What’s On | Round 19
West Coast Eagles v Richmond
Saturday, July 19 | 6.10pm (AWST) | Optus Stadium / Whadjuk 
Gates open 4.40pm 

The stage is set and the stakes are high as we take on Richmond on home turf this Saturday night at Optus Stadium! 

This match day we’re celebrating the Next Gen Responders – young individuals in WA Police, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and St John WA, whose contributions inspire the future generations to serve our community. 

Head to the Fan Zone (Level 1, inside Gate D) for all things Emergency Services, including SES, ambulance and police vehicle tours, virtual reality experiences, giveaways, games, and your chance to meet their mascots, Kura Bear and Constable Care. 

On-field, look out for the WA Police Pipe Band and the Emergency Services LED race at quarter-time.

Match Day Timeline

4.40pm | Gates/Fan Zone open

4.40pm | Scoreboard Terrace Pre-Game Event

5:50pm | Auzzie’s flight around the stadium 

5:59pm | The team is welcomed onto the ground by the Emergency Services representatives forming the Guard of Honour 

6:08pm | Coin toss by Emergency Services representatives 

6.10pm | Bouncedown 

Quarter-time | Emergency Services LED relay race 

Half-time | AGL Dance Cam and Stefan Diamonds Kiss Cam 

Three-quarter time | Crown 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 boundary

Fan Zone

Head to the Fan Zone on the western concourse on Level 1 (inside Gate D) from 4.30pm for: 

Department of Fire and Emergency Services Light Tanker and SES All Terrain Unit vehicle tour, giant ropes and ladders, virtual reality firefighting and hose bowling. 

WA Police motorbike, Police Airwing and Canine Unit Car vehicle tours, giveaways, and your chance to meet the WA police canine's and Constable Care mascot. 

St John ambulance tour, claw machine, dress-ups, and Kura Bear mascot. 

Fan Zone favourites are back this match day, including: 

• TIME TO HUNT! Find all clues hidden around the Fan Zone for your chance to win. 
• Facepainting and airbrush tattoos are back, as well as selected player signings from 5:10pm 
• Player height charts, footy games, and crafts are by Aisle 101. 
• Flex your creative muscles and make your own Eagles badge that you can proudly wear.

Our allocation of Kids Go Free tickets for this Saturday’s match is currently exhausted. More tickets may become available on Ticketmaster, so we recommend checking the Ticketmaster booking page in the lead up to match day. 

Please note, Kids Go Free tickets are only available in sections 502 to 509, and only for this match.

Public Transport  

Remember to plan your journey ahead of Saturday 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. 

The Thornlie-Cockburn train line is now open, with new connections to Optus Stadium. For more information on this line, click here. 

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 

Where and when: Optus Stadium, Saturday, July 19, 6:10pm

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

Last time we met: Richmond 11.15 (81) defeated West Coast 11.13 (79) at the MCG, round 9, 2025.

In a heartbreaking clash at the MCG earlier this season, West Coast fell just short against Richmond, going down by two points in a see-sawing thriller. The lead changed 15 times throughout the contest, with the Eagles showing plenty of fight but unable to capitalise late, despite a brilliant final quarter goal from Harley Reid. A last-minute tackle denied Tom Gross a potential match-winner, as the Tigers held on to win. Experienced forward Jamie Cripps finished with a game-high three goals, while Ryan Maric managed a team-high 25 touches, followed closely by Liam Baker with 22. Sam Banks and Tim Taranto lead the way for the Tigers, with Seth Campbell, Tom lynch and Rhyan Mansell finishing with two goals each.

What it means for the Eagles:

Saturday’s clash with Richmond presents an opportunity for the Eagles to turn the tables after their agonising two-point loss to the Tigers earlier this season. With the memory of that heartbreaking finish at the MCG still fresh, West Coast will be hungry to respond on home soil and reward their improved efforts with a four-quarter performance. As the young group continues to grow under Andrew McQualter, this matchup is a chance to showcase their progress, convert competitive outings into wins, and build belief heading into the final stretch of the season.

The stat: Jamie Cripps has a strong record against Richmond, averaging nearly two goals per game across his past five matches against the Tigers. Including a three-goal performance in their narrow loss at the MCG in round 9.

The match-up:  Harley Reid vs Tim Taranto
Both explosive midfielders with game-breaking ability, Reid and Taranto loom as key figures for their respective sides. Taranto was one of Richmond’s best in the Round 9 thriller, racking up possessions and driving the ball forward with impact. Reid, meanwhile, continues to excite with his burst from stoppage and physicality, and will be eager to make his mark in front of the home crowd after a strong showing in the last meeting. Their battle in the middle could go a long way to deciding the contest.

