to 8-4.

Smith ran riot in the opening quarter, tallying 15 disposals and four clearances to help give Geelong the early ascendancy.

The Cats were wasteful at times but kicked 4.5 to 2.0 for the term, with Gryan Miers' second goal coming on the quarter-time siren.

Smith racked three disposals and a goal within a minute of the second quarter starting as Geelong threatened to run away with the contest.

The lead extended to 29 points a few minutes later when Brad Close picked off Matt Flynn's horror across-the-goal pass to snap truly.

Allen helped drag West Coast back into the match.

The co-captain kicked two goals and laid off another to Noah Long with a brilliant handball to help spark life into the home side.

It proved infectious, with West Coast players dramatically lifting their pressure to put the heat on Geelong for the first time in the match.

The 42,501 crowd went wild when Harley Reid pounced on a Geelong blooper to kick his first goal of the match, reducing the margin to 11 points by half-time.

Two goals apiece in a third-quarter arm wrestle meant the margin was still 11 points entering the final term.

Elijah Hewett's high snap got the ball rolling for West Coast in the final quarter, but Long's miss a short time later proved crucial.

Ollie Dempsey, Tyson Stengle and Rhys Stanley goaled in quick succession, before Cameron ran riot with four majors for the term.

WEST COAST    2.0    7.2    9.4.   11.7 (73)
GEELONG     4.5.   8.7.   10.9.   17.14 (116)

GOALS
West Coast: Allen 4, J.Williams 2, Long, Reid, Kelly, Ryan, Hewett,
Geelong: Cameron 2, Miers 2, O.Henry 2, Stengle 2, Smith, Close, Neale, Mannagh, Dempsey, Stanley

BEST
West Coast: Reid, Allen, Baker, Kelly, Hewett 
Geelong: Smith, Miers, Holmes, Cameron, Stewart

INJURIES
West Coast: Liam Ryan (corked thigh)
Geelong: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Bo Allan (replaced Ryan Maric in the fourth quarter)
Geelong: Ted Clohesy (replaced Rhys Stanley in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 42,501 at Optus Stadium