It’s a big week for: Liam Baker

This Sunday’s game against Richmond is a special occasion for Liam Baker as he is set to face his former club on his new home turf at Optus Stadium. After seven seasons with the Tigers, Baker has now become an important part of the Eagles’ midfield, bringing his relentless pressure and versatility to West Coast’s lineup. Baker will be aiming to showcase his growth since making the switch and help lead his new team to a victory in front of the home crowd. His experience and determination will be key in driving the Eagles forward in what promises to be a fiercely contested match.

Big call: Liam Baker to rack up 30 disposals and be best-on-ground against his former side in a statement performance at Optus Stadium.

The West Coast Eagles were blitzed by Richmond in a stunning third quarter in a 49-point loss at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

The Tigers kicked eight goals in the third quarter and passed 100 points for the first time since 2023, winning 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56). 

West Coast couldn't capitalise on a dominant first quarter and went into the first change behind, taking the wind out of the young team's sails. 

Only trailing by nine points at half-time, Andrew McQualter's young side was in the hunt but came out of the break stone-cold as the red-hot Tigers silenced the large home crowd. 

It was stunning at times as young speedsters like Rhyan Mansell and Seth Campbell took the game on in a fast, slick and efficient performance that gave a glimpse into the style Yze and the Tigers are building. 

They feasted on turnovers, including some absolute howlers from the home team, and jumped North Melbourne to move into 16th place on the ladder with their fifth win this year.    

While their transition game was eye-catching, the contest work of Tim Taranto (30 disposals, seven clearances and three goals) and Jacob Hopper (33, eight and two) was highly influential as the pair jockeyed for best-on-ground honours.

Young tall Jonty Faull showed his potential with a pair of nice goals, while Mansell booted three to add some flair to an impressive performance. 

Midfielder Jack Ross played a key tagging role on young West Coast midfielder Harley Reid after half-time, slowing the star Eagle, who was clearly his team's best player, finishing with 27 disposals and two goals.  

After trailing at quarter-time by 27, 39 and 17 in their past three games at Optus Stadium, West Coast put its slow starts at home on the agenda and set about changing that pattern on Saturday night. 

While Richmond got the first goal through a Campbell long bomb, the Eagles dominated the first 20 minutes and locked the ball in their front half with 13 of the first 15 inside 50s.   

Missed shots from Matt Owies, Matt Flynn and Tyler Brockman proved costly, however, before back-to-back goals from Taranto saw the Tigers go into quarter-time with a five-point lead. 

With small forward Maurice Rioli jnr chasing and smothering with brilliance, the Tigers continued their momentum in the second and built their lead through a terrific running goal from Campbell. 

They were at their best when forcing turnovers, with Hopper, Taranto, Tyler Sonsie and Campbell all looking dangerous. 

Reid, however, was in the process of building his best game of the season and sparked another run for the Eagles, racking up 12 disposals and three clearances for the quarter, and repeatedly breaking tackles and taking the game on. 

A horror turnover kicking backwards from Ryan Maric deep in the quarter, and Reid's decision to bump instead of tackle, allowed Hopper to kick a late goal and give the Tigers a nine-point break at half-time.   

The third quarter was electric from the Tigers, forcing turnovers all over the ground with their pressure and then moving the ball quickly and confidently to produce their best quarter under Yze. 

The only highlight for the Eagles in a shambolic term was a Goal of the Year contender from Liam Ryan, who slammed the ball on the boot deep in the pocket under pressure and watched as it bounced over Tylar Young. 

The Eagles called their substitution early and tried to inject some speed into the game through Jack Petruccelle, but the Tigers continued to blast past them with the ball as seven different Tigers lined up for goals in an uninterrupted run that saw the margin balloon to 53 points at the last change. 

The home team lifted somewhat in the final quarter, with Reid's back-to-back goals a bright spot on a disappointing night. The Tigers, meanwhile, enjoyed the rare treat of back-to-back wins.  

WEST COAST                  2.3   4.6   5.8   8.8 (56)

RICHMOND                    3.2   6.3   14.7   16.9 (105)   

GOALS 

West Coast: Ryan 2, Reid 2, Cripps, Hall, Shanahan, B Williams  

Richmond: Taranto 3, Mansell 3, Campbell 2, Faull 2, Hopper 2, Nankervis, Short, Sims, Sonsie 

BEST

West Coast: Reid, Edwards, Hough, Duggan 

Richmond: Taranto, Hopper, Mansell, Sonsie, Vlastuin, Ross, Campbell 

INJURIES

West Coast: Nil 

Richmond: Campbell (head) 

SUBSTITUTES 

West Coast: Jack Petruccelle (replaced Jack Williams in the third quarter) 

Richmond: James Trezise (replaced Seth Campbell in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 44,252 at Optus Stadium